Welcome to Start the Week, our Monday scene-setter for the week ahead. In today’s audio-led edition: James Warburton invests in Boost Media; troubled Disrupt Radio says it’s in a “holding pattern”; the AFL and NRL lobby on betting ads; and LinkedIn admits to training its AI on user content.

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If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an Unmade membership, this is the perfect time. Your membership includes:

* A complimentary ticket to all of Unmade’s events, including HumAIn (2025), REmade (1 October), Unlock (31 October), and Compass (November);

* Member-only content and our paywalled archives;

* Your own copy of Media Unmade. 

Telstra kicks off new campaign around grand final; Warburton invests in Boost; Disrupt Radio staff still unpaid

Telstra is among the first brands to reveal its plans for a big campaign launch timed around AFL grand final, according to The Australian today. The Oz also features good and bad news from streaming radio, with Disrupt Radio still in a funding crunch and Broad Radio about to go from pre-recorded live.

Over in the AFR, Seven West Media is the topic of the day, with former boss James Warburton revealing an investment in ad inventory reseller Boost Media alongside private equity company CVC; and questions about Seven Group’s appetite to remain invested in its media arm SWM.

And today’s AI chat covers the revelation that LinkedIn is training its large language model on posts from its users; the role of generative AI in creating media content; and a new version of OpenAI.

Further reading:

* The Australian: Disrupt Radio is two months behind in staff payments, future of station unclear

* The Australian: Broad Radio launches new live programs on the women-only radio station

* The Australian: Telstra gets animated to shake off corporate image

* Australian Financial Review: Ex-Seven chief James Warburton, CVC Emerging Companies ink media deal

* Australian Financial Review: Seven West Media stokes tension behind the scenes at Seven Group

* Unmade: Publishers await their Independents Day

* Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Nanny state’: NRL, AFL storm the field over gambling ads

* Mumbrella: AI generated content doesn’t work – But if it did? The media’s screwed

Today’s episode features Tim Burrowes, Abe Udy and Cat McGinn.

Editing was courtesy of Abe’s Audio, the people to talk to about voiceovers, sound design and podcast production.

Time to leave you to start your week. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Toodlepip…

Tim Burrowes

Publisher - Unmade

[email protected]

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