Radio & Podcast News – CAB calls for reduced Cancon quotas, ownership policy changes

The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) has submitted its intervention to the CRTC as part of the commission’s review of the commercial radio policy framework, painting a portrait of an industry facing decreasing revenues and accelerated competition for ad dollars and listeners. With tuning projected to further decline to an average of 12.4 hours per week by 2024, it’s in the context of that challenging environment that the CAB makes key recommendations that include a reduction of Cancon exhibition requirements from 35% to 25%, saying mandated Cancon levels are “out of sync with market reality” and put radio at a competitive disadvantage. It’s also proposing major changes to the Common Ownership Policy and proposes eliminating band restrictions by allowing AM stations to transition to FM, or be supported by additional FMs, under the same ownership. Read more here.

103.9 The Lake debuted on Kelowna airwaves Friday morning, launching with the Little River Band’s Reminiscing and a Gold-based Soft AC format aimed at appealing to a market that counts half its residents as over age 45. Formerly branded as Soft 103.9 and under the ownership of Castanet Media founder Nick Frost, the station was an early casualty of the pandemic, going off-air in early April last year as Avenue Radio filed for bankruptcy. Paul Larsen, the former owner of the Clear Sky Radio network, stepped in to buy the station. 103.9 The Lake is playing a broad mix of adult hits from the late 1970s through the early 2000s that Larsen believes will also appeal to the broader A25-54 demo. For the next few weeks, the station will play non-stop music before introducing its on-air lineup in mid-to-late April. Read more here.

Randy Bachman has confirmed that CBC Radio has cancelled his long-running Vinyl Tap show. Bachman, 77, will host a farewell special on Canada Day, indicating that he plans to shop the music program to other broadcasters or relaunch it as a podcast. Vinyl Tap originally launched on the public broadcaster in 2005.

SiriusXM Canada is the lead sponsor of the 2021 JUNO Awards, marking the company’s 15th consecutive year as an award and event sponsor. As part of its support for the awards, SiriusXM will sponsor the Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, and Comedy Album of the Year categories. 

LIFE 100.3 Christian Radio (CJLF-FM) Barrie, ON reached 101% of both its $4,000 monthly goal and $200,000 one-time goal during its third Sharathon of the pandemic. Unable to have volunteers in its offices, the staff manned the phones and handled online donations between on-air shifts. LIFE 100.3 has repeater stations in Owen Sound at 90.1FM, 89.3FM Peterborough and 98.9FM Huntsville.

Priya Sam, former host of CTV Your Morning, is 15 episodes into her new podcast, Turning Point, which talks to guests like Tessa Virtue, Marci Ien, and Jonathan Torrens about major turning points in their lives. The podcast is also available as a videocast on Youtube and IGTV.

Dennis Rimmer, who is now retired from radio after three decades at stations like CFAX and CKDA Victoria, CFQC Saskatoon, CFUN Vancouver, and KPUG/KAFE Bellingham, WA, is closing in on 100 episodes of his podcast Talking Books and Stuff. Based in Radisson, SK, Rimmer’s recent guests have included former Canada AM host Jeff Hutcheson, NHL’er Theo Fleury, and Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s.

LISTEN: On the latest Sound Off Podcast, Howard Glassman and Fred Patterson – aka Humble & Fred – talk about building the ultimate “Life After Radio” show. And while they say they have quit radio once and for all, they do appreciate what it has to offer…when it works for them. You’ll also hear how they manage to keep the cash flowing and have fun every day. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here: