SiriusXM has quietly dropped four of CBC/Radio-Canada’s music channels as the satellite radio provider and streamer moves to bring more of its programming in-house.
SiriusXM is no longer broadcasting CBC Radio 3 Classic (channel 162), CBC Country (channel 171), ICI MUSIQUE Franco-Country (channel 166) and ICI MUSIQUE Chansons (channel 163).
It’s introduced several new channels in their place, saying it remains committed to reflecting Canadian artists and continues to meet or exceed its CRTC conditions of licence.
“Our contract with the CBC recently came up for renewal and we took the opportunity to leverage SiriusXM’s in-house team and update some of the channel programming. The changes allow us to further deepen our commitment to Canadian music by offering new and existing channels a more immersive listening experience, featuring in-depth interviews, artist spotlights, live performances and specialty programming, showcasing a wide selection of Canadian artists and genres,” reads a statement on the satellite radio provider’s website.
“We have had and continue to have a great partnership with CBC/Radio-Canada and will continue to work with them in various capacities…we remain committed to Canadian music and artists, and our Canadian lineup of programming will continue to reflect that.”
SiriusXM says The Verge (ch. 173) continues to play new and emerging Canadian indie and alternative music, including many of the artists heard on CBC Radio 3.
Making its debut is a 24/7 channel dedicated to Canadian hip-hop/R&B, Mixtape: North (ch. 164).
In place of Chansons and FrancoCountry, SiriusXM has introduced new French music channels Attitude Franco (ch. 163), featuring French-Canadian rock music, and Racines Musicales (ch. 166), featuring French-Canadian and Indigenous country, folk, and Cajun. Pop genre artists heard on Chansons will now be featured alongside hip-hop artists on Influence Franco (ch. 174).
SiriusXM has also introduced Top of the Country Radio (ch. 171), programmed by the SiriusXM team and featuring the best of Canadian country music.
CBC told Broadcast Dialogue in an email that listeners will continue to have access to a wide variety of music on its CBC Listen and Radio-Canada OHdio platform, including a CBC Radio 3 playlist. CBC said it’s too early to say whether any positions within CBC Music will be impacted.
The public broadcaster said its news channels, CBC Radio One and ICI PREMIÈRE, continue to be available on SiriusXM.
SOCAN said it’s too early to say whether the programming changes will impact royalties distributed to Canadian songwriters, composers and music publishers.
“We support more opportunities for the music created and published by Canadians to be heard and enjoyed. Based on information on the programming changes released online by SiriusXM Canada and CBC, it appears that SiriusXM Canada will attempt to program a breadth of talent from Canadian music creators for both English and French listeners and customers in place of the four CBC channels,” said Kit Wheeler, Vice-President of Royalty Collections, SOCAN.
“It is our hope these programming changes would not result in an overall negative impact on royalties to Canadian music creators,” said Wheeler.
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