Australian broadcaster Josh Agnew's journey from a precocious child with a passion for radio to a prominent figure in Tasmania's media landscape is an inspiring story that exemplifies the impact youthful ambition can have when coupled with unwavering dedication and a true love of the joy that well-crafted radio can bring to listeners.
Josh Agnew (left) with Omnia's Max Pandini (right) at NAB 2025.
At just six years old, Josh embarked on his broadcasting journey as a volunteer at a community radio station. By the age of 10, he had already made significant strides, establishing his own radio network, JNet, and hosting shows like "Blast from the Past" and "Hot 20" on 97.1FM in Oatlands, Tasmania. As you might imagine, becoming an air personality at such a young age garnered plenty of attention, leading to appearances on local TV and radio stations.
In 2015, Josh founded Pulse FM, a youth-focused community radio station serving the Kingborough and Huon municipalities. Despite limited resources, Pulse FM had a big goal: to provide young people with a platform to express themselves and engage with their community. The station launched low-power FM service in 2017, reaching listeners up to 40 kilometers away.
Not just a pretty voice, Josh also became an engineer, helping to build Pulse FM himself, becoming friends with the folks at Telos Alliance along the way (and becoming a particular fan of Axia consoles and networks as well as Omnia audio processing gear).
Josh at the controls at age 10, in 2015.
Recognizing the media landscape's constant evolution, Josh launched Pulse Media Group in 2020, parlaying Pulse FM's success into Pulse Tasmania, a comprehensive digital content platform which includes Agnew's radio outlet (now branded as slam! Tasmania).
Today, as the General Manager of Pulse Media Group, whose outlets reach tens of thousands of listeners and readers, Josh Agnew's story is a testament to the power of radio to inspire. His journey has, in turn, inspired more young broadcasters and entrepreneurs alike—something radio and media professionals everywhere can be proud of.