KIIS FM’s Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson were recently named the most successful breakfast duo in Australian FM radio history.
However, the veteran radio host, who has carved out an illustrious 26-year career in broadcast, had strong opinions when asked about the current state of radio.
Speaking at Kyle and Imogen’s annual Halloween party on Friday, Kyle told Daily Mail Australia that the rise of reality TV stars scoring radio shows is ‘crazy.’
‘It’s just crazy!’ KIIS FM host Kyle Sandilands (pictured) blasts the rise of reality TV stars hosting radio shows
‘It’s just crazy… put radio people, who know how to do radio on the radio,’ Kyle said.
‘You can’t just put someone that’s popular on reality TV on the air because the popularity it comes and goes in waves and then what have you got?’ Kyle said before concluding:’nothing!’
Kyle perfected his radio craft as a result of working every time slot imaginable in some of Australia’s hardiest regional and metropolitan areas.
Listen up! From Darwin to Brisbane; Kyle has developed a fine-tuned ear having worked every radio time slot imaginable in some of Australia’s most hardiest regional and metropolitan cities
‘That’s just crazy…put radio people, who know how to do radio on the radio’: Kyle told Daily Mail Australia he believes the rise of reality TV stars on radio shows is simply ‘crazy.’ Kyle and Jackie O pictured at their KIIS FM studio’s in Sydney
Humble beginnings: Kyle scored his first radio gig in 1992, at the tender age of 21 at Triple M Townsville formerly known as 4TO. Kyle is pictured with the promotional vehicle he drove for Townsville radio station 4TO in his first media job
Kyle scored his first radio gig in 1992, at the tender age of 21 at Triple M Townsville, formerly known as 4TO then moved on to work in Darwin, Cairns and Brisbane before he scored the plum role of host at the Hot30 Countdown (2Day FM Sydney) in 1999.
The KIIS FM star, who recently revealed he is paid a staggering $45,000 per day on his breakfast radio slot spoke about the importance of budding announcers clocking up their flying hours in the bush.
‘You learn out in the bush…you hone your skills…you make all of your mistakes out there and then you come and give it a go!’ Kyle said.
In recent years, radio executives have shown great interest in hiring reality stars due to their pre-existing fame and marketable brands.
Popular: In recent years, radio executives have shown great interest in hiring reality stars due to their pre-existing fame and marketable brands. Pictured left, Florence Alexandra, and right, Alex Nation
In June, Bachelor In Paradise star Florence Alexandra announced she was making the leap from the small screen to the airwaves as she accepted a new radio gig on Southern FM in Victoria.
The Dutch-born beauty made her co-hosting debut earlier this year, telling Daily Mail Australia: ‘Since I have done so many radio shows after Bachelor and Bachelor In Paradise I really started enjoying doing it.’
She currently co-hosts a lunch time program, called the Flo, Mike and Louie Show, from 12pm to 2pm.
Former radio star: Sam Frost also joined the radio business in 2015 with beloved TV presenter Rove McManus for 2Day FM’s breakfast slot. However poor ratings forced their show to be axed in 2016
Budding radio star: Meanwhile, Ash, 32, (pictured) launched her breakfast radio career at 101.3 Sea FM Central Coast (NSW) in January this year
Florence’s path from reality television show to radio stardom is a very similar path to that followed by fellow Bachelor alumni Alex Nation and Sam Frost.
In April 2017, Alex announced she would co-host Southern FM’s drive show called The Drive Out with Jay, Foz and Alex.
Unfortunately for the blonde beauty her radio stint was short lived when she called it quits on the show in January 2018.
Sam Frost also joined the radio business in 2015 with beloved TV presenter Rove McManus for 2Day FM’s breakfast slot.
However poor ratings forced their show to be axed in 2016 and replaced by the Em Rusciano show with Harley Breen, which has since changed hosts.
Meanwhile, MKR star, Ash Pollard, 32, launched her breakfast radio career at 101.3 Sea FM Central Coast (NSW) in January this year.
In September, KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O Show were named the most powerful talent in Australian radio, according to Radio Today.
As reported by Mumbrella, Kyle and Jackie topped the annual list despite being beaten in the August FM ratings survey by the Jonesy and Amanda breakfast show on Sydney’s WSFM.
However after a slight slump in the ratings in August, the Kyle and Jackie O show was once again crowned Sydney’s No. 1 breakfast radio program in the latest survey.
As reported by Radio Today this month, the sixth survey of 2018 showed that KIIS 106.5’s breakfast flagship was the city’s top program.
Stiff competition: Kyle and Jackie topped the annual list despite being beaten in the August FM ratings survey by the Jonesy and Amanda breakfast show on Sydney’s WSFM. Pictured: Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones (left) and Amanda Keller