Pattison Media has announced a strategic partnership that will see Vancouver’s Momentum Media Marketing license and launch its SPADE advertising measurement, conversion tracking, and attribution technology platform, and market it to the radio industry. Developed and beta-tested in-house by Pattison Media, SPADE aims to solve one of the radio industry’s biggest challenges: attributing increased client sales directly to their radio advertising campaigns and defining that return on investment. Read more here. Momentum Media Marketing is the parent company of Broadcast Dialogue.
SUM 41 bass player and backing vocalist Jason “Cone” McCaslin is set to debut a new weekly radio show on 94.9 The Rock (CKGE-FM) Oshawa, ON, starting April 17. “Cone’s Cave,” an hour-long Sunday night music discovery show personally curated by the musician and producer, promises to feature tunes from punk to garage rock and metal. The station says it was radio that introduced McCaslin to many of the influential bands that shaped his own musical tastes and career, and that love of the medium will now see him come full circle from avid listener to host. Some of the interviews to be featured on the show will happen backstage as SUM 41 gets set to head out on the road in support of their new double album “Heaven + Hell,” including 36 U.S. dates with Simple Plan on the “Blame Canada” tour. Read more here.
The CRTC has approved Cogeco Media’s acquisition of the assets of French-language commercial radio station CILM-FM Saguenay (Chicoutimi) from Arsenal Media. Arsenal is divesting itself of the station because of competition in the Saguenay market and declining revenues. Cogeco plans to consolidate its presence in the Saguenay region with the addition of the music station to complement its news/talk station CKYK-FM Saguenay, benefiting from the synergies of operating two stations. The purchase price is $600,000.
The CRTC has approved Arsenal Média’s application to acquire the assets of French-language commercial radio stations CHGO-FM Val-d’Or, CHOA-FM Rouyn-Noranda and its transmitters, and CJGO-FM La Sarre and its transmitter. The purchase price for the assets of the three stations is $1,500,000.
The CRTC has approved technical changes for Power 97 (CJKR-FM) Winnipeg, following a fire that destroyed the previous antenna. The changes will see CJKR-FM’s maximum effective radiated power (ERP) decreased from 310,000 to 93,900 watts and average ERP from 310,000 to 57,200 watts. Its existing non-directional antenna will be replaced with a new directional antenna, increasing the effective height rom 69.5 to 184.6 metres.
JUMP! 106.9 (CKQB-FM) Ottawa rebranded as Bieber 106.9, March 25-27, in celebration of the Bieb’s concert date in the Capital Region over the weekend. The station exclusively played Bieber songs all weekend and offered Beliebers a chance to win tickets to the show, which marked the first big concert in the city since before the pandemic.
LIFE 100.3 (CJLF-FM), the listener-supported Christian radio station in Barrie, held its two-day Sharathon Stand in Faith, March 23-24, reaching both of its goals ($4,000 in monthly donations and $200,000 in one-time donations). Throughout the event, DJs from different shows chatted about success stories from the past year, while supporters and artists joined by phone to discuss their own reasons for supporting Christian radio. LIFE 100.3 has repeater stations in Owen Sound at 90.1FM, Peterborough at 89.3FM and in Huntsville at 98.9FM and can be heard online at lifeonline.fm.
SiriusXM Canada has announced the eight semi-finalists for its fourth annual Top of the Country competition, where emerging artists compete to be named Canada’s next big country music star. Representing six provinces across Canada, this year’s semi-finalists are: Devin Cooper – Innisfail, AB; Mallory Johnson – Conception Bay South, NL; Five Roses – Montreal, QC; Josh Ross – Burlington, ON; Danielle Ryan – Pitt Meadows, BC; Kyle McKearney – Calgary, AB; SACHA – Warkworth, ON; Shantaia – Spiritwood, SK. The next stage of the competition sees finalists record original tracks and in-studio videos, which will be shared online for country music fans to vote for their favourites later this Spring. Three finalists will be selected to participate in industry mentorships and perform at various showcases, including Country Music Week 2022 in Calgary this September, where the grand prize winner will be announced.
SiriusXM has launched the Freakonomics Radio Network digital streaming channel, the first to be dedicated to a podcast. The team behind Freakonomics Radio will curate and present episodes from the long-running podcast’s archive, along with selections from other popular shows on its network, including No Stupid Questions, People I (Mostly) Admire, Freakonomics, M.D., and new programs to be launched later this year. Hosted by Stephen J. Dubner, the show takes a curious, data-driven approach to exploring real-world behaviour and uncovering the hidden side of everything.
Corus Entertainment’s Curiouscast has launched the second season of fiction adventure podcast, Escaping Denver. The network’s first fiction podcast, which premiered last July, Chris “Dunner” Duncombe, Director of Streaming and Podcasting, says Escaping Denver developed a strong following in both Canada and the U.S. The podcast, which dives into the deep end of conspiracy theories around Denver International Airport (DIA), follows Sara and Noah, who wake up in complete darkness, trapped miles below the DIA with no hope for escape. New episodes will be released bi-weekly.
Deborah Cox, will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the 2022 JUNO Awards, the first Black woman to receive the national honour. With a career spanning almost three decades, Cox has released six critically-acclaimed albums and scaled the charts with six Top 20 Billboard Magazine R&B singles and 13 number one hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart. To celebrate her induction on Sunday, May 15, she’ll perform live from Toronto’s Budweiser Stage. The 2022 JUNO Awards will be broadcast and streamed across Canada, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.
LISTEN: On the latest Sound Off Podcast, Ben McCully, the afternoon host at Rock 95 (CFJB-FM) Barrie, who has one of the most interesting portfolios you’ve likely ever seen: radio host, car salesman, pro wrestler, brewery tour manager…if that combo of careers doesn’t have you hooked on this episode already, I don’t know what will. I know it’s cliché to say this, but this episode really does have something for everyone – assuming you like beer, wrestling, radio, philosophy, or just really interesting stories. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
