Radio pay packets: Who’s bringing home the big bickies for breakfast

There’s been comings and goings in commercial radio land of late but one thing remains – it’s a lucrative biz to be in for on-air talent. Here’s what we are hearing Adelaide’s top presenters earn.

SA’s radio stars earn big money – but who pockets the most?

Money talks but cashed-up chatterbox radio stars are notoriously tight-lipped about what they’re earning. That said, we can say for certain that commercial station breakfast presenters get to take home big bickies. We’ve asked those in the know for insights into just how much Adelaide’s top radio stars are likely to be getting paid annually – especially now there’s been movement at some of the stations.

KINGS OF KER-CHING!

An industry insider wasn’t backward in coming forward when it came to telling us about the kind of mullah radio hosts can make in the eastern states. To put it simply, it makes Adelaide pay packets look like peanuts. They said annual salaries for mega stars on commercial stations can be around the $1m mark. Asked what they thought Nova’s Liam Stapleton and Ben Harvey might be making – now they’re moving to Melbourne brekky – our sources say easily in excess of $500,000 each, making them a million-dollar duo!

Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton, with their long-time producer Belle Jackson, will be hosting breakfast on Melbourne’s Nova 100. Picture: Supplied

MORE THAN A SPORTING CHANCE

Last time we looked at celeb salaries between $350,000 and $500,000 a year was our guesstimate for former Crow Mark ‘Roo’ Ricciuto. Co-hosting Triple M’s brekky show with Chris Dittmar and Laura O’Callaghan, he was rumoured to be paid more than anyone in the radio market when he moved to that timeslot in 2014. And that’s why we’re confident in saying he is still raking it in.

Triple M breakfast’s Mark “Roo” Ricciuto, Laura “Loz” O'Callaghan and Chris Dittmar. Picture: Suppllied

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello was also thought to be in that salary bracket when he was part of the SAFM breakfast crew and South Aussie with Cosi – his powerful media brand promoting the state. But after three years co-hosting brekky with Rebecca “Bec” Morse, Cosi recently got the chop. Rumour has it he will be joining Mix 102.3, but if that is happening it is yet to be announced. So for the moment Cosi is earning zilch from radio in 2023.

SHOW ME THE MONEY

As for FIVEaa’s king of breakfast David “Penbo” Penberthy – who, with co-host Will Goodings, regularly wins the ratings – one of our sources reckons he’s paid between $300,000 and $400,000.

Former ABC Adelaide breakfast presenter Ali Clarke is believed to be on a good wicket at commercial station Mix 102.3. Insiders say it is likely to be around the $300,000 mark. While The Ali Clarke Breakfast Show hasn’t been the big ratings hit the station had banked on, the powers that be at Mix have said Clarke will be back in 2023.

Another big name, SAFM’s Rebecca “Bec” Morse is believed to be earning between $200,000 and $250,000.

Rebecca Morse is co-hosting breakfast on SAFM. Picture: Matt Turner.

As for FIVEaa’s Will Goodings – who is now part of the 7NEWS stable – his radio earnings are believed to be somewhere in the vicinity of $200,000 to $300,000, as are Triple M brekky’s Chris Dittmar.

And what of former Mix 102.3 stars Jodie Oddy and Mark Soderstrom in their new gigs? It could be less than they did back when they were hosting Adelaide’s No. 1 breakfast show on the FM dial. A source says Oddy is likely to be making more than $250,000 at her new Nova 919 brekky gig, while Soda is thought to be earning between $250,000 and $300,000 at SAFM. Oddy’s Nova brekky co-host Andrew Hayes is thought to be taking home about $150,000.

Jodie Oddy and Andrew Hayes were recently announced as Nova Adelaide's new breakfast team. Picture Emma Brasier

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE... OR LESS!

It’s no big secret that the national broadcaster does not pay its breakfast presenters anywhere near what they can potentially earn on commercial stations.

ABC Adelaide’s Stacey Lee and Nikolai Beilharz are thought to be earning about $100,000.