POWER 50 2025: Kathy McCabe (News Corp Australia)

BACKGROUND CHECK:

Having first joined the world of music writing in the late ‘80s, Kathy McCabe is the very definition of someone who has done it all, seen it all, and lived to tell the tales – using her professional skills to tell those tales expertly, too. Having spent the vast majority of her career behind the pen (save for some time spent with the likes of EMI Virgin in the mid-'90s, where she signed Alex Lloyd), McCabe has documented the Australian industry for decades, interviewing the world’s biggest musicians while also supporting the local legends whose careers have risen to match their international contemporaries.

Synonymous with The Daily Telegraph, it’s her transition to National Music Writer for News Corp that has exploded her reach and influence across print and online. McCabe’s dedication to documenting Australian music is in itself well-documented, and it’s hard to find someone with the same appetite for telling stories of our national soundtrack to a mainstream audience as her.

THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC:

In an era in which the debate regarding AI is leading the charge, the importance of professional music writers leading the conversation is as important as ever. That’s where the likes of Kathy McCabe comes into play. As one of the most prominent voices in the Australian music scene and one of the most revered journalists, McCabe’s position as News Corp’s National Music Writer brings with it great responsibility to be a straight shooter that also celebrates the wins of Australia’s vibrant music scene.

Arguably one of the most trusted music writers in the country, McCabe’s dedication to keeping her finger on the pulse of the local industry, championing the rising acts, and reporting the important, intriguing, and occasionally uncomfortable stories that colour the scene makes her a vital conduit for not just the casual and interested fans, but the wider industry as well.

THE MUSIC SPEAKS:

Quite simply, Kathy McCabe is underestimated in 2025. In a world of “influencers”, our industry is far too quick to celebrate a TikToker with 5,000 followers while forgetting the power of traditional media. We know…. as one of the most-read music publications, we reach a lot of people, but we know our potential reach is dwarfed by McCabe’s unique position of deciphering new artists and Australian news for a casual music audience. 

Forget your perception of “press”. The entertainment section of News.com.au sees 11.5 million Australian visitors every month (latest IPSOS survey). 3.5 million of those are under 40. And that’s ignoring any social reach. And of her last ten stories, as we write this, eight have been about Australian artists. How’s that for a quota and an impact? Show me the influencer that matches that power and is using it every day for Australian artists. 

We don’t have many mainstream press journalists left dedicated to music, writing for general news publications. Hat tip to Andrew McMillen who is still fighting the good fight at The Australian as well, but for pure mainstream reach across all ages, Kathy is an underappreciated gift the industry is lucky to still have.