Radio & Podcast News – CCMA unveils 2024 radio awards nominees

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has unveiled nominees for the 2024 CCMA Awards. Up for Country Personality(ies) of the Year are: Wendy Boomer (CKBY-FM); Dan Davidson & Stella Stevens (CFCW); Shannon Ella (Pure Country); Jackie Rae Greening (CFCW); and Gregg Reynolds & Josie Balka (CKRY-FM). Nominated for Radio Station of the Year (Large Market) are: CFCW (Edmonton); CHKX-FM (Hamilton); CJJR-FM (Vancouver); CJKX-FM (Oshawa); and CKKL-FM (Ottawa). Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market) nominees include CFWC-FM (Brantford); CHCQ-FM (Belleville); CJGX-FM (Yorkton); CKGY-FM (Red Deer); CKXC-FM (Kingston). Returning to Edmonton for the first time in 10 years, the awards will be broadcast live from Rogers Place on CTV on Saturday, Sept. 14. Read more here.

Blackburn Media has applied for a broadcast licence to operate an English-language commercial FM radio station in Chatham to replace its English-language commercial AM radio station CFCO. The station would operate at 91.3 MHz (channel 217A) with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,250 watts, proposing to broadcast a minimum of 96 hours of local programming per broadcast week, of which three hours would be devoted to news. It would broadcast a mix of news, talk and country music targeting the 35-64 demo. Should the commission approve the application, the proposed station would become Blackburn’s third FM in the Chatham market. 

The CRTC will hear an application for an English-language developmental community FM station in Cochrane, ON. Submitted by Joel Lagacé, on behalf of a non-profit corporation to be incorporated, the proposed station would operate at 104.7 MHz (channel 284) with an average and maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of five watts. The applicant proposes to broadcast 126 hours of local programming per broadcast week, of which 10 hours would be allocated to local news, three hours and 45 minutes to regional news and one hour and 45 minutes to international news.

Bay of Islands Radio in Corner Brook, NL has applied for a broadcast licence to operate an English-language community FM radio station to replace its English-language low-power FM radio station CKVB-FM with a full-power FM radio station. The station would operate at 100.1 MHz (channel 261A) with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 2,760 watts. The station format would remain the same, targeting its current audience. The applicant proposes to broadcast 126 hours of programming per broadcast week, of which 118 hours would be devoted to local programming, including five hours of local and regional news, 30 minutes of national news, and 30 minutes of international news.

MBC (My Broadcasting Corporation) has rebranded WLYK Kingston, ON/Cape Vincent, NY retaining a Gold-based Adult Contemporary format, the station’s third incarnation since an ownership change last year. 102.7 WOW FM launched Wednesday, featuring hits from the ’80s and more, like Mr. Mister, Bangles, Yes, Huey Lewis & The News, and Billy Idol, in addition to hitmakers from the ’90s like NSYNC. The station was last rebranded in March 2023 as “Kingston’s Feel-Good Station” 102.7 Lake FM, less than three weeks after launching as stunt format 102.7 The Pole, with a playlist inspired by strip club DJs. Read more here.

MBC (My Broadcasting Corporation) has named Peterborough its Market of the Year, where it operates Oldies 96.7 (CJWV-FM) and FREQ 90.5 (CJMB-FM). The honour is based on revenue success, teamwork, hyper-local news/sports contributions, listener metrics and community involvement.

Classic Rock 91.7 Giant FM (CIXL-FM) Welland, ON midday host Chris Lukas is MBC’s Announcer of the Year. Nominated alongside announcers from over 20 markets across Ontario, the 40-year radio veteran joined Giant FM at the end of 2022, after previously being heard on sister station, New Country 89.1 (CKYY-FM) since 2021.

The Pro Bono Group has released fresh creative for The Pro Radio Project, titled “University Girl.” Another fresh-up, titled “Hockey Family,” will be forthcoming in September as the campaign looks to stay relevant with the selling seasons. The new PSA is being distributed nationally by Radio Connects and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB). The Pro Bono Group has also released a new PSA for Feed Ontario, titled “Play.” The spot is voiced by recent Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Marc Jordan. Check out Pro Bono Group’s current projects here.

LISTEN: Alan Cross is on the Sound Off Podcast talking about some of the latest trends in music, why concert tickets are priced the way they are and why some tours are being cancelled before they get started. Cross and Matt Cundill also discuss two Canadian- based music documentaries that radio junkies might be interested in, including Hate To Love: Nickleback and the forthcoming CFNY: The Spirit of Radio.