NewMusicNation, the new online music video channel helmed by former MuchMusic icon Ed the Sock, makes its debut Friday at noon ET.
Focused on independent music, Ed the Sock creator Steven Kerzner tells Broadcast Dialogue that the channel will feature two to three hours of new content a week to start, with programming blocks like Yo Canada!, showcasing all-Canadian talent, and Video Overload.
More shows will debut next week with the premieres of Rapsody, hosted by London, ON rapper Sum_01; GenPop hosted by VJ Candy Marie; The Punk Projekt with Toronto punk legend John Tard; Metal Momentum, hosted by standup comic and recovering addict Robbie Stevenson; Videoflow with Inuvik’s Dez Loreen; and Are You Kidding, spotlighting humorous (intentionally or otherwise) videos hosted by Ed the Sock.
The channel will also offer Canadians who’ve always wanted to try their hand at hosting a chance to do so with 63 music fans signed up so far for VJ For A Day.
Kerzner, who is supported in the venture by his wife and producing partner Liana Kerzner (a YouTuber and former co-host on Ed’s Nite Party), successfully crowdfunded more than $40,000 to get the channel off the ground. The launch is aimed at growing a product that advertisers can get behind.
“We haven’t approached anyone yet because we first wanted to have content we could show advertisers, to show them the quality and potency of what we’re doing,” said Kerzner.
The launch of the channel, which aims to capture the spirit of the original MuchMusic, comes as Bell Media announces its own revival of the brand on TikTok, starting July 7. Kerzner doesn’t see the timing as coincidental.
“Well, I spoke to Bell mid-February and told them of my plans in hopes of making my initiative the new MuchMusic,” said Kerzner. “I was told my idea is good and will succeed, but that they were holding on to the MuchMusic name for some time in the future, but they had no current plans. So was it a coincidence they announced after our crowdfunder was super-successful and we got a lot of social media traction? Could be. But in the end they are doing one-minute videos on TikTok and not playing music. We’re doing longform programming and full-play videos, so we really aren’t competing with each other. I wish them success. There’s plenty of room for both of us.”
Kerzner said response from the music community to NewMusicNation has been overwhelming with more than 600 videos submitted to date.
Steven Kerzner and Ed the Sock were guests on Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast earlier this year. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
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