The Numeris Fall 2021 Radio Diary ratings have been released, covering the listening period from Nov. 2020 to Nov. 2021, as the measurement agency transitions to the exclusive use of online diaries. David Bray offers a breakdown of the ratings for Ottawa, Hamilton, Halifax, Winnipeg, and Victoria.
Buffalo Toronto Public Media has launched new community-supported alternative music service, WBFO The Bridge, broadcasting on WBFO 88.7 HD2 and available to stream via the WBFO The Bridge app, website, and TuneIn. Dubbed “College Radio For Adults,” WBFO describes its playlist as “groundbreaking, alternative and occasionally idiosyncratic music of today alongside beloved classics.” Among its staple bands are Nirvana, Nathaniel Rateliff, Death Cab for Cutie, The Tragically Hip, Goo Goo Dolls, Arcade Fire, Mumford and Sons, U2, The Record Company, Black Keys, Elvis Costello, and Pixies.
HFX Broadcasting and parent company Evanov Radio Group have lost a bid to have allegations of sexual harassment removed from a constructive dismissal suit filed by a former employee of Live 105 (CKHY-FM) Halifax, according to a Saltwire report. The suit was filed by Lindsay Cochrane, who co-hosted the alt rock station’s morning show, starting in Jan. 2017 and later afternoon drive, before leaving the station in August 2018. It alleges she endured inappropriate comments about her appearance and other sexualized exchanges from the station’s former program director. CKHY-FM (now Surge 105) and CKHZ-FM (Hot Country 103.5) have since been acquired by Acadia Broadcasting.
Power 97 (CJKR-FM) Winnipeg claimed the Arkells as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ good luck charm in Sunday’s Grey Cup, embarking on a marathon of the Canadian band’s tunes which played in back-to-back blocks from Monday through Wednesday afternoon. Arkells, who were formed in Hamilton in 2006, led Sunday’s Grey Cup halftime show in their hometown, accompanied by special guests The Lumineers, K. Flay, and Northern Soul Horns. The Bombers went on to defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-25 in overtime. Read more here.
The 6th annual Bayshore Broadcasting/97.9 The Bruce “Light The Way Radiothon” in support of the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation on Dec. 9 raised $251,000 in 12 hours, exceeding its goal of $200,000. This was the first year of the event under the stations’ new rock format with the theme “Bring Tom To Town,” raising funds for a much needed CT Scanner at the Southampton Hospital, that will benefit all of Bruce County. Dozens of listeners and local celebrities and volunteers contribute annually to the event, which has now raised more than $800,000 over the last six years.
Fairchild Radio’s fundraising event for The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre’s Cancer Experience Program raised over $340,000 on Dec. 2. The Radiothon, which aired live from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., drew donations from across Canada and even overseas.
Evanov Communications’ Winnipeg stations Energy 106 (CHWE-FM), Hot 100.5 (CFJL-FM) and 92.7 CKJS raised over $75,000 in cash and food donations for Harvest Manitoba on Dec. 10 with Energy 106’s “Wheeler in the Morning,” Mark and Dilly from Hot 100.5, and Chester and Donna from “Good Morning Philippines” on 92.7 CKJS, participating in the 12-hour radiothon. Proceeds go directly to Harvest Manitoba, which will help feed over 80,000 Manitobans this holiday season. The donation comes as increasing food prices have resulted in a 76% increase in demand for food support over this same time last year.
99.3 County FM Prince Edward County is once again partnering with Bloomfield United Church and 17 other local congregations to broadcast a Christmas Eve program. With churches at limited capacity and without the usual singing and pageantry, Celebrate Christmas aims to bring the spirit of the holiday into the lives and living rooms of County residents. The broadcast is also intended to appeal to those without internet or limited bandwidth in parts of the county, unable to stream local services. The program of Christmas scripture readings and carols will be broadcast on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Signal Hill Insights latest blog post dives into an uncomfortable truth for podcasters and publishers who have built their business on downloads — that more than one-in-four monthly podcast listeners (27%) name YouTube as the platform they use most often. That’s up four points over last year even as Joe Rogan left YouTube for his $100 million exclusivity deal with Spotify, affirmed by the recently-released 2021 Canadian Podcast Listener study. Signal Hill founder Jeff Vidler says podcasters should use their YouTube presence as an opportunity to feed their strategy and drive listening to other podcast platforms. Read more here.
Pacific Content’s annual podcast predictions are out, based on the future musings of 75 industry thought leaders. Among them are that paid podcast subscriptions will fall flat with most listeners, however some apps will continue to draw in an audience behind their paywalls with exclusive content. Industry leaders also predict that marketing and audience development will become more important as “cutting through” proves harder amidst more content and bigger platforms. There are also predictions that the big networks, studios and streamers will push more aggressively into the podcast space.
LISTEN: Tom Bedell, longtime afternoon drive host at Q104 (CFRQ-FM) Halifax, is on the latest episode of the Sound Off Podcast. Bedell, whose career started in the late ‘80s in Saint John, NB at the legendary CFBC, has been driving Metro Halifax home since 1998. On this episode, Bedell dives into some of his early career stops and the history of Q104 – one of North America’s premiere rock stations.
LISTEN: On the latest episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, we talk to Twitter Canada “tweeps” Conor Clarance, Head of Sports Marketing, and Shay Thiyagarajah, Partnerships Manager, on the big year that was 2021 for the social platform, including a raft of product updates, how Canadian media is leveraging Twitter for live events, and tips for getting that elusive little blue “verified” checkmark. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
