Star 104.5
| Company type | Commercial radio broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | March 16, 2004 in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia |
| Headquarters | Erina , Australia |
Area served | Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia; signal also reaches Sydney, Blue Mountains, Newcastle |
Key people | Paul Moltzen (Market Leader), Shayne Sinclair (Program and Music Director), Lauren Montgomery (Director of Audience Engagement), Matt Lygo (Director of Creative Services) |
| Products | Radio broadcasting, Adult Hits format music programming |
| Owner | Nova Entertainment |
| Parent | Nova Entertainment |
| Website | www |
Star 104.5 (ACMA call sign 2GOS) operates as a commercial radio broadcaster catering to the Central Coast area from Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. Owned by Nova Entertainment, its transmission covers a region extending from Brooklyn in the south to Morisset in the north, with additional signal reach into Sydney, segments of the Blue Mountains, and Newcastle. The station’s production studios are based in Erina, while its transmission tower is situated in Somersby.
History
The station commenced broadcasting at 17:15 on 16 March 2004 under the name "104.5 Star FM," adopting an Adult Contemporary format centered on hits from the 80s, 90s, and current tracks. During its initial week on air, it operated without commercials before implementing a policy limiting advertisements to no more than four consecutively. For the launch event, Enrique Iglesias arrived via helicopter, and the original breakfast show featured Meshel Laurie alongside Todd Widdicombe. The inaugural song played was Iglesias’ "Not In Love."
In 2006, Star 104.5 transitioned from Adult Contemporary to a Rock Variety format promoted with the tagline "Star 104.5 Plays Rockstars." The breakfast lineup was also updated, with Vic Davies and Kim Czosnek joining Todd Widdicombe following Meshel Laurie’s exit.
This Rockstars theme remained until 2011 when the station switched to an Adult Hits format branded as "The Music We All Love," continuing to blend rock with other musical styles.
Current format
Since adopting the "More Music Variety" slogan in 2015, Star 104.5 has concentrated on pop music selections ranging from the 1980s through to contemporary hits.
By mid-2021, the playlist averaged twelve songs per hour: three tracks each from the 1980s and 1990s, with the remainder drawn from the 2000s and 2010s. In 2023, the station scaled back older music considerably, culminating in the complete removal of 1980s songs by early 2024.
Notable promotional campaigns include Katy Perry's $20,000 Superstar Secret, Ed Sheeran's $20,000 Superstar Secret, $50,000 Mystery Words, and $50,000 Secret Sound.
Audience reception
During the 2017 Gosford radio ratings survey, Star 104.5 recorded its highest weekly listenership of 80,600 individuals aged 10 and above. Since that milestone, it has maintained a strong presence within the Central Coast market.
In 2022, Star 104.5 secured the top position as the Number 1 Station for all listeners aged 10+, with every individual program also ranking first within that demographic. The station’s dominance was reaffirmed in the 2023 ratings where it led by a margin of 3.4 points over its closest rival.
Technology
Star 104.5, along with other stations under Nova Entertainment, employs the sophisticated Zetta playout platform developed by Radio Computing Services. Its scheduling is managed through the "G-Selector" music scheduling system, while a shared lossless audio library is utilized across all network stations.
Current Lineup
Weekdays:
- Early Breakfast with Meg Alexander (5:00am–5:30am)
- Star 104.5 Breakfast with Gina & Matty (5:30am–9:00am)
- Adam Price (9:00am–3:00pm)
- Meg Alexander (3:00pm–7:00pm)
- More Music Variety Overnight (7:00pm–5:00am)
Saturdays:
- More Music Variety (12:00am–6:00pm)
- Saturday Night Party Hits (6:00pm–2:00am)
Sundays:
- More Music Variety (2:00am–6:00pm)
- Gina and Matty Podcast Show (6:00pm–10:00pm)
- More Music Variety Overnight (10:00pm–5:00am)
Various hosts present weekend and early morning shows.
Current Leadership
- Market Leader: Paul Moltzen
- Program and Music Director: Shayne Sinclair
- Director of Audience Engagement: Lauren Montgomery
- Director of Creative Services: Matt Lygo
Former Prominent On-Air Personalities
- Meshel Laurie
- Todd Widdicombe – 92.7 Mix FM
- Vic Davies
- Julie Goodwin
- Kim Czosnek
- Kent Small
- Ugly Phil
- Dave Evans
- Rod & The Flack
- Alice Cooper
- Jess Hardy
- Craig Annis
- Michael McPhee
- Dave "Rabbit" Rabbetts
- Dion Clewett