Radio & Podcast News – Hot AC tuning maintaining steady growth

Hot AC tuning is maintaining steady growth, according to the fall data release from radioCount. The fall release reflects listening in 22 markets, including Charlottetown, Fredericton, Saint John, Sydney, Chatham, Cornwall, Guelph, Owen Sound, Pembroke, Sarnia, Timmins, Wingham, Brandon, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Prince George, and the continuous measurement markets of Belleville, Peterborough, North Bay and Thunder Bay. From Aug. 28 to Oct. 22, tuning increased slightly among those 12+ with an average of 17.9 hours per week spent listening to radio, up from 17.6 hours in fall 2022. Compared to fall 2022, time spent listening by those aged 18-49 increased by 2.7% and by 1.7% among those 25-54. radioCount says the most listened to format during the fall survey period was Hot Adult Contemporary, with time spent listening to Hot AC stations up 7.1%, 12+, and up 6.8% with adults 25-54. Read more here.

Harvard Media is undertaking minor restructuring within its Alberta operations. The company is reducing positions in Red Deer, where it owns X100.7 (CKEX-FM) and Kraze 101.3 (CKIK-FM), and adding positions within its Fort McMurray operation, encompassing Mix 103.7 (CFVR-FM) and 100.5 CRUZ FM (CHFT-FM). Impacting five employees in programming and promotions, Executive Vice-President and Managing Partner George Leith told Broadcast Dialogue that three of the displaced Red Deer team members have been offered new opportunities within the organization. The Fort McMurray station group has largely been dependent on voice tracking from personalities in other Harvard Media markets, outside the local morning show on both stations. Read more here.

Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax celebrated its 40th anniversary with an anniversary bash at Scotiabank Centre featuring Sam Roberts Band, The Trews, and Campbell & Johnston. Currently owned by Stingray, the station first went to air on Nov. 28, 1983 under the leadership of Patterson Broadcasters President Arnie Patterson. Growing into an iconic and highly-rated rock brand, Q104’s original line-up included the “Morning Zoo” with Brother Jake Edwards, Hal Harbour (Doug Barron), and “Billy-Bob” (Bill Phillips), middays helmed by Bob Powers, and afternoon drive with Andy K, among other personalities.

Evanov Communication’s Greater Toronto radio stations CHLO-AM 530 and Z103.5 (CIDC-FM) raised over $73,000 during their Nov. 22 Radiothon raising money and awareness in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Z103.5 morning host Sandra Crofford teamed up with afternoon drive personality Matt The Hammer on Z103.5, while Punjabi Lehran’s Navi Sidhu and Satinderpal Sidhu anchored on AM 530 for the South Asian community, who responded in droves. Both radio stations continued the effort throughout the entire broadcast day both on-air and online.

JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto, in partnership with The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University, unveiled the Canadian Jazz Time Capsule on Nov. 28. Through a curated selection of artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, and audio recordings, the time capsule provides a glimpse into the legacy of Canadian jazz for generations to come. Among the highlighted items are a Canadian passport, business card, commemorative stamps, and vinyl recordings belonging to legendary jazz pianist and composer, Oscar Peterson.

Smartless, Dateline NBC and The Daily from The New York Times were the most-streamed podcasts in Canada in 2023, according to Apple Podcasts’ data released this week. Canadian True Crime is the highest-charting Canadian podcast on the Canadian Top Shows chart and the only Canadian-originating show in the Top 10. Canadian entries making the Top New Shows chart include CBC Podcasts’ The No Good, Terribly Kind, Wonder Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman and the Apostrophe Podcast Network’s Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Find the full chart release here.

LISTEN: Terry Dimonte and Ted Bird are Montreal radio legends who started a podcast two years ago after Terry was unceremoniously retired from his morning radio job at CHOM-FM. Ted continues his morning show at Evanov’s Lite 106.7 (CHSV-FM) which serves the West Island of Montreal. The podcast started as a one season affair that is now in its sixth season featuring guests like Just For Laughs President Bruce Hills and Seattle Kraken minority owner Mitch Garber. On the latest Sound Off Podcast, you’ll hear all about their podcast experience, why it works and why it breaks a number of the conventional podcast rules.

The Pro Bono Group has released the second in a series of PSAs for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, being offered free to radio stations. Andrew Burns, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Alliance, says since the first PSA started airing on Canadian radio stations five weeks ago, almost 1,000 people have visited their campaign landing page, with over 700 testing their knowledge about homelessness.