Adelaide media identity Mark Aiston was set to join Mix 102.3 breakfast show before mysterious disappearance of hosts Mark Soderstrom and Erin Phillips

More turmoil at Adelaide’s troubled Mix 102.3 has been revealed with news media man Mark Aiston was set to join the breakfast team days before the show’s hosts mysteriously went off air.

Veteran media personality Mark Aiston. Picture Dean Martin

Adelaide media personality Mark Aiston was almost appointed executive producer of Mix 102.3’s troubled breakfast show, with the radio station even sending out a press release announcing the move.

The embargoed release, emailed to The Advertiser by Mix’s communications team on March 16, described Aiston’s return to the station as a “real coup” and revealed he would begin his new role the following morning.

Just hours later, Mix hastily retracted the announcement.

The mix-up foreshadowed co-hosts Mark Soderstrom and Erin Phillips’ mysterious disappearance from the top-rating FM breakfast show this week.

It lifts the lid on the tumult behind the scenes at the station in recent weeks however, it is not clear whether it exacerbated simmering tensions between longtime presenter Soderstrom and new content director Richie Wright, who joined the station in October.

Aiston confirmed he was poised to secure the EP position but said “things fell over right at the last moment”.

Erin Phillips and 102.3 breakfast co-host Mark Soderstrom.

“It got right down to the wire but in the end, we just couldn’t come to terms. We just walked away. These things can happen,” he said.

“I wanted the job, that’s for sure, at the time. I’ve moved on from then.”

When asked about the premature press release, Aiston said: “That obviously went out early, I knew it was going out… I think Mix would be better served to talk about that.”

A 30-year broadcasting veteran and former Mix breakfast host, Aiston said he was on “good terms” with Soderstrom but was unaware if the Channel 7 sports presenter knew that he was on the verge of rejoining the program.

Soderstrom and Phillips were absent from the airwaves on Thursday and Friday morning, with Mix claiming Soderstrom was ill despite him presenting Channel 7’s sports bulletin on both nights.

Instead, the crucial early morning timeslot was filled with music and hosted by regular anchor Shane Lowe, a former star of rival station Nova 919.

Mark Aiston and Mark Soderstrom in 2007.

Mix said on Friday they expected both Soda and Phillips to return to air on Monday morning.

Radio insiders said rumours abound of “friction” between Soderstrom and Wright, who previously worked as assistant content director at Mix’s sister station in Sydney, KIIS 1065.

Sources also said Soderstrom had “clashed” with several previous executive producers on the program, which is without an EP after Geoff Watts moved to a new role within the station this month.

Watts replaced Alexis Kuchel, whose short-lived stint last year is just one of several changes to the program in recent years, including a series of different breakfast anchors.

“He’s (Soda) a dominant personality, there’s no two ways about it,” a source said.

“He’s got control of that brekkie show… he rules the roost.”

Another Adelaide radio insider described Soderstrom as “hardworking” but with very high expectations of his colleagues.

“You really have to prove yourself and earn his trust,” the insider said.

“He cares so much and he has such high expectations of people... if he didn’t like you, it’d be tough for you.”

Soderstrom could not be reached for comment while Mix 102.3 did not answer direct questions regarding Aiston.

GREIG LIFTS THE LID ON RUTHLESS RADIO INDUSTRY

Former Adelaide radio identity Mel Greig Pic: Tricia Watkinson

Former Adelaide media personality Mel Greig has lifted the lid on the “ruthless” nature of radio, revealing she once foundout she was sacked after reading a newspaper article.

The former 2Day FM and Mix 102.3 presenter said life as a radio host was an all-consuming, pressure-filled job which playedhavoc with your emotions.

“Radio is one of the best and worst jobs you’ll ever have, it requires you to put yourself out there and it becomes your wholelife - it’s not just a job,” said Greig, who spent over 20 years on-air in Adelaide, Sydney and Wollongong.

“When you’re a radio personality you are literally putting yourself out there to be judged, you need to share personal detailsand if the ratings are bad you feel it’s a reflection on who you are as a person.

“Radio is a rollercoaster of emotions and it’s quite common for every announcer to be fired numerous times in their journey.I remember reading in the paper years ago that my shift was going to be replaced, I had no idea.”

The radio host at the centre of the 2012 royal prank call scandal, Gold Coast-based Greig has since left radio but said shehad empathy for fellow presenters still dealing with the every day pressures of the industry.

“I feel for other presenters, we put our heart and soul into the job and one day the bosses might decide to take it away fromyou for no reason at all. It can be ruthless,” said the media commentator and freelance PR manager.

“Ratings can make or break your career, the pressure of waiting for the results to see if strangers love or hate you is verydraining.

“I left radio a few years ago from fatigue, I was getting up at 3.20am everyday and my day would sometimes finish at 7pm aftera function. I was putting my health and happiness second. Radio was my whole life, it lost its balance.”

- Antimo Ianella