Written by Caitlin Hartigan

ABC’s Justin Stevens Steps Down 

The ABC is set for another leadership shake-up, with director of news Justin Stevens announcing his resignation on Wednesday after four years in the role. During the transition, the ABC’s head of Regional, Rural and Metro News, Donna Field, will step in as acting news director. 

Stevens spent 19 years with the organisation, including the past four leading its news division. He said the decision to step down was both professional and personal, adding that it was time for “someone else to take over the helm of the best news team in the country.” 

This change will surely be one to watch in the coming days as the ABC chooses Stevens’ successor, one that is speculated to be from outside the organisation. 

My Women’s Weekly  

Are Media has taken another step in its direct-to-consumer evolution, launching a new paid membership platform, My Women’s Weekly. It forms part of a broader push to deepen audience relationships and create a more connected experience for readers. 

The Australian Women’s Weekly has long been one of Australia’s most trusted and enduring media brands across its 93-year history, with Are Media noting that 90% of readers trust the title. 

The membership builds on that legacy, offering exclusive premium content, from weekly meal plans drawn from more than 27,000 “tried-and-tested recipes” to digital masterclasses, dining events, magazine access, cookbook discounts and more. CEO Sally Eagle says the platform “creates a more direct connection with our audience” and reflects significant investment in digital and audience infrastructure in recent years. 

As technology reshapes how audiences engage with content, media brands are moving from simply reaching audiences to building ongoing, value-driven relationships that keep them coming back. 

The value of authentic brand deals  

Great to see the initial findings from Social Soup mirror IMPACT’s Behind the Influence Report: creators are prioritising trust and authenticity and pushing back on brand partnerships that treat content as a transaction.  

Social Soup’s research found half of Aussie creators are walking away from brand deals — and it all comes down to authenticity. Fifty-one per cent of creators have rejected partnerships that didn’t feel genuine, rising to 66% among more established creators. Creators are stepping back from deals that involve overly scripted content, misalignment with their everyday lives, or requests to present inauthentic claims such as staged before-and-after results.  

From Listeners to Artists  

Spotify has made a bold move announcing an agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG), venturing into AI-driven user remixes. The change will allow Premium subscribers to use generative AI to create official covers and remixes of songs from participating artists. It’s the first time Spotify has allowed users to create content using AI, and it is expected to be a paid add-on available on the app. 

Crucially, the model does require artist consent, giving them credit and providing them with an additional form of income. 

Spotify’s shares have skyrocketed, with the Financial Times reporting the announcement was well received, with shares rising 16%. Spotify expects annual revenue growth in the mid‑teens range, with gross profit margins projected between 35% and 40% through 2030. 

However, this raises a bigger question: as platforms expand creative opportunities and profit from user-made content, who stands to benefit most? 

Drones go down in Darling Harbour  

Vivid’s drone shows made a comeback but it didn’t go according to plan. Over the past few years, the show has earned a reputation and not in a good way.  

In 2024, there were significant crowd bottlenecks on exit, technical disruptions and a cancelled show, while in 2025 the drone program didn’t run at all. Expectations were high for 2026’s Star‑Bound show, billed as a “celebration of life, creation, hope and renewal”.  

However, shortly after the 7:30pm show began on Monday, an unforeseen technical difficulty caused 89 drones to fall from the sky into Darling Harbour. According to the ABC, eyewitnesses reported drones crashing into the Marina Wharf and coming close to onlookers. While no injuries were reported, the incident triggered panic, with some audience members running from the area. 

The performance was halted immediately in line with safety protocols, and organisers have since confirmed that no drones landed outside the designated safety zone. Shows scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday this week were cancelled as investigations continued. Vivid Sydney has apologised for the disruption, reiterating that “public safety remains our absolute priority”. 

While the drones may be down, Sydney is still lit up. Check out the amazing installations across Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour until Saturday 13th June!