Corus Entertainment has announced it’s shuttering Hamilton heritage station, 900 CHML, and making a format adjustment at 980 CFPL London. CHML’s closure was announced in a post to the station’s social media channels on Wednesday, saying the decision had been made after “years of financial losses.” CHML has been serving the community since 1927 and celebrated its 95th anniversary last September. The move follows the closure in late June of 880 News (CHQT-AM) Edmonton and Vancouver all-traffic station AM 730 (CKGO-AM). Read more here.
Leclerc Communication has released its on-air staff at Montreal’s WKND 99.5 (CJEC-FM) as it prepares for a rebrand. Leclerc has reached a content distribution agreement with Quebecor Media’s NumériQ, which launched the multi-platform QUB talk radio and public affairs digital channel in 2018. Starting Aug. 26, 99.5 will broadcast QUB programming including Mario Dumont’s new morning show, starting at 6 a.m., accompanied by Alexandre Dubé and Antoine Robitaille. He’ll be followed by Isabelle Maréchal from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Benoît Dutrizac from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sophie Durocher will be heard from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Richard Martineau from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. WKND, which carried a Modern Adult Contemporary format, launched in June 2020 after Leclerc acquired Radio Classique.
JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto says the not-for-profit has made significant progress toward “closing the gap,” following an urgent fundraising appeal in early July to make up a $150,000 budget shortfall. General Manager Dana Wigle says thanks to a 24-hour live appeal and the support of artists and listeners, that shortfall has been reduced to $50,000. Like other broadcasters, the not-for-profit is adapting to the shifting media landscape and running lean, but in no way is in dire financial straits, Wigle asserts. With a smaller team, the station no longer needs the 10,000 sq. ft. Liberty Village studios it first took over in 2006. As it looks ahead to celebrating CJRT-FM’s 75th anniversary in November, it has put that space up for sub-lease. Read more here.
Corus Entertainment’s 980 CKNW Vancouver is celebrating 80 years on Aug. 15. Hosts past and present will be sharing memories from the past eight decades. The station, originally located in New Westminster, BC, signed on-air on Aug. 15, 1944, and was the first in the region to have hourly newscasts. In 1947, it became the first station in B.C. to broadcast 24 hours a day.
AMI has unveiled its AMI-audio lineup for the 2024-25 broadcast season that includes returning favourites, new programs and audio and video podcasts. Highlights include the debut of AMI Today, hosted by Jacob Shymanski (AMI Audiobook Review). AMI Today will promote literacy, tech knowledge and advocacy through interviews, digging into audiobooks and debuting the latest AMI video podcasts. Also available as an audio and video podcast on YouTube, it’s available weekdays at 11 a.m. ET.
LISTEN: At least once a year, Matt Cundill gets the urge to do an episode about career management and what to do when there are mass layoffs at companies like Bell, Audacy, iHeart, Corus, Rogers, or Cumulus. Mac Prichard of the Find Your Dream Job podcast is on the Sound Off Podcast, talking about networking, applying for jobs, and managing your online presence.
