Radio & Podcast News – Local Radio Lab to acquire Toronto’s Indie88

Broadcast Dialogue’s Canadian Radio Awards, also known as The Howards in recognition of our founding publisher Howard Christensen, are back for a fourth year. Submissions open Friday, Oct. 6 and will close Thursday, Nov. 2. Audio that is eligible must have aired on a Canadian radio station between Nov. 1, 2022 and Oct. 31, 2023. Winners will be announced Nov. 24. Find the full list of categories and the rules & regulations here. The Canadian Radio Awards are FREE to enter with those submitting able to self-nominate or be nominated by the station program director. Entries are limited to one entry per station, per category. Questions? Drop us a line via CanadianRadioAwards.com.

Local Radio Lab has entered into an agreement to purchase Toronto alternative rock station Indie88 (CIND-FM), pending CRTC approval. Local Radio Lab is the current licensee of FM 92 (CIMA-FM) South Simcoe, FM 101 (CJML-FM) Milton, and FM 101 (CKMO-FM) Orangeville. The radio group is helmed by Chris Grossman, the former majority owner and president of Haliburton Broadcasting Group, which was acquired by Vista Radio in 2012. Grossman founded Local Radio Lab with the purchase of several My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) stations in 2021. He’s also the chairman of radio streaming solutions provider, leanStream. Indie88 is currently owned by Central Ontario Broadcasting subsidiary Rock 95 Ltd., the company’s first entry into the Toronto market when it launched in July 2013. Read more here.

The Roy Hennessy Achievement Award for Excellence in Broadcasting has been established at BCIT, in memory of the late broadcaster who passed away in June of last year. The annual award will recognize the top student in BCIT’s Broadcast Radio program (based on academic standing, leadership, service and all-round achievement) with a $1,000 scholarship. Hennessy is best known for his 12-year run in mornings at CKLG Vancouver, serving as General Manager at CKY/CITI FM Winnipeg, CKXL and CHFM Calgary, and his work with Standard Broadcasting in the early ’90s, helping transition CFRB 1010 Toronto to an all-news format. He went on to form radio advertising agency RadioWorks with David Bray, before becoming part of the ownership group that launched Shore 104 (CHHR-FM) Vancouver. Click here to make your tax deductible donation to “The Hennessy.” 

Stingray and Ocean 100 (CHTN-FM) Charlottetown have launched the 1st Annual Kerri Wynne MacLeod Women of Impact Awards, which will be presented each March during International Women’s Week. The awards are a tribute to the late Ocean 100 morning show co-host’s legacy and her impact on P.E.I., and will recognize women in five categories: Women in Business, Women in Music, Women in the Arts, Women in our Communities, and Women in Healthcare. Nominations are now open until Dec. 31.

Bell Media’s Kitchener stations Bounce 99.5 (CKKW-FM), 105.3 Virgin Radio (CFCA-FM) and CKCO (CTV News) are moving to a new studio in South Kitchener, bringing the radio stations under the same roof as the CTV newsroom for the first time. Set for this month, the move comes 70 years after CKCO-TV first opened its King Street West studio.

CHFI Toronto has given away $195,000 to one lucky listener. Lisa Somers of Orangeville cracked the CHFI Secret Voices, guessing all five of the famous voices saying “CHFI – Toronto’s Perfect Music Mix.” 

The Sonar Network has announced new comedic paranormal podcast, The Funny Thing About Ghosts, hosted by Second City Toronto and Comedy Bar Sunday Night Live alum Sarah Hillier. Hillier – once dubbed “Toronto’s answer to Amy Poehler” – invites comedians, improvisers and experts to share their personal paranormal encounters and run-ins with the supernatural. Upcoming guests include comedy legend Colin Mochrie (Who’s Line Is It Anyway?), TV host Ann Pornel (The Great Canadian Baking Show) and actor and comedian Andy Hull (What We Do In The Shadows). New episodes drop every Tuesday. 

SiriusXM has announced that seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer will launch an exclusive year-round channel, Life With John Mayer, in November. Mayer is curating a channel defined not by genre, but by the time of day, as well as day of the week, promising to be a musical experience hand-selected by the guitarist and songwriter featuring his own classics, collaborations and never-before-heard material blended with the music he loves. The channel will be available to subscribers across North America on channel 14 or via the SiriusXM app. 

LISTEN: On the latest Sound Off Podcast, podcast marketer Jeremy Enns. In this episode, he shares insights on developing a focused approach to podcast marketing, why your podcast should be listenable, with no noticeable audio issues, and tips on using (or not using) YouTube.