SiriusXM Canada has reached a settlement with the Competition Bureau over so-called “drip pricing” that will see the satellite radio provider pay a $3.3 million penalty. A bureau investigation found that outside the province of Quebec, SiriusXM advertised its satellite radio and streaming subscription plans at prices that were not attainable to consumers due to an additional mandatory “Music Royalty and Administrative Fee” which increased the monthly cost of a plan by 10 to 20%. The bureau says the offer was promoted across the company’s website, as well as in promotional emails and direct mail. As part of the agreement registered with the Competition Tribunal, SiriusXM will also cover the cost of the bureau’s investigation (an additional $30,000). Read more here.
Canadian Music Week (CMW) President Neill Dixon has announced he’s retiring after 42 years. Dixon, 78, made the announcement at the opening of this year’s music and radio industry conference in Toronto, which runs through June 8. He’ll be selling the business to Loft Entertainment – the artist management and content company co-founded by Randy Lennox, a former president of both Bell Media and Universal Music Canada, and music industry veteran Kevin Barton – and venue management and hospitality provider Oak View Group, which doubles as the owner of global concert industry trade publication Pollstar. Read more here. More Radiodays North America coverage to come.
LISTEN: Luke Rodriguez has been named the 2024 Allan Waters Young Broadcaster of the Year. Currently the host of afternoon drive on Edmonton’s 104.9 Virgin Radio (CFMG-FM) and the station’s Assistant Program Director, he was recognized at Radiodays North America during Canadian Music Week. He joins us to talk about his broadcast journey thus far, chasing a radio career in uncertain times, and he shares his advice to other young broadcasters. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
Numeris’ spring PPM release completes the 13-week period covering Feb. 26 – May 26 2024. As David Bray writes in his breakdown for Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, radio remains consistently popular with an average weekly reach of 84% for Canadians A12+. Read more here.
Numeris’ latest diary ratings release covers the period from May 1, 2023 to April 28, 2024. Radio reached 81% of A12+ and 82% of Adults 25-54. In Quebec, specifically, weekly reach is at 84% for A12+ and 88% for A25-54. Canadians, 12+, in the top markets spent an average of 13.3 hours per week listening to radio, while Quebecers, 12+, spent 15.9 hours weekly listening to radio. See David Bray’s sample breakdown for Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax, Quebec City and Victoria here.
The BC Lions have announced a return to their broadcast roots as Corus Radio’s 980 CKNW Vancouver takes over as flagship station of the Lions Audio Network encompassing CFAX 1070 Victoria, AM 1150 Kelowna and Radio NL Kamloops. For an eighth consecutive season, Bob “The Moj” Marjanovich and Giulio Caravatta will deliver the call, including one-hour pre- and 30-minute post-game shows. 980 CKNW will also serve as the new home of BC Lions On Tap every Tuesday evening from 10-11 p.m. Hosted by Marjanovich and Lion personalities Matt Baker and Nik Kowalski, the show serves as a primer for upcoming games featuring players, coaches and club executives. Head coach Rick Campbell also makes a weekly appearance on the Monday Morning Quarterback with Simi Sara, in addition to a dedicated game day segment on the Jas Johal Show. The Lions’ history with CKNW included airing games from 1988-2003.
Triton Digital has released its second Canadian Podcast Trends Report, reflecting shows and podcast networks measured by Triton’s Podcast Metrics over the past year. Canadians, 18+, averaged 3.6 podcasts per week and 8.2 episodes, with weekly listeners consuming 5.9 hours of podcasts. That’s up from Triton’s 2023 Mid-Year Podcast Trends Report which found Canadians listened to an average of three hours of podcast content per week, equating to an average 4.4 episodes weekly. YouTube was the top platform used to access podcasts in the past year and the top platform for discovery, with 43% of listeners first listening in the past year. According to the report, Canada’s most popular podcast genres were True Crime (18% of downloads), followed by Comedy and News, which each account for 16% of downloads. Read more here.
Canadaland has introduced three-part podcast series Canada Obscura, in collaboration with The Atlas Obscura Podcast. The triptych explores Canada’s real-life Winnie-the-Pooh, the feral horses of Sable Island, and the Montreal fast-food oddity that is Orange Julep.
Maverick Makers, a podcast uncovering the journeys of bold innovators, has announced a partnership with the Sound Off Podcast Network. Hosted by Michelle Daides, Maverick Makers delves into the personal and professional lives of notable trailblazers, with the first season featuring conversations with former MuchMusic VJ Erica Ehm, marketing guru Tony Chapman, entrepreneur Mike Fata, CEO Mark Samuel, and culinary expert Andrea Buckett. Daides is CEO & Chief Storyteller at Maverick Makers Content Creation Collective, an award-winning video production and full content agency that produces strategic content for clients across North America.
LISTEN: Sue Haas, President and COO of NLogic, returns to the Sound Off Podcast, one year after taking the helm of the company. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
