Almost a year has passed since RTÉ, caught under-reporting the salary of its top earner, Ryan Tubridy, made big news. The story has since faded from the public’s memory due to its lack of media coverage. Yet, RTÉ is back in the spotlight with a continuing saga that makes the long-winded Game of Thrones seem mercifully brief.
In the past couple of weeks, the broadcasting network has witnessed several high-profile departures including Doireann Garrihy, the 2 Johnnies (Johnny Smacks, real name Jonathon McMahon and Johnny B, real name John O’Brien), and Jennifer Zamparelli. Their exits have left a noticeable gap in the 2FM schedule.
RTÉ, known for its consistent editorial standards, impending public interest registers, fluctuating relationships with Oireachtas committees, and being a legacy broadcaster, seems unable to retain its talent in a world of brand collaborations, podcasts, and sponsored cars.
In a commendable move to clarify the line between commercial and public interest, RTÉ has presented its presenters with a clear image: they can work for the network or they can work independently; however, they cannot do both. This is hardly an unexpected stance, as few major companies would be accepting of their top staff managing side businesses. Nonetheless, this has forced many broadcaster-influencer hybrids affiliated with RTÉ to ponder significant life changes.
Although RTÉ denies any connection between the exits of Garrihy and the Johnnies, the timing—as the network begins applying stricter regulations on off-duty activities of presenters and is about to publish two registers, one to keep track of gifts over €50 and another to monitor any conflicts of interest—seems unlikely to be coincidental.
The fresh wave of talent at RTÉ are more predominantly influencers or podcasters who also happen to have additional roles at RTÉ, as opposed to being solely presenters. Many are appointed as contractors, a circumstance that may not totally be by choice, yet could be favourable for them.
Since Gerry Ryan’s passing in 2010, the direction of RTÉ appears unclear, beyond the vague target to cater to ‘the youth’.
Garrihy, who freely expressed her intention of pursuing her dream ventures, has seen increasing profits for her business, Doireann Enterprises, reaching €541,643 at the close of fiscal year 2023. This week also marked the return of her podcast: Doireann and Friends, which boasts a spanking new sponsor.
The duo, McMahon and O’Brien, have built a thriving live events enterprise and are gearing up for a tour to Australia and North America. Their latest accounts reveal their directorial remuneration reached €404,183 for the year ending April 2023, a significant increase from €166,204 in 2022. The profits for 2023 hit €269,533, a leap from €134,090 recorded the previous year.
Zamparelli left to devote more time to her family, though she maintains her co-ownership of a hair salon and hosted a podcast in 2023, in collaboration with Lottie Ryan: Jen and Lottie Do Parenting. According to her company records, Stormbound Ltd, it has raked in accumulated profits of €802,000, inclusive of €66,161 profit for the 12 months ending January 2023.
Now consider the fact that none of the 2FM presenters are among the top 10 highest earners at RTÉ, with earnings less than €180,000.
In conclusion, there seems to be a growing exodus from 2FM, including the likes of Doireann Garrihy, the 2 Johnnies, and Jennifer Zamparelli. Could this be the reason behind their exit?
To clarify, none of the staff at 2FM have been involved in misconduct. This act of unblemished conduct could be part of what strikes a nerve. Kevin Bakhurst may have appeared slightly resentful when he openly confirmed in a recent staff meeting that both the Johnnies and Doireann, prior to assuming their roles at RTÉ, were not as renowned as they currently are. He also maintained that the network was instrumental in their burgeoning careers. This however is a major irritant to the public who bear the burden of the €160 licence fee – which partially supports the creation of a fantastic stage for presenters to diversify into fields of podcasting or influencing, even hawking #sponsored products on platforms like Instagram.
RTÉ, for a long time, has been indifferent to such commercial undertakings and the exorbitant salaries of its highest earning stars. The defence provided was a mere speculation that such talents might resign; to which the implicit query were always, “to what?” Yet, with the lucrative industry of podcasting and influencing burgeoning, this is no longer a baseless concern. The short-term operational challenge this brings to 2FM is overshadowed by a deeper and pressing question – what is the raison d’être for the station? Following the unfortunate demise of Gerry Ryan back in 2010, RTÉ has struggled to find a definitive answer, other than a vague suggestion that it services a nebulous entity vaguely referred to as “the youth”. However, if these young audiences can readily access the likes of Doireann Garrihy or the 2 Johnnies on podcasts or social media – what unique content does 2FM actually bring on the table?
From this conundrum, however, 2FM has an opportunity to redefine itself entirely, and instead concentrate on fresh music and nurturing talent that genuinely intends to thrive in the radio industry rather than merely benefiting oneself. A glimmer of hope in this otherwise disheartening state of events rests in the fact that the younger audience are still tuning into the radio – as recent JNLR statistics validate.
Optimistically, 2FM could metamorphose into a distinctively authentic Irish station, instead of a mere carbon copy of a Spotify podcast playlist. A network that prioritizes its listeners over what it often over-ratingly recognizes as “the talent”.