By Chris Daniel
The Cultural Power List has been released inside the Power issue of AFR Magazine, available in The Australian Financial Review this Friday, October 6.
According to the press release, The Cultural Power List is a reflection of the diverse nature of Australian society, highlighting ordinary Australians who used their voices to help improve the nation, measuring their ability to define what it means to be Australian. This year’s list includes five women, two indigenous figures, YouTube stars, three actresses and one openly gay person. In comparison to last year, 2017 welcomes nine new entrants to the list, farewelling individuals including Pauline Hanson and David Walsh.
“The 2017 Cultural Power List, out of all the rankings in this year’s Power issue, gives the greatest snapshot of the diversity existing within Australian society at present,” said Matthew Drummond, editor of the Australian Financial Review Magazine.
“In particular, we see the greatest representation from women and minority groups, who exert a significantly higher degree of power in Australia’s cultural space than in areas like politics and business.”
Endemol Shine Australia CEO’s Carl and Mark Fennessy, the producers behind TV smashes MasterChef, Offspring, Australian Survivor and Australian Ninja Warrior, debut at #1 on the 2017 AFR Magazine Cultural Power List off the back of their pervasive influence across TV channels.
The company’s greatest ratings success for 2017 – Australian Ninja Warrior – averaged more viewers than the Rio Olympics and became the most watched new TV show in five years. In a time where video-on-demand platforms were at an unprecedented high, Endemol Shine showcased 15 unique shows across Seven, Nine, Ten and SBS networks.
Coming in at #2 on the list is the AFL Women’s League, which in its inaugural season drew 200,000 match goers; 5.6 million combined TV viewers and made female players such as Erin Phillips household names.
Surprisingly low on the list, at #3 were ‘The Murdochs’, whilst Gold Logie-winner and social commentator Waleed Aly features on the list at #4. Aly’s ‘Something We Should Talk About’ editorials on Network Ten’s The Project and his ability to engage politicians and tackle current affairs in ways that resonate with Generation Y justified his inclusion as one of Australia’s top cultural power brokers.
At #5 were those crazy YouTube pop culture/stunt sensations RackaRacka, whilst Rebel Wilson debuts on the list at #9 after her recent legal triumph over Bauer Media.
Rounding out the list were Nicole Kidman, actor/playwright Leah Purcell, and Creative Director of Dark Mofo, Leigh Carmichael.
2017 marks the first year where an independent panel was assembled specifically to rank the Cultural Power List. Panelists included Oscar-winning actress Rachel Griffiths, and CEO of Screen Australia, Graeme Mason.
The full Cultural Power List is currently available online at www.afr.com. The Cultural Power List, along with Covert and Overt Power Lists, will be available inside the Power issue of AFR Magazine, available in the Financial Review this Friday October 6.
