Radio & Podcast News – Corus introduces 107.3 the Edge in Calgary

Corus Entertainment has debuted “Iconic Alternative” 107.3 the Edge in Calgary, extending the long-running alt rock brand from Toronto. Launched at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, like 102.1 the Edge (CFNY-FM), the station will draw from the 80s, 90s and 2000s with a mix of New Wave, Grunge, and Classic Alternative. The launch marks the return of music to CFGQ-FM since Corus debuted QR Calgary: Talk on FM on the station in January 2023, dropping Classic Rock format Q107, in favour of simulcasting 770 CHQR. Read more here.

107.9 GO ROCK (CFLB-FM), Lunenburg County’s first rock station, has launched with a slate of veteran talent from the Maritimes and beyond. Playing artists from John Mellencamp and The Rolling Stones to Tool and Jane’s Addiction, the Novacast Media station has assembled a lineup of announcers led by morning show host Chris Pottie. Pottie was previously heard in afternoons on Evanov Communications’ Hot Country stations in Halifax, Brantford, Clarence/Rockland and Hawkesbury, and also did a stint in mornings on Live 105 (CKHY-FM) Halifax. Read more here.

Rogers Sports & Media’s news radio stations in Vancouver, Calgary, Kitchener and Halifax have dropped their CityNews branding as of July 29 and are moving forward as 1130 NewsRadio (CKWX-AM), 660 NewsRadio (CFFR-AM), 570 NewsRadio (CKGL-AM) and 95.7 NewsRadio (CJNI-FM). Rogers’ news radio stations adopted the CityNews branding in Oct. 2021. The move to rebrand follows a brand refresh at 680 NewsRadio (CFTR-AM) Toronto in April.

Pacific Content, Rogers Sports & Media’s branded content division – which was slated to wind down operations over the summer – has been acquired by UK-based podcast production agency, Lower Street. Rogers Sports & Media announced in late May, it was shutting down the division, which it acquired in 2019. Lower Street, a full-service podcast production agency, is acquiring the Pacific Content brand and trademarks, in addition to bringing a number of employees onto its team. Read more here.

Alberta Day Of Caring for Jasper on Wednesday saw the province’s radio stations come together in the biggest bottle drive in Alberta’s history to raise funds for the Canadian Red Cross in support of those impacted by last week’s wildfires. The effort was led by Pattison Media’s Edmonton stations. Read more here.

The CRTC has announced a virtual hearing on Oct. 8 where it intends to hear more applications related to Bell Media’s divestiture of radio stations, including Golden Horseshoe Broadcasting’s application to acquire CKLH-FM Hamilton, as well as CKTB, CHRE-FM and CHTZ-FM St. Catharines; ZoomerMedia’s application to acquire CJOS-FM Owen Sound; and Maritime Broadcasting System’s bid to acquire CKTO-FM and CKTY-FM Truro, NS, as well as CKBC-FM Bathurst, CJCJ-FM Woodstock, and CIKX-FM Grand Falls and its transmitter CIKX-FM-1 Plaster Rock, NB. It will also hear Pattison Media’s application to acquire CKOV-FM Kelowna and Access Communications Co-operative acquisition of the assets of community radio station CJTR-FM Regina. Additionally, the commission will hear Quebecor Media’s application to transfer the assets of its BDUs serving the GTA, Barrie, Hamilton-Naigara and Oshawa and national video-on-demand service RiverTV, from VMedia to Freedom Mobile. The deadline for interventions is Aug. 29.

The CRTC has approved the sale of Indie88 (CIND-FM) Toronto to Chris Grossman’s Local Radio Lab. The purchase price for the assets of the alt rock station from Central Ontario Broadcasting subsidiary Rock 95 Broadcasting, was $7 million. 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. 

Stingray has shut down its AM signal on 910 (CKDQ-AM) in Drumheller, AB, following the June debut of its FM conversion New Country 92.5. The CRTC approved Stingray’s application in February to address issues relating to failing legacy equipment and infrastructure at the AM station. Its Hot Country music format has been carried over to the new FM station.

Stingray’s CFCW Edmonton has released Alberta’s Country Legend: The Story of 840 CFCW, marking the heritage station’s 70th anniversary. The book features anecdotes, photos, and original interviews with nearly 50 on-air personalities, listeners, and behind-the-scenes staff, in addition to some of the country music stars whose careers were boosted by the station. A portion of the proceeds from the book will go to the Little Miracles Trust Fund.

Music Canada, which represents the interests of Canada’s major record labels, says the CRTC’s move to impose mandatory contributions on the biggest music streamers, could amount to a “cultural policy disaster.” In June, the commission announced that online streaming services not affiliated with a Canadian broadcaster that make $25 million or more in Canada, must contribute five per cent of their Canadian revenues to support the broadcast system under the Online Streaming Act. Music Canada CEO Patrick Rogers wrote in a statement posted to the not-for-profit’s website that imposing a five per cent contribution rate is “staggering” and risks streamers’ further investment in Canada. Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) President Kevin Desjardins says foreign streaming services are benefiting “massively” from their presence in Canada and it’s only right to expect them to help support the goals of the Broadcasting Act. Read more here.

Canadaland’s COMMONS is presenting the English-language premiere of Inside Kabul, a raw, coming of age story of two young women in the summer of 2021 as the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. The podcast is based on hundreds of voice notes Raha and Marwa exchanged with French journalist Caroline Gaillet.

LISTEN: Jeff Woods returns to the Sound Off Podcast to talk about his Records & Rockstars podcast episode creation process, his non-use of AI in research, and the influence of the late Bob Mackowycz on his career. He also discusses his new book about relationships and sexuality. 

LISTEN: For a second year in a row, NAB Show organizers chose a Sustainability Donation Honouree, an award singling out an outstanding not-for-profit. This year’s Honouree was the Canadian-based Sustainable Entertainment Society — the powerhouse behind the Sustainable Production Forum (SPF). Zena Harris, founder of the SPF, whose organization Green Spark Group is a foundational partner of the Society, and Executive Director Melanie Windle, join Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to talk about the progress being made to accelerate sustainability and decarbonization in media, arts & entertainment.