Gord Downie’s impact on the Canadian consciousness didn’t go unnoticed yesterday, as radio stations from coast to coast immediately flipped to pay tribute to the late Tragically Hip frontman upon word that he had quietly passed away. From CBC’s q, which learned of Downie’s passing 20 minutes before air, to rock stations across the country, radio responded. Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax went all Gord Downie all day, with Barney Bentall graciously agreeing to do an impromptu tribute of his own during a pre-scheduled visit to the station. PD Trevor Wallworth writes “When we asked if he would like to do a Hip cover, he didn’t skip a beat and said ‘Can you print out the lyrics to Bobcaygeon?’ He went into the studio and nailed it in one take.” Watch Bentall’s performance here.
KiSS Radio (CKKS-FM) Vancouver has proclaimed itself the first fully interactive radio station in Canada, giving listeners the power to choose what songs go to air through a new online voting system via KiSSRadio.ca and the KiSS mobile app. Songs on the KiSS playlist are pushed up and down in real time through user votes, with the most popular songs going to air. Audiences can sign-up to receive alerts indicating when their favourite song is about to play and share their favourite tracks to social to encourage friends to join in.
Rogers has completed work on brand new studios at Bloor and Jarvis for Toronto stations 680 News (CFTR-AM), KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM), and CHFI-FM. Take a tour with 680 News’ business reporter Richard Southern here.
SiriusXM Canada has added 75 new specialty music, talk and sports channels to its SiriusXM Streaming service. Subscribers with access can now listen to new curated music channels including SiriusXM’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Radio, The Covers Channel, and Neil Diamond Radio. SiriusXM is also expanding its suite of Spanish-language and Latin-focused music, news and sports channels, offering American Latino Radio, CNN en Español and ESPN Deportes. See the full lineup here.
Glen Tilley, former executive producer of arts & entertainment at CBC Radio Newfoundland and Labrador, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Music NL. Tilley was among those honoured Sunday night in St. John’s.
The C95 (CFMC-FM) Saskatoon Radio Marathon raised over $300,000 for breast cancer on Oct. 13, thanks in part to an anonymous $100,000 donation. Total funds raised for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency amounted to $300,036.
The inaugural Give Thanks To Your Hospital Radiothon in Woodstock, ON raised nearly $37,000 for the Woodstock Hospital Maternal Child Department on Oct. 12. The event was broadcast live on 104.7 Heart FM (CIHR-FM) over 12 hours.
