Radio & Podcast News – CHUM 104.5 debuts ‘Josie & Jamar’

Jamar McNeil has joined Josie Dye on the CHUM 104.5 Toronto afternoon drive show. Josie & Jamar is airing weekday afternoons from 3 – 6 p.m. ET. The move sees McNeil leave Marilyn Denis & Jamar after six years, which he joined in 2018 ahead of the retirement of Roger Ashby, Denis’ co-host of 30 years. Prior to joining CHUM, McNeil had a decade-long run on the morning show at Chicago’s B96 FM. Dye signed on with CHUM in January after being heard in mornings on Indie88 (CIND-FM) Toronto for seven years. McNeil announced his move to afternoons two weeks ago, telling listeners “an exciting opportunity” had come up to build a new show, with he and Denis noting a greater need to accompany listeners in their cars during the GTA’s burgeoning rush hour as more people return to work in-office. Read more here.

SiriusXM Canada is the target of a proposed class action filed by Siskinds LLP against the satellite radio provider. Following a $3.3M settlement reached with the Competition Bureau, the class action alleges that SiriusXM breached the Competition Act and Ontario Consumer Protection Act by failing to provide fair and transparent pricing details. Specifically, alleging SiriusXM misrepresented their subscription plan prices by concealing the additional Music Royalty and Administrative (MRF) mandatory fee, which increased the monthly cost of SiriusXM radio plan subscriptions by up to 20.07%. The class action is brought on behalf of all persons in Canada, excluding Quebec, who purchased a SiriusXM Radio subscription plan from March 1, 2010 to July 18, 2024. 

The National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC) has announced the winners of the 2024 CRABO Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in Community Radio in Broadcast and Online. CFUV Victoria, CJSR Edmonton, CJSW Calgary and CJTM Toronto were among this year’s multiple award winners. Julian Taylor’s Jukebox took the honour for Best Syndicated Radio Show, while CJSW’s Sprawlcast, hosted by Calgary journalist Jeremy Klaszus, won Best Current Affairs or Magazine Show. Bay FM (CKVB-FM) Corner Brook, NL secured the Community Engagement award. Find the full list of winners here.

LISTEN: With Radiodays North America 2024 behind us, sometimes it’s the events around a conference that reflect ongoing confidence and optimism in the industry. The word “viability” has been thrown around a lot this year in regards to radio, but the first annual Pat Grierson Sales Person Award recipient is proof that success is possible even in a soft advertising climate, recording sales of $7 million in 2022. Cheryl Foster from Stingray’s 93.5 Today Radio (CFXJ-FM) and boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM) Toronto joins Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to talk about her journey through the business and making a successful return to radio at age 50 after stepping away to raise her kids. Randy Lennox and Kevin Barton from Loft Entertainment also join us to talk about acquiring Canadian Music Week (CMW) as founder and president Neill Dixon retires after 42 years with the music and radio industry conference.

LISTEN: Dave Charles is marking 60 years in radio, a career filled with highlights that include the launch of Toronto’s Q107 (CILQ-FM), consulting at stations around the globe, and helping emerging artists – like a young Celine Dion – get airplay. Charles, who continues to consult under the banner of Media RESULTS Inc., was recognized at the Radiodays North America Awards Luncheon during Canadian Music Week (CMW). He joins Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to reflect on his six decades working in the radio and record industry.

LISTEN: Scot Turner recently retired from Evanov Communications in Brantford, ON. He’s on the latest Sound Off Podcast discussing his experiences in radio programming, sharing insights on how to navigate challenges and create successful radio stations, including CFNY, 94.5 The Beat, Dave-FM in Kitchener, and many more. He and Matt Cundill also get into the integration of hip hop and urban music into Canadian radio formats and the impact of streaming platforms on traditional radio.