Play 92 debuted at noon Friday on Harvard Broadcasting’s CHMX-FM Regina. An extension of the company’s ’90s and 2000s Classic Hits format, which launched on CJNW-FM Edmonton in Aug. 2019 (and later rebranded to Play 107 last December), the new format replaces My 92.1 and the Adult Contemporary playlist the station had broadcast for the last nine years. Andy Ross, program director for Harvard’s Regina stations, told Broadcast Dialogue that with a station in the market already playing current hits and another focused on Classic Hits from the 1970s and ’80s, that left an opening to introduce the Play format. Play 92’s on-air lineup includes Mark Johnston in mornings, Jessica Frost in middays, DEVO in afternoon drive, and Gary James on weekends, as well as Harvard personality Shirley McQueen. Read more here.
Rogers Sports & Media debuted a refreshed KiSS 102.3 (CKY-FM) on Tuesday, tweaking the station’s playlist, introducing a new evening show, and announcing that Roz & Mocha from Toronto sister station KiSS 92.5 (CKIS-FM) will now be heard in mornings. Rogers says KiSS 102.3 is evolving to a more contemporary format featuring current artists like Harry Styles, Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, and Dua Lipa, in addition to hits from the past 20 years from Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake, Pink, and others. The Roz & Mocha Show will air weekday mornings, while former morning show co-hosts Karly Troschuk and Drew Kozub will be heard in middays and afternoons, respectively. Both of those dayparts were previously voice tracked by other Rogers Sports & Media talent. KiSS 102.3 also adds Sarah Nick to its lineup, who will host evening show “Nick At Night,” from 9 p.m. to midnight. Nick was released just weeks ago by Evanov Radio Group’s Energy 106 (CHWE-FM) to make way for Dave Wheeler’s return to morning radio. Read more here.
Jim Pattison Broadcast Group has launched 101.5 FM Beach Radio (CHQX-FM) in Prince Albert, SK. The classic hits format replaces rocker XFM, the brand the station had carried since late 2016. Pattison also has Beach Radio-branded stations in Melfort, Kelowna, and Vernon.
Frequency Podcast Network has unveiled its fall slate that features seven new titles, including forthcoming podcasts from Fashion Television icon Jeanne Beker, a climate change collaboration with The Narwhal, and a first person account of one man’s 1982 escape from Iran. The new series bring the number of podcasts under the Rogers Sports & Media podcast banner to 26, joining returning shows Black Tea, #CitylineReal on Race, Heaven Bent, and The Gravy Train, among others. Read more about the lineup, here.
Jeff Vidler of Signal Hill Insights explores the question Could Apple Show Broadcasters The Way For Live Radio? in his latest blog post. As Vidler writes, Apple’s latest foray into audio “is a doubling down on the old school notion of human-hosted, human-curated radio.” Read more here.
The SOCAN Foundation has announced the launch of the Black Canadian Music Awards, in partnership with SiriusXM Canada. The awards will recognize and celebrate Black music creators (songwriters, composers, producers, etc.) in all genres. The inaugural awards will be presented virtually in 2020 with winners to be selected by a jury of prominent Black artists and industry leaders, including DJ Agile as the inaugural jury chair. Five winners will be selected to each receive a $5,000 award. Applications are open until Oct. 15. More info here.
Indie Week Canada’s 18th edition is moving to a five-day online conference, Nov. 10-14. Attendees will be able to directly connect with delegates and other industry professionals through various events and sessions. Partners and delegates will have the opportunity to directly contact artists and other industry representatives to facilitate their own private one-on-one meetings. Every Tuesday leading up to the conference, Indie Week will also host free online series, Indie Weekly, focused on current issues in the music industry. More info here.
LISTEN: With Toronto’s G98.7 (CKFG-FM) now in receivership and the licence up for grabs, a group of Black voices from Canadian radio, the music industry, and others are appealing to the CRTC to keep the station Black-owned. On this episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, we’re joined by Aubrey Clarke, Nova Nicole, Ian Andre Espinet and Alicia West to talk about Keeping the Black Voice on Canadian Radio.
Momentum Media Networks has introduced Momentum Music Logs, a new service offering that encompasses clock building, sound code strategy, universe optimization, and log scheduling. The team behind Momentum Music Logs includes major market programmers who will work with clients, whether they’re single stations, networked formats or larger groups. Contact Michael@momentummediamarketing.com for details.
