“I’m so proud of the Rumble … the fun we have each morning, the people on it, but importantly the listeners who have been part of and contributed to the show over the past 34 years,” Farrell said.
“The Morning Rumble is probably going to have its best year in over a decade … the timing couldn’t be better.”
He will co-host The Sound’s breakfast show with Georgia Cubbon.
“I’m pretty pumped. I grew up on the music of The Sound so this feels like a natural next step. Let’s see if I’ve got another 34 years in me!”
MediaWorks also announced today that Jayden King, aka Creech, will become a new Morning Rumble host, alongside Bryce Casey, Andrew Mulligan and Mel Abbot.
Farrelly’s departure closes one of the longest chapters in New Zealand radio, in which he played a key role in helping transform The Rock into one of the country’s most successful commercial brands.
The Rock has been a regularly strong performer in the radio ratings – by audience share, it is the third most popular commercial station in New Zealand, behind Newstalk ZB and The Breeze.
By cumulative audience, with 490,300 listeners, it is the sixth most popular station behind ZB, The Breeze, More FM, ZM and The Edge. Its breakfast show is also sixth in the country in audience size, with 258,600 listeners.
The Rock’s early years were not without controversy. The Morning Rumble attracted some Broadcasting Standards Authority complaints during the 1990s and early-2000s, with the show’s shock humour and stunts occasionally landing MediaWorks in hot water.
In 2001, Nick Trott and Farrelly were taken off air for a short period while the network discussed the direction of their morning show. It followed a $24,500 BSA fine, after the agency said the station had breached standards of good taste and decency.
It had failed to be mindful of the effects of the broadcasts on children, the BSA said at the time, with complaints ranging from a poem referring to necrophilia to comments which denigrated women.
Twenty-five years on, Farrelly’s move also means changes at The Sound.
Sound breakfast host Robert Taylor will move to the Drive show and Tracey Donaldson will take over days. Those changes take effect in January.
“Roger is one of New Zealand radio’s most familiar and respected voices, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to The Sound. His passion for the music and connection with listeners will make him a brilliant addition to our team alongside Georgia on breakfast,” said The Sound content director Vaughan Hobbs.
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.