Numeris has released insights looking at weekly format share throughout the 2023-24 broadcast year. Radio reached an average of 84% of Canadians, 18+, each week. The data release indicates no significant changes in format listening throughout the year with News/Talk and Adult Contemporary formats, holding the #1 and #2 spots consistently. Those were followed in the English markets (Montreal Anglo, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver) by Top 40/CHR/Urban, Classic Rock, and Mainstream Rock. For Franco Montreal, the News/Talk, Hot AC and AC formats were followed by Multi/Variety/Comedy, Classic Hits and Mainstream Rock in popularity. In terms of demographics, listeners in the five English CMs are comprised of 49.8% women with an average weighted age of 55, while Franco Montreal listeners are 48.2% women.
CKUA Radio says that while it hasn’t been able to meet a $3 million dollar fundraising target, it’s found ways to “bridge the gap” to keep the 96-year-old Alberta institution from going silent. Back in April, the community radio station – which has a presence in both Edmonton and Calgary – made an urgent listener appeal for donations, citing a perfect storm of rising inflationary pressures, limited government funding, the devaluation of its downtown Edmonton office space, and post-pandemic realities. While that initial fundraising effort saw $1.8 million raised in the first 10 days, the station found itself still half a million dollars short of its goal by the end of September. Another round of fundraising launches this Friday. Read more here.
UCB Radio (United Christian Broadcasters) raised more than $380,000 during its Fall fundraiser, Oct. 8-11. Heard on its 15-station network across the country, UCB says the event exceeded expectations, surpassing goals thanks to the incredible support from UCB listeners.
94.9 The Rock (CKGE-FM) Oshawa and Ed the Sock’s All-Night Show will stage Socktoberfest 2024 on Oct. 24 at the Biltmore Theatre, an audience appreciation event to benefit the homeless. Hosted by Ed, attendees of Socktoberfest and members of the “Nighttime Neighbourhood” (Ed’s overnight audience) will participate in on-stage games, performances and contests, with music provided by special guests Blamethrower and rising radio rockers Highteens. Admission to this 19+ event is free, but attendees are strongly encouraged to bring new socks for the homeless, as well as gently used winter clothing and boots. Socktoberfest is supported by Durham Region’s Street Outreach Program, which will be collecting and distributing all donations.
Silken Laumann is the host of Inflection Time, a new weekly podcast featuring firsthand accounts of triumphs, setbacks, and surprising events that redefined her guests’ lives. Launched on World Mental Health Day, the Canadian Olympic medallist and founder of youth mental health organization Unsinkable, aims to explore the pivotal moments that shape human lives and spark meaningful change. Guests include comedian Colin Mochrie, musician Bif Naked, mental health advocate Michael Landsberg, hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser, celebrity chef Joe Friday, and media personality Erica Ehm.
Sounds Profitable has released insights from The Podcast Landscape 2024, its survey of more than 5,000 American consumers, 18+, diving into their podcast consumption habits. It finds that while some of the medium’s newest hits are primarily consumed on video platforms, the majority of podcast consumers are listening to mainly audio, noting specifically that the percentage of those that watch less than 25% of their podcasts is over three times larger than the percentage who watch 75% or more. Those primarily consuming video podcasts tend to lean male (60%) and slightly younger.
LISTEN: Donna Reed, a former radio host, podcast creator, and voiceover talent is on the Sound Off Podcast, discussing her career in radio, including her time at WQDR and WRDU in Raleigh, NC; KLOL and KODA in Houston, and WCXR in Washington, D.C. She eventually transitioned to voice acting and curated the “Leopard Print Lounge Chair” channel for AccuRadio during the pandemic.
