I joined Max Munday again for the Biz Audio podcast following the release of the GfK Survey 3, 2026 radio ratings to unpack what I believe is one of the most significant shifts Sydney radio has seen in decades. During the conversation, I described the latest results as “a changing of the guard 20 years in the making”. For so long, Sydney breakfast radio revolved around one dominant force. Now, we’re seeing the real impact of Kyle & Jackie O‘s departure from KIIS1065 Breakfast. What’s fascinating is that those listeners haven’t disappeared. They’ve redistributed. Younger audiences have largely moved towards Nova 96.9, while older listeners have found a new home with Christian O’Connell on GOLD101.7, creating a completely different competitive landscape.

I also shared my analysis and predictions for where the market heads next. In my view, Sydney radio has entered a new era where no single breakfast show enjoys the dominance we’ve become accustomed to over the past two decades. The stations that win from here won’t necessarily be the loudest or spend the most on marketing. They’ll be the ones that build genuine audience habits, develop strong talent chemistry, create compelling content across multiple platforms and remain culturally relevant. The race to become Sydney’s next great radio brand is now wide open, and I believe what we’re witnessing in 2026 is only the beginning of a much larger transformation across Australian radio.