business
Online radio boom reshaping Newcastle's job and talent market
Digital audio platforms are pulling specialised media workers to Newcastle and shifting hiring patterns at local stations and production houses.
How we reported this
Newcastle media outlets posted 87 new roles in online radio and podcast production between January and June this year, according to listings tracked by the Hunter Jobs Board.
The national surge in online radio listening has reached the city at a time when traditional broadcast outlets face tighter advertising budgets and when remote-work tools make cross-city collaboration easier than five years ago.
Hiring shifts along Hunter Street and in Wickham
Two Newcastle firms illustrate the change. Hunter Digital Audio, based above the old Civic Theatre on Hunter Street, expanded its production team from four to eleven staff since March 2025. At the same time, the Wickham-based podcast network Sound Hunter opened a second studio on Annie Street and now lists three full-time sound-engineering positions that did not exist in 2024.
Local data show the median salary for these new audio roles reached $92,000 in the most recent quarter, up 11 per cent from the same period last year. The University of Newcastle recorded a 28 per cent rise in media-degree enrolments for 2026, with many graduates citing the new studios as a reason to stay in the city rather than move to Sydney.
Next steps for employers and job seekers
Companies looking to fill similar positions should list roles on the Hunter Jobs Board before the end of July, when the next intake of graduates begins interviews. Workers already in broadcast roles are advised to add basic audio-editing and live-streaming skills to their profiles, as three of the five largest Newcastle stations have made those competencies mandatory for shortlisted candidates.