The CRTC has renewed the licenses of eight Newcap Radio stations through 2024. The stations include CIXF-FM Brooks, AB; CFCW-AM Camrose, AB; CKDQ-AM Drumheller, AB; CFXH-FM Hinton, AB; CIZZ-FM Red Deer; CIGM-FM Sudbury; CILV-FM Ottawa; CJYQ-AM St. John’s, NL.
The CRTC has denied an application for a new transmitter in Scarborough, ON to rebroadcast York University campus radio station VIBE 105.5 (CHRY-FM) Downsview, ON. The application was made on the basis of better serving the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), however the commission found complaints about signal degradation from Pickering, Scarborough, Brampton and Mississauga fall outside the station’s service contours and reliable reception should not be expected in those cities.
The CRTC has approved an application from Peace River Broadcasting to operate an English-language FM commercial radio station to replace CKYL-AM Peace River, AB and its rebroadcasting transmitter CKYL-FM-1. The new FM station will operate at 94.9 MHz at 62,000 watts and will maintain the hot country music format currently offered on the AM station, targeting adults 18 to 54.
Eternacom has received CRTC approval for new FM rebroadcasting transmitters in Iroquois Falls, Sault Ste. Marie, Englehart, New Liskeard, Sundridge and Spring Bay, ON to rebroadcast Christian music specialty station CJTK-FM Sudbury. The transmitters must be operational before June 19, 2019.
Stingray Digital Group has unveiled plans to double its workforce over the next five years. Best known for its commercial-free music streaming service Stingray Music, the public company is focused on international growth, including the continued acquisition of rival services. The company plans to hire 400 new employees by 2022, adding to its existing workforce of 350. Founded by entrepreneur Eric Boyko in 2007, Stingray is based in Montreal’s old quarter with the company planning to double the size of its headquarters to 60,000 square feet.
CFUR-FM Prince George, the campus radio station at the University of Northern British Columbia, is offering free summer classes to youth ages 12-17 until July 28. This is the second year for the summer radio academy sessions, which give kids a taste of reporting, production, editing and podcasting. Fifty-thousand dollars in funding from the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC) has made this year’s classes free of charge.
Coleman Hell, Tyler Shaw, The Strumbellas, Billy Talent, Donovan Woods, and SonReal were among those who received 2017 SOCAN Awards on June 19, for most-performed songs, inclusive of broadcast and streaming. The teams behind global hits One Dance by Drake and Starboy by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye were each honoured with Pop Music Awards. SOCAN will award Francophone music creators and publishers at a gala in Montréal in October.
CBC Radio Toronto Metro Morning host Matt Galloway returned to his alma mater York University on June 19 to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws. Galloway graduated from York in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and began his career in radio at campus station CHRY-FM.
JAZZ.FM91 Toronto has won Gold, Silver and Bronze at the 2017 New York Festivals World’s Best Radio Programs Awards. The programs recognized include Sunday morning live music program The Sound of Jazz (Gold); Saturday morning’s Music To Listen To Jazz By with Ross Porter (Silver); and special Live to Air Tribute Concert to Leonard Cohen.
GoldenWest Radio’s CHVN-FM Winnipeg wrapped up two-day radiothon A Place to Grow last Friday in support of Camp Arnes. CHVN helped raise $40,500, enough money to send 1,620 kids to camp this summer.
iHeartRadio Canada is bringing a live music event to Vancouver with the inaugural, two-day iHeartRadio Beach Ball, Sept. 3-4 at the PNE Amphitheatre. The event will coincide with the annual Fair at the PNE and feature Alessia Cara, Scott Helman, Virginia to Vegas, Blondie, Serena Ryder and Train, among other acts.