ARN Brisbane’s Barry Drinkwater departs, Alisson Longhurst steps up as CD
Australian Radio Network (ARN) long-serving Brisbane content director, Barry Drinkwater, has called time on his tenure at 97.3FM and 4KQ.
Drinkwater has spent more than 40 years in radio, and joined 4KQ in 1993 as its drive announcer before becoming assistant program director and music director eight years later.
He was the inaugural content director for 97.3FM when the brand launched in 2001, and has also served as content director for 4KQ since 2007.
Drinkwater first joined 4KQ in 1993 and launched 97.3FM in 2001
Drinkwater will be replaced by Alison Longhurst, who returns to ARN Brisbane after spending the past two years with Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) as Gold Coast content director.
ARN chief content officer, Duncan Campbell, hailed Drinkwater for his passion and dedication over the past two decades in his role.
“Barry’s leadership, attention to detail and his unwavering passion for his job has seen some amazing results under his guidance across the past two decades. We wish nothing but all the very best to Barry for his next endeavours and can’t thank him enough for his drive and dedication.
Drinkwater reflected on his 28 years at ARN. “Back in 2001 it was amazing to get the chance to launch 97.3FM – a brand-new FM radio station in Brisbane.
So many great and talented people came on board and it’s wonderful to share in the incredible successes of 97.3FM with them. To also oversee the 4KQ crew – the station where I got my start at ARN – for the past 14 years has been equally pleasing. But now, as 97.3FM turns 20, the time seems right for me to try something different.
He thanked his team for helping achieve a swathe of #1 ratings results over the years. “I’d like to thank everyone at ARN who has worked with me and played a part in both of these amazing stations and wish nothing but great success to all moving forward.
“There has been a heap of #1s which is a credit to all the gifted and hardworking team members across both stations. I leave knowing that both 97.3FM and 4KQ are in the very capable hands of Alisson going forward.”
Longhurst will step up as content director of both stations
Longhurst is back with ARN after a previous stint in Sydney as a senior producer on the Kyle and Jackie O breakfast show and EP at KIIS 101.1 Melbourne.
Her experience in radio also includes producer and EP roles with SCA’s B105 Brisbane, Hit92.9 Perth and Fox FM Melbourne breakfast shows, as well as a stint as EP of Nova 106.9 breakfast in Brisbane.
Longhurst, who will start her new role in August, said: “After five years, I’m very pleased to be returning to ARN as the Content Director for 97.3 and 4KQ. To be given the opportunity to lead fantastic teams both on-air and off is a career highlight for me and I can’t wait to get started.”
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Zanda Wilson was a reporter and podcast producer at Mumbrella, specialising in radio reporting. He left Mumbrella in September 2021.
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topics
4KQ
97.3 FM
Alisson Longhurst
ARN
ARN Brisbane
Australian Radio Network
Barry Drinkwater
Duncan Campbell
