Cabin Radio has advised the CRTC of its intention to immediately reapply for an FM licence in Yellowknife. The commission determined in February that Yellowknife, NWT cannot support an additional commercial radio station at this time. With two dissenting opinions, its decision was based on the finding that the market is generally underperforming in terms of revenue and profitability when compared to Whitehorse and Iqaluit, as well as nationally, noting an ongoing decline in revenue at Vista Radio’s CJCD-FM, the only commercial station in the market. Cabin Radio, which has operated online since 2017 under the ownership of five local residents, would ordinarily have to wait two years to reapply. In its letter to the commission, it sets out why that moratorium shouldn’t apply including an unreasonable 42-month wait for the CRTC’s first decision and what it terms “a lack of appreciation” for the fact Cabin Radio is already operating in the market. Read more here.
Ongoing History of New Music, the long-running music documentary series hosted by Alan Cross, celebrated its 30-year anniversary on Toronto’s 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM) last Sunday. Since its debut on the station on Feb. 28, 1993, the show has explored everything from the roots of Alt-Rock, New Wave, and Christian Rock over the years to artist profiles of musicians like Joe Strummer, Sid Vicious, and John Frusciante, and Canadian acts like Billy Talent and The Trews. After gaining popularity on 102.1 the Edge, Corus Radio started airing the show nationally across its rock stations on Sunday evenings. A podcast version followed in 2017, which consistently remains in the Top 5 on Apple Podcasts’ Canada Music and Music History charts, in addition to charting in more than a dozen other countries. The show has produced 976 original radio episodes and 280 podcast episodes to date, with a landmark 1000th episode to air this fall. Read more here.
630 CHED Edmonton has made changes to its weekday lineup that see J’lyn Nye join Daryl McIntyre as co-host of This Morning from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., while Chelsea Bird moves into the afternoon drive talk position as host of Chelsea on CHED from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Corus Radio says moving J’lyn to mornings and Chelsea to afternoons gives the station the opportunity to further develop its personalities and expose them to different audiences.
102.7 The Pole (WLYK-FM) went live in Kingston on Tuesday afternoon, a stunt format inspired by strip club DJ bangers, ushering in the new ownership of Border Broadcasting. Licenced to Cape Vincent, New York, Jon Pole and Andrew Dickson, the co-founders of My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), acquired Border Broadcasting in December. The dial position was previously held by Rogers Sports & Media’s KiSS 102.7 with Rogers holding a 20% stake in Border Broadcasting. You can blame (or credit) radio veteran Rob Mise for the trial format, who is assisting with the ownership transition. “We wanted to have some fun with it,” Mise told Broadcast Dialogue. “The reaction that I’m getting the most is ‘finally someone is having fun with radio.’ We take ourselves too seriously, so this is clearly a chance to step out a bit.” Spanning Pop, Hip Hop and Rock, 102.7 The Pole’s livestream – “Music for the grind” – features a playlist running the gamut from The Weeknd, 50 Cent, Flo Rida, Lady Gaga, Nikki Minaj and Beyonce to Pearl Jam, INXS, The Police and Def Leppard. Read more here.
SiriusXM Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), has announced the eight semi-finalists vying to be the 2023 winner of SiriusXM’s Top of the Country competition. They are Hailey Benedict (St. Albert, AB); Noah Derksen (Winnipeg); Teigen Gayse (Kelowna); Amanda Jordan (Smith Falls, ON); Mark Ledlin (Vancouver); The Prairie States (Edmonton); Dayna Reid (Elmvale, ON); and Lydia Sutherland (Montréal). In addition to the $25,000 grand prize, SiriusXM is awarding both runners-up $10,000 with all to receive a SOCAN songwriting camp experience in Nashville following the competition. The finale will air live on SiriusXM’s new Top of the Country Radio (ch. 171).
LISTEN: Marie, host of YouTube-first podcast The Radio Fam, is on the latest Sound Off Podcast. Described as “a resource for those that are looking to the future of radio,” she talks about her lifelong passion for radio, eventual shift to podcasting, and what inspired her to start The Radio Fam. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
LISTEN: CNN and CTV marketing veteran Rick Lewchuk joins Broadcast Dialogue publisher Shawn Smith on Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to reflect on his media branding career and his plans to offer “coaching” for media creatives in semi-retirement via his new firm “Film at 11 Marketing.” Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
The Pro Bono Group, a collection of advertising and media pros who offer radio creative at no charge to worthwhile organizations, have written and produced another PSA for stations to download in support of Canada’s food banks. The third in a series, entitled “Food Banks – For Anyone,” the spot is intended to help remove any stigma attached to using a food bank. Contact [email protected] for more info.
