Triple M bring down axe on regional drive time shows

A busload of radio presenters are out of a job after Triple M announced it was axing a slew of regional rush hour shows, and replacing them with Marty Sheargold.

Triple M breakfast host Marty Sheargold. Picture: Supplied/Triple M

A busload of radio presenters and producers are out of a job after Triple M announced it was axing nearly all non-Melbourne-based rush hour shows, and replacing them with Marty Sheargold.

Drive time presenters Annabelle Brett (A.B.) and Elliot Lovejoy were the most listened to rush-hour show in the Townsville region according to the 2024 radio ratings from Xtra Insights, but that didn’t save them from the chopping block.

Their 4pm - 6pm timeslot show, ‘A.B. and Elliot’ is produced in Townsville and broadcasted from Thursday Island to Toowoomba.

Mrs Brett is currently on maternity leave after having her first child in July.

“From having my first kid, winning my first ACRA, getting first in the ratings to now my first “sorry you won’t be here next year” — it’s been a bloody massive three months,” Mrs Brett posted to Instagram after the axing was announced.

Annabelle Brett (A.B.) and her co-host Elliot Lovejoy have had their Triple M rush hour show axed alongside several others across the country.

“We were unfortunately informed in the last couple of weeks our beloved Rush Hour on Triple M QLD will not be continuing in 2025.”

Mrs Brett said the radio industry was going through a “rough patch” and local, Queensland radio was “just not feasible at this time”.

“I’m still on maternity leave but will jump back on for one last week to say goodbye in December,” she said.

Triple M Townsville radio host Annabelle “AB” Brett. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Brett and her radio co-host Mr Lovejoy stepped into the Townsville job in 2021, and built up a loyal audience, getting around 40 callers a day, pulling in 41,500 listeners, and enjoying prime roles calling Cowboys games, interviewing players and broadcasting from the sidelines.

Mrs Brett also has a second job as an on-field presenter for the Redcliffe Dolphins, flying down for home games during the NRL season.

Annabelle Brett (A.B.) and her co-host Elliot Lovejoy have had their Triple M rush hour show axed alongside several others across the country.

Her work in sports coverage earned her an ACRA award two weeks ago.

Mrs Brett said Townsville was a fantastic place to work and live, and was devastated she would no longer get daily calls from the “voices of reason and loosest cannons from the North”.

“I absolutely love Townsville, with its world class NRL team, WNBL, huge international live acts that choose to come here and always some fun drama with local council,” she said.

Triple M host Elliot Lovejoy on the sidelines of a Cowboys game. Picture: Supplied

Alongside the Townsville show, Triple M’s Adelaide drivetime, Perth rush hour, Brisbane rush hour, and Sydney rush hour were also axed.

Just like Townsville, the Adelaide show was winning in its timeslot.

This now means all of Triple M’s drive content will be produced out of Melbourne.

Triple M is owned by SCA, the largest radio broadcaster in Australia, and also owns Hit and the LiSTNR app.

Annabelle Brett (A.B.) collects her ABRA award for Best Sports Presenter.

The Marty Sheargold Show is currently heard nationally 3pm to 4pm.

The axing means the Sheargold show will now run from 3pm to 6pm.

Daylight saving also means the Melbourne show will not be live for Queensland listeners or callers.

When announcing the 2025 radio shake-up, Triple M boasted it was “Australia’s fastest-growing radio network”.

“Listeners in NSW and Queensland will no doubt cherish the opportunity to hear even more of Sheargold and his laugh-out-loud Drive show,” Triple M said in their statement.

Triple M breakfast host Marty Sheargold. Picture: Supplied/Triple M

Mr Sheargold said he was committed to continuing the legacies of the Rush Hour shows he was replacing.

Mr Sheargold’s show is being syndicated across NSW and QLD, while fellow Triple M Melbourne show JB and Billy will be syndicated across Tasmania, SA and WA.

In a recent market update, SCA told shareholders their revenue for the quarter had jumped up to $122.3m (48.2 per cent increase in digital, 1 per cent in radio), and the sale of its regional TV assets was progressing.

The sale of the regional TV channels will go towards reducing SCA’s net debt.

They are yet to locate a buyer.

Originally published as Triple M bring down axe on regional drive time shows