Bell Media’s NewsTalk 1290 CJBK London, TSN 1260 (CFRN-AM) Edmonton, BNN Bloomberg Radio 1410 (CFTE-AM) Vancouver, Funny 1040 (CKST-AM) Vancouver, Funny 1290 (CFRW-AM) Winnipeg, and Funny 1060 (CKMX-FM) Calgary went off the air as of 11 a.m. ET Wednesday. Station websites showed 404 errors or had notices posted, informing listeners that “The Realities of AM Radio in the broadcast media landscape have made this change unavoidable.” Pending CRTC approval, Bell will also sell AM 1150 (CKOC-AM) Hamilton and Funny 820 (CHAM-AM) Hamilton, as well as Windsor’s AM 580 (CKWW-AM) to a third party. Bell Canada President Mirko Bibic cites profit losses of as much as 50% in the company’s radio business pre- to post-pandemic, along with declines in legacy phone revenues. Read more here.
Radiodays North America held its inaugural event in Toronto last week to rave reviews. At this year’s Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame Awards, Patrick Grierson, the late founder of Canadian Broadcast Sales (CBS), was recognized as the recipient of the 1st annual Allan Slaight Radio Salesperson of the Year Award. Grierson, who passed away in May 2022 at the age of 77, started his 40-year career with Standard Broadcasting in the 1970s, retiring in 2017 as leader of the largest national radio sales organization in Canada. Veteran Toronto music director Wayne Webster, who has been with Stingray’s boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM) Toronto for the last 13 years, was this year’s Allan Waters Hall of Fame recipient. An alum of Q107 (CILQ-FM), CHUM-FM, and Mix 99.9 (CKFM-FM), among other stations, Webster joked that he had spent most of his life trying to stay out of the spotlight, as he accepted the award. Read more here. More Radiodays North America coverage to come.
Canadian Music Week (CMW) and the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) have announced the recipients of the 2023 Canadian Live Music Industry Awards (CLMIAs). RBCxMusic’s BrandxMusic program was named Program of the Year, while the Unison Fund won the Community Impact honour. FM Systems was named A/V Production Company of the Year. Mississauga was named Music City of the Year.
The Western Association of Broadcasters (WAB) wrapped up their 87th annual conference in Banff on Thursday, June 8 with the WAB Gold Medal Awards Gala. Two longtime radio reporter/anchors are this year’s WAB Hall of Fame inductees – Barry Lamb of CJRB Boissevain, MB and Tony King of Calgary’s 770 CHQR. Tyler Carr, morning show co-host on Evanov Communications’ Energy 106 (CHWE-FM) Winnipeg, is the recipient of the 2023 WAB Leader of Tomorrow Award. Read more here.
The National Campus & Community Radio Association (NCRA) handed out its annual Campus & Community Radio Awards in Broadcast and Online (aka the CRABOs) on Friday, June 2 at its 41st annual conference in Calgary. The University of Calgary’s CJSW won a leading 12 awards, including Best Current Affairs or Magazine Show for Sprawlcast, and two awards for residential school series, Survivors (Grace Heavyrunner, Cam Siferd, Jasmine Vickaryous), which picked up Best Documentary and Best Aboriginal Affairs and Culture Programming. Catherine Fisher of Kootenay Co-op Radio (CJLY-FM) Nelson, BC was given the Radio Legend Award. CJLY-FM also won in the Best in Podcasting category. Find the full list of winners here.
Red Robinson has been posthumously honoured by NABS with the Heart Award, recognizing his history of service to the organization supporting the health and wellbeing of those in media, marketing and communications. Robinson, who was pivotal in bringing NABS to Western Canada, was recognized at the organization’s Benevolence Bash in Toronto on Wednesday evening, with his daughter Kellie accepting the award virtually on her father’s behalf. NABS is marking its 40th anniversary, with founder Rupert Brendan, who travelled from the UK, and Daniel Rabinowicz, founder of Quebec counterpart bec, also recognized.
CityNews 680 is 30 years old. I take a look at some of the moments that have helped define the powerhouse all-news radio station. https://t.co/iMyL1r1J6S
— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) June 7, 2023
Rogers Sports & Media’s CityNews 680 (CFTR-AM) Toronto is celebrating 30 years as an all-news station. The station officially adopted the format on June 7, 1993, transitioning from CFTR 680 AM’s Top 40 format with Starship’s “We Built This City.” Eight million time checks and 1.5 million traffic reports later, the station is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Retired News Director Scott Metcalfe has put together a podcast on the evolution of the brand.
Vista Radio has rebranded Moose FM (CFXN-FM) North Bay as North Bay’s Classics 106.3 Jet FM. Officially launched on June 7 to coincide with Armed Forces Day in North Bay, 106.3 Jet FM is a nod to the community’s proud aviation history. Mike Monaghan continues as host of weekday mornings, with Richard Coffin moving into the morning news position. Ty Demerah is being heard in middays and cluster program director and broadcaster Steph Larouche on the “Flight Home.” “After the difficult last few years that everyone in the area’s endured, we feel like something fresh and fun was in order,” said General Manager Peter Hobbs. “It’s more than a ‘fresh coat of paint.’ We’ve got some fun programming and contesting surprises we’re pretty pumped about unveiling along with the great classics all day every day.”
The CRTC has denied an application by Radio Markham York Incorporated to rebroadcast 105.9 The Region (CFMS-FM) Markham, ON in Pickering. Radio Markham had proposed operating the rebroadcasting transmitter to improve the station’s access to its primary market, particularly eastern Markham, where its current signal is deficient. It further submitted CFMS-FM’s inability to provide a strong signal to the area puts it at an economic disadvantage with neighbouring stations able to sell more advertising. The commission received 39 interventions in support of the application, mainly from local business, community groups, and listeners, including the Mayor of Markham, however the commission found lack of a compelling economic need for the proposed rebroadcasting transmitter, noting the station is showing good ability to manage its income and expenses in the market it is currently serving, even with denial of the application.
CBC has launched new investigative podcast, The Banned Teacher, hosted by award-winning CBC Ottawa journalist Julie Ireton and produced by Allison Cook. What begins with one woman’s search for justice uncovers untold stories of alleged historical sexual abuse by the same high school music teacher. The 10-part investigative series explores the trauma these now adult women live with as they search for answers, and the sexism they face when they seek accountability. The first three episodes are currently available on the CBC Listen App. New episodes will be released every Monday, until the series finale on July 3.
iHeartMedia’s Hot AC station The New Mix 102.9 (KDMX-FM) Dallas has secured Canadian voiceover talent Matt Fogarty and Melissa Thomas as new branding voices. KDMX-FM returns to its former “MIX” branding, abandoning its former NOW 102.9 moniker.
LISTEN: Tyler Glen, former longtime program director and morning show host on STAR FM (CKSR-FM) and CKLQ in Brandon, MB, is on the Sound Off Podcast. After more than two decades on-air in the market, Glen now livestreams his own morning show on Twitch.tv. He shares anecdotes with Matt Cundill about his morning show career, the incredible community that exists in Brandon, and more. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
