JAMIE DUNN
Jamie Dunn is a game changer. For 15 years he was the undisputed king of Brisbane radio, when the B105 Morning Crew was at the heart of the station's incredible ratings success during the 1990s and early 2000s. Jamie was also the voice and personality of children's character Agro. With features like 'Agro to the Rescue', 'Gotcha' calls and the Royal Children’s Hospital appeal, Jamie (alongside Ian Skippen and Donna Lynch, who was later replaced by Robin Bailey) created a Brisbane show that became the benchmark for FM breakfast radio. Jamie then joined The Morning Crew in Sydney alongside Wendy Harmer and Paul Holmes. Dunn has also hosted a variety of children's television shows, although he has retired his alter-ego Agro.
READ THE SHOW NOTES
4:00 Discussing what old radio people do after their shifts
4:22 Explaining why Austereo in Brisbane was a great team
5:20 Craig Bruce explaining why B105 was the benchmark of FM radio in the 1990s
6:15 Suggesting his radio career was accidental
6:25 Describing Ian Skippen as an old school radio host who believed you did a regional stint before you do metro radio
7:33 Recalling what he did before radio (which includes working as a drummer for John Farnham)
9:35 Starting at 4BK after working as Agro
11:34 Craig explaining the transition of radio stations at the time (including 4BK turning FM)
12:05 Remembering the launch of B105 and the Triple M team mooning them while they planned the station
13:33 Believing giving up heritage means you give up everything
14:37 Discussing B105 changing to HIT105
16:12 Talking about Brad March as a program director
17:43 Explaining the plan for International Nude Day
19:47 Debating the best version of the program
21:03 Dealing with competition within a team
23:35 Remembering how he got into a punch up with Ian Skippen
26:44 Sharing the story behind Agro
29:32 Recalling that time Jason Donovan came on Agro
31:17 Doing the Logies with Dickie Knee
32:45 Separating Agro and Jamie when on air
34:08 Knowing the end result is the key – you can disregard the stunt on the way
34:53 Helping a child who needed a wheelchair and developing the radio story arc to provide the help required
38:22 Leaving B105 for Triple M
40:28 Asking for a sign on fee, being coached on how to quit and the Wally Lewis Port agreement
45:27 Answering the question, was it ever worth more than just money?
46:42 Moving to 2Day FM in Sydney
47:43 Challenging Doug Mulray’s program
51:36 Reflecting on what happened when Wendy Harmer joined The Morning Crew
55:27 Explaining how he did B105 in Brisbane while he was on Sydney radio
58:36 Discussing the Children’s Hospital Christmas Appeal in Brisbane
1:01:04 Describing how times have changed in radio
1:04:22 Explaining how the team impacts on the success of a station
1:05:38 Imparting final wisdom.