Perth radio industry rocked by 96FM breakfast host | Australian Markets

Bumper stickers throughout city used to proclaim “96FM rocks Perth”, but it surely was the radio industry itself that was rocked at this time when 96FM breakfast host Dean Clairs introduced on air he was strolling away from the coveted gig.

One half of the high-rating Clairsy & Lisa Show, Clairs has been a fixture on the airwaves on this State for more than 4 many years, however revealed in an unique interview with The West Australian it was lastly time to unplug the mic.

“I’ve done breaky for 12 years straight – starting with seven and a half years at Mix 94.5 and four and a half years at 96FM – and I don’t think I’ve got anything to prove,” he stated.

Just like footy gamers, radio hosts very not often get to go away on their own phrases in what’s a famously cutthroat industry, the place careers stay and die on the idea of rankings surveys.

So, in footy phrases, what Clairsy has managed to do at this time is grasp up the boots, recent from kicking a aim after the siren to win the grand ultimate.

“I’ll take that. That works for me,” he laughs.

“Why not do this … while the station’s f…ing rocking, when things are good … and what an absolute privilege to be able to go out when it’s rating No.1.”

The success of 96FM within the rankings doesn’t come with out sacrifice, and Clairsy admits the three.45am begins of a breakfast radio host began to hit totally different when he was on the unsuitable facet of 60.

He says he’s been lucky to have the indefatigable Lisa Shaw as co-host since arriving at 96FM and divulges he and Shaw will announce his alternative on the show on Friday.

Clairsy’s profession in radio started within the Eighties, when, as a 17-year-old, he approached industry legend Gary Roberts for a job.

“I was banging on a voice trying to sound deeper to impress Mr. Roberts, because I was so scared I was actually shitting myself,” he recollects.

The advice he obtained was to go bush and get some expertise, so the teenager Clairsy discovered himself on the wi-fi in Merredin, the place his first shift fell on the night time Australia received the America’s Cup.

As destiny would have it, Clairsy would finally finish up working for Roberts, when the radio boss employed him to co-host 96FM’s breakfast show with Shaw, following the legendary Fred Botica’s retirement in 2021.

Now it’s Clairsy’s flip to drag the pin, though he’s practically had as many farewells as Farnsy at this level.

The host seemingly retired back in 2020, when he introduced his departure from Mix 94.5’s breakfast show.

And there’s a good likelihood this latest departure received’t be everlasting, too.

“I love broadcasting, and I’ll miss talking to listeners and stuff, so it doesn’t mean I won’t do that ever again, but I’m just not getting up early,” he admits.

Listeners shouldn’t be shocked in the event that they hear Clairsy’s velvety voice filling the odd shift on the station if the chance arises, and the self-confessed music nerd hopes to indulge his ardour for music with a podcast on the subject.

“I don’t believe in the word retirement,” he acknowledges.