Female Critics Target Radio Giants: Who’s Next?

The dramatic downfall of  and 's 'radio empire' may have been driven by more than just ratings pressure. 

Insiders now claim a powerful wave of backlash played a major role in destabilising the KIIS juggernaut behind the scenes.

And according to one source, ARN executives became increasingly rattled by what some internally began referring to as 'the witches taking down the show' – in reference to the activist group Mad F***ing Witches.

MFW is an Australian grassroots group that organises consumer boycotts against media figures and organisations accused of spreading misogyny, racism, and bigotry. 

'The shocking thing is… the criticism absolutely got to them,' claims one well–placed insider to Daily Mail. 

'There was a growing feeling internally that influential female voices online, in media and within the industry had successfully shifted public perception around Kyle and Jackie O.'

The source alleges ARN executives became deeply reactive as controversy began snowballing around the breakfast show. 

Particularly as advertisers and audiences became more sensitive to issues involving sexism, bullying and inflammatory commentary.

'For years the show survived scandals because ARN believed controversy was part of the brand,' says the insider. 

'But eventually there was this realisation that culturally the audience was changing and the criticism was starting to stick in a very dangerous way.'

Behind the scenes, insiders claim the fallout has left the network terrified that the same pattern could eventually impact its newest high-profile gamble, Eddie McGuire and Karl Stefanovic.

Although there has been no suggestion that Karl or Eddie have ever been accused of the conduct that MFW has been targeting, there are still fears that the group may nevertheless still seek to target them.

'There are people internally warning this could happen all over again,' alleges the source. 

'The concern is that ARN may still be relying too heavily on old-school media personalities at a time audiences are becoming far less tolerant of ego-driven broadcasting.'