The Canadian Podcast Awards have announced the nominees for the seventh annual awards program, celebrating outstanding achievement in Canadian podcasting. Of 336 nominated podcasts, the top nominee this year was paranormal series Geist, hosted by Danielle Matar and Beau Jensen. The spooky, atmospheric series earned six nominations, including Outstanding Arts Series and Original Music and Lyrics. The Sonar Network’s Happy to See Me, hosted by Survivor 41 winner Erika Casupanan, garnered five nods, including Debut Series and Society & Culture. Find the full list of nominees here. The public are invited to vote for their favourite podcasts in the People’s Choice category. Award winners will be announced in early December. Read more here.
The 2024 Manitoba Country Music Awards were handed out Saturday night. Native Communications’ Now Country 104.7 FM Winnipeg won Radio Station of the Year, while afternoon host Brian Cook captured Radio On-Air Personality of the Year. Find the full list of winners here.
Inside the Village, a news and current affairs podcast highlighting some of the best local journalism from within Village Media’s chain of Ontario newsrooms has earned over 75,000 views thus far on its Oct. 26 episode featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Trudeau’s appearance on Inside the Village highlights the increasing draw of the podcast medium for politicians, as illustrated by Vice-President Kamala Harris’ appearance on Call Her Daddy and President Donald Trump’s guest turn on The Joe Rogan Experience during the recent U.S. election. Inside the Village is produced by Derek Turner, with support from Zack Trunzo.
The Tony Parsons Show is the new podcast offering from the retired 35-year BCTV/Global BC anchor. The first episode sees Parsons’ former colleague and TV weather anchor Wayne Cox interview Parsons about his life and career. Upcoming guests include broadcasters Peter Mansbridge, Jim Hughson, Sandie Rinaldo, and David Suzuki, among others.
Spotify has introduced a new integration that makes it easier to share music, podcast and audiobook content directly to TikTok and Instagram, while TikTok has launched Share to TikTok, a new music promotion feature allowing users to share from Apple Music and Spotify to TikTok. Users can post to the TikTok Feed (FYP or Stories) by sharing tracks, albums, playlists, podcasts, or audiobooks using TikTok’s green screen feature or Photo Mode. DMs via TikTok Messages also allow users to send friends Spotify music, podcasts and audiobook recommendations. Users can access music, podcasts, and audiobooks shared on TikTok by simply tapping the link to go directly to Spotify. Spotify users can also now save songs to Spotify from Instagram with one tap.
Canada’s Walk of Fame has announced William Prince as this year’s recipient of the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour, an annual recognition that celebrates the achievements of Canadian musicians who have used their voices and talent to inspire and drive positive impact in the music industry. Prince, who hails from Manitoba’s Peguis First Nation, has had a career marked by numerous accolades and milestones, including a debut at The Grand Ole Opry, multiple JUNO Awards and international award recognition, including the John Prine Songwriting Fellowship. Alan Doyle will honour Prince with a special performance during Canada’s Walk of Fame Celebration on Nov. 20 at Toronto’s Liberty Grand.
LISTEN: Radio broadcaster John Leslie is on the Sound Off Podcast, sharing his journey from building a three-watt transmitter in his bedroom to becoming a program director at WEIR in Weirton, West Virginia, his service in the Marine Corps, and his transition to television and podcasting. Leslie also recounts his historic trip to the Soviet Union to broadcast uncensored, marking a pivotal moment in media history.
Pro Bono Group’s new Feed Ontario PSA is titled “Jingle Change.” It can replace “Dinner For A Week” and continue to air until the end of December. A fresh Feed Ontario PSA will kick off the New Year.
