John Singleton blasts ‘weak’ brands for pulling ads over Alan Jones

Macquarie Media shareholder and former adman John Singleton has lashed brands for pulling advertising.

‘You can’t criticise women, full stop. That’s the way it is’ ... John Singleton at his Paddington office in Sydney. Picture: Ryan Osland

Macquarie Media shareholder and former adman John Singleton has lashed out at brands for pulling advertising from the radio network but says 2GB breakfast host Alan Jones also needs to be more careful in his commentary.

Mr Singleton, who has revealed he will sell his share in the network to Nine Entertainment, said it was “lunacy” that advertisers had pulled out after being criticised by social media activist groups such as Mad F..king Witches and Sleeping Giants. “The advertisers themselves are so weak,” he said in a wide-ranging interview with The Australian. “They get an anonymous letter … and they fall for it.

“Alan said a couple of things that were expressed poorly. Haven’t we all? Three-and-a-half hours of live radio a day every day, five days a week — in Ray’s (Hadley) case seven days a week.”

Mr Singleton’s comments come us Macquarie Media reviews all 2GB and 4BC programs in the wake of the advertising backlash.

Earlier this month, Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate said Jones’s breakfast show and other programs were being reviewed, apologising for the “disruption” caused to their businesses after Jones on August 15 said Scott Morrison should “shove a sock” down the throat of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and get tough with a “few backhanders”.

“This incident has brought into sharp focus the need for all Macquarie Media broadcasters to ensure the debate they bring to the microphone and the words they use are, at all times, respectful and reflect the standards expected today by our listeners, our clients, and the wider community,” Mr Tate said.

More than 80 advertisers, including Coles, Ikea, Renault Australia, IGA, Hyundai, Chemist Warehouse and Koala pulled advertising and publicly distanced themselves from Jones and the network following the comments.

Mr Singleton said Jones had done a lot of good, but needed to be more careful about the comments he made. “Alan Jones has a strident temper, which can exaggerate the points he makes, but there is a change now where we all have to be more careful of what we say. We’ve got to be more careful because there is now pressure groups and they work whether we like it or not,” he said.

“You can’t criticise women, full stop. That’s the way it is. Jeez, he pays a massive price. But I guess that’s the price he pays for being so harsh in judging others.”

Mr Singleton’s comments come amid a decision to sell his 32 per cent stake in Macquarie Media, which owns stations including 2GB, 4BC and Macquarie Sports Radio. He said he would accept an offer that would see him make about $80m, describing Nine chief executive Hugh Marks as “honourable”.

“I will sign papers agreeing to sell my 32 per cent,” he said.

If both Mr Singleton and Mark Carnegie — a former investment banker who has co-owned pubs with Mr Singleton and holds 3.6 per cent of Macquarie — accept the offer Nine would be all but assured of taking full ownership.

“I can’t see why Mark Carnegie would not agree … (1 per cent shareholder) Alan Jones has already said he would agree,” he said. “I think it’s fair. It’s 10 times last year’s earnings and last time I looked that’s bloody good.”

Mr Singleton also highlighted warnings the stations’ earnings would decline, reducing the value of the company if the bid was not accepted, as outlined in the independent report. He will not be able to acquire or work for any radio station for a period of three years as a condition of accepting the bid.