Charlotte Ryan: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Journey in Broadcasting
Charlotte Ryan: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Journey in Broadcasting
She’s shared the stage with legends and made waves in the industry. But Charlotte Ryan, host of Radio New Zealand’s Music 101, believes she’s found her true calling. In a heartfelt conversation, Charlotte opens up about her journey, the highs and lows, and her hopes for her daughter’s future in the music world.
Riding the Waves of Life and Music
Charlotte lets out a long sigh. The past few days have been tough. The world has lost Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones’ legendary drummer and Charlotte’s musical hero. Covid-19 is surging back, and Auckland is in lockdown. To top it off, her 13-year-old daughter, Annie, is spending the week with her dad.
As she navigates the empty rooms of her house, trying to maintain balance amidst the pandemic chaos, Charlotte realizes how much she misses her daughter. “Annie is incredible. She just started high school this year. I’m really proud of her. Honestly, I’m craving her presence. I miss her terribly,” Charlotte shares.
Annie, following in her mom’s musical footsteps, is teaching Charlotte to play bass. They have regular family jam sessions, and like her mom, Annie seems destined for a future in the industry. But Charlotte is determined to make that future safer than the one she encountered when she started out.
Breaking into the Industry
Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll might be a well-worn cliché today, but it was the reality when a 21-year-old Charlotte left her sleepy hometown of Christchurch for the bright lights of Auckland. Fresh out of university and a stint at student radio station RDU, she drove north “in my Honda Civic packed with all my stuff” after a job offer from Auckland’s equivalent, bFM. This move would catapult her into an extraordinary life, immersing her in a whirlwind of musicians, record companies, long lunches, and bad behavior.
Earlier this year, Charlotte wrote about her experiences with inappropriate behavior in the industry, prompted by an investigation by journalist Alison Mau into allegations of exploitation and harassment in the local music scene. “I was feeling all sorts of emotions at the time. Annie had just been to a girls’ rock camp with 40 other young people, and I realized they shouldn’t have to deal with these sorts of things,” Charlotte recalls.
In previous roles, Charlotte says three complaints about inappropriate behavior by older men in senior positions resulted in management telling her she should leave if she was unhappy. “I was never warned about what to do if someone in a very senior role flirts inappropriately and pulls you to sit on his lap in front of everybody. I want Annie to grow up knowing that sort of thing is totally not cool, and it’s okay to feel uncomfortable and to tell someone straight away. In my day, you would just think, ‘Oh, that’s a bit weird,’ then tell your best friend, and that was it. And it shouldn’t be about educating women on how to avoid situations. We need to educate men.”
A Life Immersed in Music
Despite the negative experiences, the 41-year-old can’t imagine herself anywhere else. She almost became a teacher, starting a four-year Bachelor of Education before switching to major in te reo Māori and conflict resolution. “When I left high school, going to teachers’ college was the thing to do, but at the same time, I was volunteering at various radio stations. I grew up on a farm in a little place called Weedons, just outside Christchurch. I spent a lot of time listening to music and the radio. Looking back, it was probably about connecting with the world, because it could be quite isolating being on the farm—and Mum and Dad were big music lovers,” Charlotte explains.
Family friends and veteran broadcasters Jim Mora and Mary Lambie offered Charlotte work experience in Auckland. She jumped at the chance “to see if it was worth giving up teaching to pursue this dream,” and she’s never looked back. “I followed my gut and my heart.” She also took Mary’s advice to heart: “She said, ‘When you’re a broadcaster, make sure you always have a back-up job.’ This is an industry where, especially with ‘talent,’ they love you one minute, they hate you the next.”
From Band Management to Broadcasting
Charlotte transitioned into band management, becoming a publicist for Ladi6 and Shapeshifter, and later for Flying Nun Records (whose local signings included Chris Knox and Dimmer) and Warner Music. She dabbled in television, including shows like Back Benches and Paul Henry, and lent her voice to some well-known companies for advertising campaigns.
When baby Annie arrived, Charlotte set herself up as a freelancer, working from home and presenting bFM’s breakfast show Morning Glory. International clients included Radiohead and Roberta Flack, who had specific stipulations for interviews. “She was so amazing, but there were some incredible restrictions about dealing with her. You hear about some artists being like that, but I’d never experienced it. With her, I experienced the full extent of it!”
Charlotte was Neil Finn’s personal assistant for almost five years, accompanying him on part of Fleetwood Mac’s 2018-2019 world tour after the Kiwi singer-songwriter was called up to fill the big shoes left by veteran band member Lindsey Buckingham. “Neil was a star,” recalls Charlotte. “There were a lot of people criticizing him, but just watching him and the way he handled that whole situation, he was amazing. That tour was like a dream come true.”
Finding Her Niche with Music 101
And then RNZ came calling. Neil was moving to Los Angeles, so the timing was right. Charlotte came home and reckons she’s found her niche with Music 101. The magazine-style show features live performances, local and international profiles, new music, classics, and the popular segment The Mixtape, in which guests compile a selection of their favorite songs for Charlotte to play. Celebrity chef Al Brown, actress Madeleine Sami, and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson have previously guested in the slot.
Charlotte enjoys the challenge of finding the right mix of music for her diverse audience. A recent interview with The Doors’ drummer John Densmore was a career highlight. “I’ve been a fan since I was 15 and discovered The Best of The Doors compilation.” The same can’t be said of the interview she was supposed to have with Liam—or was it Noel—Gallagher. “To be honest, I can’t even remember or care which of the brothers it was. There were so many stipulations on what I couldn’t ask him. I mean, I wasn’t even allowed to ask him about Oasis because the interview was for his solo project. So, I walked away from it.”
Through it all, Charlotte remains passionate about music and broadcasting. She hopes her show helps people feel connected, just like she did listening to the radio as a child. And she’s committed to making the industry a safer, better place for her daughter and all the young women following in her footsteps.
