Jim Pattison Broadcast Group (JPBG) re-launched 101.5 KooL FM (CKCE-FM) Calgary as 101.5 Today Radio Tuesday morning. The station will maintain its Hot AC format, but feature more songs from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. 101.5’s on-air lineup remains virtually the same with Christy and Fraser helming mornings, Taylor Daniels on middays, and Rob and Joelle on afternoon drive. Joining the lineup is the introduction of an evening show from Crash and Mars, the morning duo from sister station 102.3 Now! (CKNO-FM) Edmonton. The evening show will feature highlights from their morning show, along with content localized for Today Radio. The on-air roster is rounded out by Nick Potter on weekends. Read the full story here.
Listen to our podcast on the Today Radio re-launch featuring the new station imaging here:
CBC Podcasts’ Someone Knows Something and Tai Asks Why have claimed multiple 2019 Canadian Podcast Awards. True Crime podcast Someone Knows Something, hosted by filmmaker and writer David Rigden, was recognized for Outstanding Documentary and Outstanding Production For A Series. Tai Asks Why picked up the award for Outstanding Kids & Family Series, with its 11-year-old host Tai Poole also winning the award for Best Host In A Series. A testament to the popularity of the True Crime genre, Minds of Madness picked up the inaugural People’s Choice Award, which saw the top nominated podcasts across all categories, open to voting by the general public. The Big Story, part of the Frequency podcast network, was recognized in the Outstanding News & Current Affairs Series category, while Corus Curiouscast offering Super Awesome Science Show took the award for Outstanding Science & Medicine Series. Find the full list of winners and nominees here.
SOCAN says total 2018 international royalties for its members are estimated to be least $87-million, an increase of 15 per cent over 2017. According to preliminary financial results, SOCAN’s total royalties collected for its nearly 160,000 member songwriters, composers and music publishers continued to accelerate at an 11 per cent clip to a record $374-million, due to, among other factors, long-term investments in leading-edge technologies, strategic acquisitions and partnerships. SOCAN revenue from internet-based licensed music in 2018 will total approximately $62-million, an increase of 27 per cent from $49-million collected in 2017.
SiriusXM Canada has reversed a decision to feature comics from around the world on a rebrand of its Canada Laughs channel (168), set to launch this Spring as part of a partnership with Just for Laughs. The new channel will now be called Just for Laughs Canada. A statement issued late Wednesday said the channel will showcase 100 per cent Canadian content, independent of the Just For Laughs catalogue. Canadian artists will be eligible for the same royalties as under the previous channel. The Canadian Association of Stand-up Comedians (CASC), among others, had expressed concern the changes would cut in to what’s been a consistent, royalty stream for many Canadian comics.
SiriusXM Canada has launched a new and improved app, which showcases a redesigned user experience, as well as SiriusXM Video from The Howard Stern Show, that’s now available on all Amazon Fire TV products, Apple TV (4th generation), and Apple TV 4K. Subscribers can also access SiriusXM’s growing library of recorded On Demand content which features more than 5,000 hours of programming.
Erin Davis has written memoir Mourning Has Broken: Love, Loss and Reclaiming Joy, recounting the 2015 loss of her daughter Lauren, 24, who unexpectedly died in her sleep, leaving behind a seven-month-old son and husband. The longtime Toronto radio personality takes the reader through her grief process with hope and humour. The book features a forward by Jann Arden.
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) has launched a French-language podcast series looking at trends reshaping the media and entertainment industries. The first season of Futur et médias will explore digital distribution, podcasting, blockchain, location-based virtual reality, youth content and data. The series’ first episode features Monika Ille, executive director of Programming and Scheduling at the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).
The Allan Waters Young Broadcaster of the Year Award in Honour of Steve Young, recognizing outstanding young broadcasters, is open for nominations until Mar. 11. Awarded at Canadian Music Week in May, the winning recipient’s travel, accommodation and registration are covered. Anyone working in the industry can nominate any worthy broadcaster so long as they are under the age of 30 as of Apr. 19, 2019; work on-air or in programming, promotion, production or creative; are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant; and have made a significant, documented contribution to the community they serve, the radio industry or their craft. Click here to access the submission form.
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