Numeris has confirmed it will be delivering a modified Spring 2021 RTS release. The modified dataset promises to include national data, regional data for Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies and B.C. and radio format level data, but will not include market level or call letter data. Numeris says it will release more details soon.
Amazon Music has announced the launch of its podcast offering in Canada. Available at no additional cost, top podcasts like Canadian True Crime and Spittin’ Chiclets are featured, in addition to original shows hosted by DJ Khaled, Becky G, Will Smith, and Dan Patrick, among others. Amazon Music is also the exclusive home of music-meets-true-crime podcast, Disgraceland, exploring the criminal antics and connections of musicians like Oasis, The Beatles, and Lil Wayne. The platform’s features include the ability to ask for the latest episode of a show on Echo Auto in the car, resume playback on your phone while working out, and seamlessly move to your Echo device upon arrival home.
Spotify says it had 2.2 million podcasts as of the fourth quarter of 2020, up from 1.9 million in Q3. It’s also reporting a bump in podcast engagement to 25% of average users, up from 22% last quarter. The streamer says The Joe Rogan Experience was its most-listened to podcast in 17 markets at year’s end. Spotify says 155 million people are now subscribing to its premium service, with total monthly active users up 27% to 345 million. Revenue was up 17% to $2.61 billion in the quarter.
SiriusXM Canada has a new content deal with retired CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge that sees the satellite radio provider pick up his self-produced, current affairs podcast The Bridge. In addition to joining SiriusXM’s newly-expanded podcast offering, the show is airing on Canada Talks (channel 167) at noon and 5 p.m. ET daily. The partnership will also see Mansbridge create exclusive content for SiriusXM Canada. Read more here.
SiriusXM is streaming a series of limited-engagement channels and specialty programming as part of SiriusXM Celebrates Black History Month, through March 1. Soul Town (channel 49) becomes The Aretha Franklin Channel from Feb. 15-21, while Deep Tracks (channel 27) is set for a Jimi Hendrix takeover Feb. 8-14. Miles Davis Radio will be available on channel 67 (Real Jazz) from Feb. 22-28. B.B. King’s Bluesville powered by The Blues Foundation (ch. 74) will pay tribute to the founding artists of blues music and the prominent artists who continue to move blues music forward. Hip Hop Nation (ch. 44) will spotlight today’s ground-breaking Black artists, including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Nicki Minaj, throughout the month.
JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto is marking Black History Month with daily audio vignettes, narrated and written by John Devenish, host of evening program Dinner Jazz, that put the spotlight on influential figures throughout jazz history like Theo Crocker, Sarah Vaughan, Robert Glasper, Oscar Peterson, Nina Simone, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Kamasi Washington, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. The mini-segments are also featured in podcast format at jazz.fm. The Sunday afternoon Sound of Jazz Concert Series will focus on Black Canadians this month, including Larnell Lewis, Archie Alleyne, Russ Little and Cory Butler. Africville Stories, by JUNO Award-winning, Order of Canada recipient Joe Sealy will also air in a special presentation Feb. 13 and 28. Sealy’s Africville Suite pays tribute to Canada’s oldest Black settlement, established in 1847 in Halifax’s North End. Throughout the month, JAZZ.FM91 will also be sharing digital-exclusive content highlighting Black excellence and legacies.
Bell Media’s three radio stations in London, ON are set to be integrated into the CTV2 building at 1 Communications Rd. by July. Newstalk 1290 CJBK, Pure Country 93 (CJBX-FM) and 97.5 Virgin Radio (CIQM-FM) are currently located at 743 Wellington Rd. The move is being made possible with the relocation of Rogers-owned JACK 102.3 (CHST-FM) to the company’s York St. operation in London. CHST-FM has remained located on Communications Rd., despite its sale by CTVglobemedia to Rogers in 2010. 743 Wellington Road went up for sale in January, listed at $1.9 million.
About Time, hosted by Tom Allen, is the newest show to join CBC Music’s refreshed lineup. Making its debut this week, alongside The Block and Frequencies, About Time will act as a bridge between Julie Nesrallah’s Tempo and Rich Terfry’s Drive (which has been shortened by a half hour). It will explore five centuries of music — from the Renaissance to the modern age, from noon to 3 p.m. weekday afternoons.
The 16th Annual Podcast Awards are open for entries. This year’s awards program features 10 new categories, including True Crime, Fiction, and History. Learn more here.
LISTEN: On the latest Sound Off Podcast, Brooklyn Driediger, midday and weekend host at 94.5 Virgin Radio (CFBT-FM) Vancouver. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
ADVERTORIAL: Introducing Momentum Music Research, an advanced cloud-based platform developed by renowned UK-based music research consultant Stephen Ryan, aimed at helping navigate the changing radio and audio streaming landscape. Momentum Music Research provides a personal mentor, with research and programming experience, to guide any station through set-up and help them get the most out of their music testing strategy. Read more here.
