Stingray has taken its Toronto hip hop station 93.5 The Move (CFXJ-FM) back to its roots, signing on Monday morning as Flow 93.5, the brand it originally launched with in 2001, as Canada’s first urban contemporary station. The station was rebranded as The Move in Feb. 2016, deviating to an expanded playlist that included more pop and dance from the late 1980s, 90s and 2000s, in addition to current and classic hip hop hits. While initially successfully at attracting a younger and different audience, program director Josie Fenech told Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast that over time, programming staff realized that the station’s strongest asset was the legacy of its original brand. Listen here:
Stingray says its revenues and adjusted profits doubled in the third quarter following its acquisition of Newfoundland Capital Corporation and its radio stations in October. Stingray reported net revenues of $70.8 million, while recurring broadcasting and commercial music revenue increased 16 per cent to $33.4 million, up from $28.8 million year-over-year. Excluding expenses related to tangible benefits from the $506 million dollar acquisition, adjusted net earnings doubled to $12.4 million or 18 cents per share, up from $6 million or 11 cents per share a year earlier. The company’s quarterly dividend increased 8.3 per cent to 6.5 cents per share, payable to shareholders around Mar. 15.
UNESCO World Radio Day was celebrated Feb. 13 with this year’s theme Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace. Celebrated annually since 2012, World Radio Day marks the anniversary of the day the United Nations established United Nations Radio in 1946. While the Canadian relationship to radio may be changing in the internet age, according to the Numeris Fall 2018 Diary (12+) and Edison Share of Ear Canada 2017, Canadians still consume 445,661,000 hours of radio per week, reaching 85 per cent of the population. Radio still accounts for 61 per cent of all audio consumed by Canadians. The Media Technology Monitor (MTM) says 22 per cent of Canadians report having listened to radio online in the last month, with 88 per cent of all Canadians still tuning in. That compares to 92 per cent a decade ago.
The Corus Radiothon for London’s Children’s Hospital raised a record-breaking $174,352 on Feb. 8. The radiothon was broadcast live over 12 hours on 980 CFPL, FM96 (CFPL-FM), Country 104 (CKDK-FM) and 103.1 Fresh Radio (CFHK-FM).
The Country 105 (CKRY-FM) Caring for Kids Radiothon in Calgary on Feb. 8 raised a record $6.6M for Alberta Children’s Hospital. Matched donations from the Crist Family Foundation and an anonymous donor, helped triple donations during the 16th annual event. Global News Morning Calgary was also live on location throughout the radiothon.
Jerry Howarth, who retired as the radio play-by-play voice for the Toronto Blue Jays after 36 years in 2018, has penned a new book. Hello, Friends! Stories from My Life and Blue Jays Baseball is an honest memoir about Howarth’s life, family, and baseball.
Canadian Music Week’s Radio Interactive Summit will welcome back radio futurologist James Cridland. Cridland will be speaking on the Future of Radio. Find registration info for Radio Interactive 2019, taking place May 9-10, here.
Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2019 is underway this week in Nashville. The 50th anniversary of the annual industry gathering kicked off with the Warner Music Nashville Lunch, headlined by Blake Shelton. Garth Brooks went on to cap off day one with an intimate solo acoustic performance at the Bridgestone Arena. Thursday highlights include a town hall conversation with Brooks, and Universal Music Group performances at the Ryman Auditorium.
