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The latest was announced at ARN’s Upfronts event yesterday, with longtime Nova presenter Kent “Smallzy” Smalls moving networks to host The Smallzy Show from 3 to 4pm and 7 to 9pm nationally each weekday. That big move means that the network’s popular drivetime program, The Pick-Up with Britt and Laura, will be no more. It was announced recently that the program will end in December, with Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne set to continue making their popular podcast, Life Uncut (which has been signed by Southern Cross Austereo). And inside the Life Uncut’s 87,000-member-strong Facebook group, fans of the pair expressed their disappointment that their radio show would be finishing, in posts seen by news.com.au. The duo’s on-air producer Keesha Pepitt led the charge, writing that she was “surprised by this move from [ARN] because there’s hardly any women left on the entire network.” Others agreed, with one woman asking “why are there all men on the radio? Where are the women?” “KIIS have been making some very poor decisions lately. We want women on the radio! And between 3 – 4pm, we don’t want to listen to this guy,” said another female fan. Another accused KIIS of “alienating the demographic for this timeslot, which is arguably predominantly female.” And another female fan labelled the move “disgusting,” coming so soon after fellow female radio host Robin Bailey’s KIIS Brisbane show was axed. Bailey this week opened up about the shock axing of her popular show Robin & Kip with Corey Oates, hitting out at an industry she says cares more about “money than connection” in a social media post. ARN yesterday announced Bailey’s replacement: Craig “Lowie” Low will take over KIIS 97.3’s Brisbane breakfast show in 2026. The announcement marks a comeback for Lowie, who rose to fame on The Hot30 Countdown in 2006 before moving to the US to work as a comedian and writer. But it has also surprised some within the industry, who say Lowie has a reputation for being difficult to work with. News.com.au’s Andrew Bucklow spoke to Maz Compton, who co-hosted The Hot30 with Lowie back in 2006. When asked what her experience was like, Compton said, “Interesting is a good word, toxic could be another.” Approached by news.com.au yesterday, Lowe agreed with his former co-host’s assessment of his early years, saying: “She’s right. It was too much, too fast, and I was easily the worst version of myself.” And he also vowed to work hard to win over listeners upset over the cancellation of the program he’ll replace next year. “ I also know it’s someone’s favourite radio show out there, and it’s no longer going to be on air next year, and that sucks for everyone,” he said. “You’re never happy when someone else isn’t doing what they want to do anymore, and then your opportunity rises from it.” The axings of ARN’s female-fronted shows continued this week with the news that Hayley & Max in the Morning, which airs on Mix 102.3 in Adelaide, will wrap up on Friday, December 12. Max Burford and Hayley Pearson have been hosting the show together since January, and will be replaced by axed Nova duo Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton. The changes leave Jackie O as arguably the only high-profile woman currently on KIIS. ARN did in yesterday’s upfronts announce the launch of “Australia’s first women’s sports audio network.”The network dedicated entirely to women’s sports “will deliver daily coverage, podcasts, and content focused on elite to amateur athletes, competitions, and stories from across the nation.” News.com.au has today contacted ARN for comment but has not yet heard back.
