Disrupt Radio is two months behind in staff payments, future of station unclear

The start-up entrepreneurial station has not paid its employees for months and they remain in the dark about their future as funding dries up.

Disrupt Radio presenter Libbi Gorr.

Disrupt Radio’s management is two months behind in salary payments to staff, and employees have not been provided with an update from management about the future of the station.

The start-up broadcaster, which describes itself as “the sound of Australian entrepreneurial spirit” on its website, remains in a “holding pattern,” according to a Disrupt spokesman.

“Capital meetings are continuing,” the spokesman said.

“It’s not a quick process and there is a lot that needs to be worked out and finalised.

“Until then we are in a holding pattern.

“However, we believe we are closer to a financial solution and producing new content.”

Disrupt is headed up by businessman Benjamin Roberts and its high-profile talent includes former ABC radio host Libbi Gorr, former TV presenter and entrepreneur Jules Lund and former AFLW player Moana Hope.

The station was taken off air from its DAB+ signal in August after planned funding failed to eventuate.

Disrupt has about 12 employees who are predominantly freelancers, and it broadcasts out of its headquarters in Southbank in Melbourne, based in the same location as radio station SEN (Sports Entertainment Network).

Sources told The Australian that Disrupt’s management had not provided employees with any updates in the past week.

The Australian last week repeatedly contacted Mr Roberts and Disrupt’s chair Michelle Guthrie, a former ABC managing director, but they were not available to be interviewed.

Disrupt Radio chair Michelle Guthrie

Mr Roberts said in a message: “We’re still working closely with our corporate advisers and investors – nothing to report just yet”.

The station is repeating old content on its website and makes no mention online that it is off air and facing financial woes.

Official ratings from firm GfK show the station has battled to draw listeners. The most recent data, released in August, shows Disrupt drew fewer than 6000 daily listeners on DAB+ where it broadcasts to audiences in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Mr Roberts told The Australian earlier this month that the station was dealing with financial woes and that it was only suitable for certain types of employees.

“Start-ups are not for the salaried and superannuated, and I made it very clear to people I personally hired that it might be a bit of a roller coaster,” he said.

Disrupt’s Facebook page shows it has just 581 followers and 381 likes, and the last time anything was shared was on August 26.