Carlton has worked on a number of Sydney radio stations, including
2UE and
2GB, In the on air presenting and producing roles. Until end of 2008, he was a talk back presenter on the radio station
Triple M, using the moniker
The Spoonman. Spoonman was the weekday newsreader on
Triple M Sydney, featuring in three separate news "rants" throughout the day as well as appearing on Triple M's program
The Grill Team, but in October 2012 he was notified that his contract would not be renewed for 2013. From 3 February 2012, he hosted a show on Newstalk
2UE, called 'The Stir' With Brian Carlton. The show runs in 6 pm – 8 pm. Carlton is Also Executive Producer of
Jason Morrison's Drive show, also on 2UE. Carlton anchored a new local talk show, broadcast across Northern and North West Tasmania on Tasmanian Broadcasters Stations
LAFM Launceston, 7BU Burnie, 7AD Devonport, 7SD Scottsdale and 7XS Queenstown. He announced his resignation for "personal reasons" 5 October 2019, saying he would finish up three weeks later, however his final broadcast was the following Monday 7 October. On 30 October 2019,
Triple M Hobart announced Brian Carlton would be taking on the breakfast show in Hobart after it axed the popular Dave Noonan show. He left Triple M in February 2022. ==Views and opinions==