Triple M axes award-winning sound designer after 30 years
Triple M imaging director Michael Andersen won 22 ACRA awards over a three-decade career before falling victim to the new broom apparently sweeping through the rock station.
The award-winning imaging director — the guy responsible for the station’s promos, sweepers, openers, jingles and sketches — was informed of his sacking over a 13-minute Zoom call this week. Andersen is the latest long-term employee to be let go at the station, following the shock sacking of Mark Geyer, after 17 years on-air.
Taking to Linkedin to express his disappointment, Andersen said “In just a few months, I was meant to celebrate 30 years at Triple M. But the universe had other ideas.”
Andersen
Andersen started at Triple M in 1995, and began operating the desk on Andrew Denton’s show in 1997. He also produced a series of song parodies for the popular Club Veg drive show.
“I’ve worked on so many shows, constantly rebranding and introducing Sydney to new lineups, each time with a whole new sound. Amanda and Mikey for breakfast, The Cage, The Chaser, Wil and Lehmo, The Shebang, Ugly Phil – so many I can’t remember them,” he wrote.
In 2009, as Triple M’s format shifted towards sports, he started working with The Grill Team, where he would “pump out a new jingle every 15 minutes” to make the team laugh.
Speaking to Mumbrella on Wednesday morning, Andersen expressed disappointment with the way the redundancy was handled.
“From what I heard, they were in the boardroom for a full day doing back-to-back calls like mine,” he says. Andersen said it’s a shame his loyalty to the station wasn’t repaid.
“I honestly don’t think there’s ever been anyone in the network that’s more loyal than me,” he said. “I always thought that I would work for the same radio station for the rest of my life. I’ve literally lived and breathed the place since I was 20, 21.”
With the recent sackings at Triple M, Andersen admits job security had been at the back of his mind for a few years, but thought, “I’m safe though, because I’m such a big part of the place.”
A call from the head of the network saying he wanted to “catch up straight away” changed that.
Anderson during his early days at Triple M.
Andersen’s work has been recognised with 22 Australian Commercial Radio Awards. He is now freelancing and represented by RMK Management for voice-over and acting work.
Although disappointed, Andersen is diplomatic this is “the universe telling me it’s time” to move onto greener pastures.
“I’ve had so many people commenting and reaching out, it’s hard to be feel negative about it or not have confidence.
“At the end of the day, it didn’t really matter, because it had nothing to do with me. It was just literally somebody upstairs looking at a spreadsheet and moving some zeros and ones around like a game of Sudoku.”
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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Hi Michael
I don’t know you, but your comments above show that you are a humble, decent, hardworking and loyal fella.
Congrats on a great innings. It’s a shame that tenure and loyalty aren’t more rewarded, but I’m am sure your next step will be a good one.
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Well done…enjoy your next chapter!
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Sorry to hear it.
MMM needs to take a long hard look at itself, find some good talent from a country station or the like and get back to being a music station with proper talent. If Jonsey and Amanda are the best they can do, then they’re stuffed!
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