Canadian Music Week (CMW) and Radiodays Europe have announced Radiodays North America, a joint event set to take place in Toronto, June 8-9. Radiodays North America will take place over two days during the weeklong Canadian Music Week Festival, bringing keynote speakers and panelists from around the globe to Toronto to discuss all facets of over-the-air and digital broadcasting and podcasting from executive leadership and workplace diversity to innovation, technology, talent, programming, marketing and revenue growth. The meeting point for radio, podcasting and audio, Radiodays Europe will host its 13th edition in Prague, Czech Republic, March 26-28. The event now draws over 1,600 participants from 62 countries online and in-person. Read more here.
The CRTC has approved an application from United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) to acquire three un-launched radio stations in Kelowna, Saskatoon, and Scarborough from International Harvesters for Christ Evangelical Association. Dr. J. Lutes, the president and Chief Executive Officer of International Harvesters, passed away in July 2021. International Harvesters and its board of directors have decided that without his expertise they do not have the capacity to launch the stations without causing undue financial hardship on their existing operations. UCBC is proposing the same parameters for the three radio stations as International Harvesters did in its original applications.
United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) Canadian Radio Network raised over $300,000 during its fall four-day pledge drive. In partnership with Food Banks Canada and Mackay Insurance, the network helped release 23,000 meals during the event to help combat food insecurity across the country. For every $40/month+ (or $480+) gift made to UCB Canada, Mackay Insurance donated the equivalent of 100 meals to Food Banks Canada, up to a maximum of 30,000 meals.
The CKNX Healthcare Heroes Radiothon raised over $364K on Oct. 15. Broadcast on CKNX AM 920 Wingham with updates on 101.7 The One (CKNX-FM) and Cool 94.5 (CIBU-FM), listeners across Midwestern Ontario were urged to phone in and make a donation to any one of the eight hospital foundations participating. When the Radiothon went off the air at 4 p.m., the grand total was $364,559 and expected to grow with the foundations continue to accept donations until the end of the year. This year’s Radiothon benefitted Clinton Hospital Foundation, Hanover & District Hospital Foundation, Listowel Memorial Hospital Foundation, Mount Forest Louise Marshall Hospital Foundation, Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation, Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation, Walkerton and District Hospital Foundation, and Wingham & District Hospital Foundation. Since its inception in 2002, the Radiothon has raised more than $13,589,000 in support of rural area hospitals.
Sean Shapiro, the Toronto Police Traffic Operations officer who is the face and voice of the department’s TikTok account (aka “The TikTok Cop”), is the lone Canadian contestant remaining in the RadioStar ‘22 international radio talent search. Shapiro is already immensely popular with his online audience, in addition to contributing on-air segments at Zoomer Radio (CFZM-AM) and NewsTalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) Toronto. The winner will be announced next month following the contest’s final challenge.
The 33rd SOCAN Awards honoured Tom Cochrane and Lighthouse, among other music creators and publishers this week. Cochrane was presented with the SOCAN Cultural Impact Award for his iconic “Life Is A Highway,” while Ralph Cole, Paul Hoffert, Bob McBride, and Skip Prokop of Canadian jazz-rock group Lighthouse were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Hosted by the CBC’s Amanda Parris, the gala at Sheraton Centre Toronto also featured performances from Snotty Nose Rez Kids and rapper Drezus, recipients of the first-ever Vince Fontaine Indigenous Song Award. Additional SOCAN firsts included the SOCAN Breakout Songwriter Award – Francophone presented to La Zarra, the SOCAN Breakout Composer Award awarded to up-and-coming screen composer, Evan MacDonald, as well as the first-ever SOCAN Reproduction Right award awarded to Editions Studio V. Drake was named SOCAN Songwriter of the Year – Performer, also picking up two SOCAN Rap Music Awards for “Wants and Needs” and “Way 2 Sexy.” Find a complete list of winners here.
LISTEN: Clayton Kroeker, morning show co-host at Harvard Media’s Cruz 96.3 (CFWD-FM) Saskatoon, is on the latest Sound Off Podcast. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
The Canadian Radio Awards submission deadline has been extended to Friday, Oct. 21 at noon PT. Self-nominate or submit your station’s best radio across on-air, creative, news, sales, and promotions. Listen to the winning audio from past years and learn more about this year’s categories at CanadianRadioAwards.com. We’ll be announcing the winners on Nov. 10.
