94.9 The Rock (CKGE-FM), serving Greater Toronto and Oshawa, is doubling down on its rock star talent, announcing that Christian Tanna of I Mother Earth is taking over hosting duties of the Durham Radio station’s new and emerging artist spotlight, Generation Next Radio.
“I’ve always wanted to work with the amazing crew at 94.9 The Rock in some capacity,” said Tanna in a station announcement. “Helping with the development of up and coming artists and bands, getting eyes and ears on them, is something I’ve always done in my career. Generation Next is about the best platform you could ask for to continue promoting emerging Canadian talent of the future so…I’m in.”
Tanna, who grew up in Peterborough, formed I Mother Earth with his brother Jagori and singer Edwin in 1990. Since the band’s initial break-up in 2004, the drummer has been working as an artist and event manager and promoter, including managing the Oshawa Music Hall and The Venue in Peterborough.
He’ll be heard weeknights at 8 p.m. and weekends at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., starting Nov. 7. Tanna takes over from in-demand music producer/mixer/engineer Brian Moncarz, who is stepping away from the show after a decade.
Tanna joins Cone McCaslin of Sum 41 on the 94.9 The Rock lineup, who joined the station in April with Sunday night music discovery show, Cone’s Cave, dedicated to punk, garage rock and metal.
Sharing passion
“For me, it’s just working with people who have a big passion for radio,” said 94.9 The Rock Program Director Doug Elliott. “These are musicians who are big fans of radio and so it’s easy to take that passion and say ‘here, share that passion with the people who love that music.'”
“With Christian, he’s always been passionate about developing new and emerging talent. We already had a show in place, so it’s a perfect time to transition with Brian busy doing other stuff,” Elliott added.
Elliott said there’s been great listener momentum behind McCaslin’s show since its debut.
“It’s the only place you can get punk and garage rock and metal and it’s perfectly curated. If you like that power punk of the early 2000s, like Sum 41, Billy Talent, Blink 182, all the way to Judas Priest, Pennywise and the Dead Kennedys…these are bands nobody wants to play, but everybody knows. It’s all the stuff musicians like Dave Grohl listened to as kids,” said Elliott. “The momentum is absolutely mammoth for Cone’s Cave. People who follow it are rapid. It’s a must tune-in program, we don’t have it on demand anywhere…we’ve made it a Sunday night must-listen.”
“It’s nice to be expanding station personalities at a time when everybody else seems to be doing multi-track, multi-market stuff,” he added.
Subscribe Now – Free!
Broadcast Dialogue has been required reading in the Canadian broadcast media for 30 years. When you subscribe, you join a community of connected professionals from media and broadcast related sectors from across the country.
The Weekly Briefing from Broadcast Dialogue is delivered exclusively to subscribers by email every Thursday. It’s your link to critical industry news, timely people moves, and excellent career advancement opportunities.
Let’s get started right now.
