EDDIE MCGUIRE
Eddie McGuire is a game changer. The Triple M Grill Team reimagined sports entertainment on FM radio in the early 90s. Eddie was also the first host and original face of Triple M Football, bringing AFL to FM. Since 2009, Eddie has hosted Triple M Melbourne's The Hot Breakfast (alongside Mick Molloy and Luke Darcy), taking the show from a 3 share to the #1 FM breakfast show with a mix of news, talk and sport and becoming a template for Triple M's Breakfast recovery nationally. Eddie talks frankly about the radio business and the secrets to his success.
READ THE SHOW NOTES
2:13 Starting out as a sports reporter
3.23 Talking about the talent he worked with early on, including the early D-Generation (Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Tony Martin, Mick Molloy)
5:50 Talking The Grill Team and wanting to bring footy to Triple M and FM radio
6:35 Knowing a great weekday line up, but pushing for a weekend opportunity to 'own the weekends'
6:58 Pointing out that The Grill Team was similar to The Footy Show
7:26 Remembering when The Grill Team started and working with Jane Kennedy
8:16 Beating The Coodabeen Champions and moving the shift to weekdays
8:55 Remembering the strong ratings for Austereo at that time
9:45 Reflecting on how someone goes from guest spots and sports reporting to hosting
11:08 Talking about the fun of footy and getting those talents to show personality on air
11:58 Making stars of the talent, and not relying on the format for the success
12:30 Needing to know more than the audience when you go to air
13:31 Talking about the role of the broadcaster and joining the dots on the story
14:40 Being a journalist means being sceptical
15:15 Receiving advice from his brother on how to be a good journalist, watching what happens rather than asking
17:45 Being asked to breakfast after being the CEO of Channel 9 and wanting to fight to do well on air with The Hot Breakfast
18:35 Feeling that Triple M had been vandalised and fighting for the brand to be supported within Austereo
19:57 Wanting Triple M to be one of the great talk stations of the world and understanding the role of music in that
20:22 Starting The Hot Breakfast and figuring out what was missing in the market
22:35 Outlining his radio philosophy – being the table in a restaurant that everyone else looks at and wants to join
23:30 Talking about Luke Darcy as a talent
23:53 Outlining his philosophy on life and how to beat your opponent
24:25 Talking to sales and working out what sells if you work on commercial radio
26:03 Starting out and the cast not being quite right
26:40 Talking about Tony Moclair and his style not suiting The Hot Breakfast
27:17 Talking about Mieke Buchan and saying women are harder on women on air
28:04 Taking The Hot Breakfast from rating 3 to a 6 share
29:00 Reflecting on his different roles
29:45 Losing confidence when going through the change from Channel 9
30:30 Being kicked out by Channel 9 and using it as the motivation for The Hot Breakfast to succeed
31:15 Talking about the role of Mick Molloy in the success of the program
34:10 Sharing his thoughts on how to be a star in the media
36:33 Emphasising the importance of being prepared for work
37:36 Remembering that if you have fans who care, you want to care yourself
37:50 Knowing that your audience knows if you’re being a fake
38:48 Providing good honest fair advice, and understanding that talent need to listen to feedback even if they don’t want to hear it