Radio Gazza - Canadian Radio Update for August 29th, 2008

Radio Gazza - Canadian Radio Update for August 29th, 2008

Well the dart board of excuses officially gets changed over with the labour day weekend as we go from "the MD/PD/everyone is on vacation" to "we're tightening up the playlist for ratings". Yes, the Fall book, arguably the biggest and most important radio ratings book of the year begins on Monday. So with that said, I'm going to enjoy me long weekend with a quick trip to Vancouver for a friend's wedding and then tuck back into, ratings and all, when September kicks in. Have a great weekend yourself where ever you are, and if you're per chance looking for a "Labour Day" themed movie may I suggest the NY classic "Weekend At Bernie's"

Notable:

-Astral Media launched a first of it's kind in Canada on Monday when they flipped Toronto's Mix 99.9 (CKFM) to "Virgin Radio 99.9." Touted as a 'global brand' and run by none other than Richard Branson, the outlet is a star powered "Adult Top 40" that brings names like Perez Hilton and Ryan Seacrest into regular slots. This will certainly makes things interesting as the station is positioned directly in between CHUM and Z103 (CIDC) and for the first time is actually going out of it's way to attack it's competitors. Listen live online here: http://www.virginradio999.com/

-This is old news now, but in case you haven't heard 102.1 The Edge (CFNY) has hired a new PD. Ross Winters, a Corus National PD, and actually the one in charge of hiring a new PD just went ahead and hired himself for the gig. Ross has been with Corus for many years working out of the Vancouver cluster (CFOX, CFMI, etc). It will be interesting to see what direction he takes the station in, but given his past history I'd guess a more streamlined mainstream sounding rock station with a twist of alternative. And lot's of testing.


This Week's Most Added (**As published by Radio & Records):

Top 40:
#1 Pink "So What"
#2 Flo Rida Feat Will.i.am "In The Ayer"
#3 Three 6 Mafia Feat Project Pat, Young D & Superpower "Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)"

Rock:
#1 Metallica "The Day That Never Comes"
#2 Oasis "The SHock Of The Lightening"
#3 Weezer "Troublemaker"

Hot A/C:
#1 Hedley "Old School"
#2 Daughtry "What About Now"
#3 State Of Shock "Best I Ever Had" (Frontside Artist)

Radio Gazza - Canadian Radio Update for August 22nd, 2008

Radio Gazza - Canadian Radio Update for August 22nd, 2008

I've been all about the Sirius XM merger this week. The FCC finally approved it a short while back, but it's only now that things are coming to light about how the company is going to work. I've been all for the merger since the rumors began, mostly because I think they spent too much time competing against each other rather than educating the consumer about "what" satellite radio is. They can finally quit that now and start educating the kids getting paid $8 a hour at Best Buy on how to sell it.

Mel Karmazan was on "Mad Money" last week, and I think he did a great job (link below) explaining how the nuts and bolts of it are going to work. There's no doubt that they've got the programming people want. Also interesting to note that XM Sirius is now the second largest subscriber based entertainment firm in the US behind Comcast and is now one of the largest Radio outlets, behind Clearchannel.
Mel on Mad Money: http://www.cnbc.com/id/26142283/site/14081545/

Notable:
-Evanov Radio (owner of Z103 Toronto) was awarded a new license in WInnipeg and they say "the Winnipeg station will offer a musical blend of Adult Contemporary and Easy Listening music, along with a very heavy local news component that will appeal to a demographic of Adult men and women." No word on when the launch will happen.

-After over two decades at CHUM, Rick Hodge will join the Bill Carroll Morning Show on Newstalk 1010 CFRB for sports and more. In addition, Rick will step down the hall to be a feature part of the new EZ Morning Show with Humble Howard, Kim Stockwood, and Colleen Rusholme.

This Week's Most Added (**As published by Radio & Records):

Top 40:
#1 Pink "So What"
#2 M.I.A. "Paper Planes"
#3 Flo Rida feat Wil.i.am "In The Ayer"

Rock:
#1 Stills "Being Here"
#2 Buckcherry "Too Drunk"
#3 One Day As A Lion "Wild International"

Hot A/C:
#1 Pink "So What"
#2 Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne "Let It Rock"
#3 Sarah McLachlan "U Want Me 2"

Radio Gazza - Canadian Radio Update for August 15th, 2008

Radio Gazza - Canadian Radio Update for August 15th, 2008

We're well into the dog days of summer at this point which means the final round of vacation before fall ratings begin. This leaves a lot of stations in coast mode for another week, before things get rejigged and we move into the most important ratings period of the year.

Notable:
Toronto Alt Rocker 102.1 The Edge (CFNY) remains without a PD for another week. Rumor has it that an internal shuffle will be happening ASAP and that a predecessor for Alan Cross will be named next week, with a September start date.

99.3 The Fox (CFOX) Vancouver announced the winner of their annual CFOX Seeds competition this week. This years champ is Incura (http://www.myspace.com/incura) and they pick up among other things, a management consultation Coalition Entertainment, an agency consultation deal with Ralph James, Studio time at Mushroom in Vancouver and the opening slot for Stone Temple Pilots at FOXFEST 2008.

This Week's Most Added (**As published by Radio & Records):

Top 40:
#1 Jordin Sparks "One Step At A Time"
#2 New Kids On The Block & Ne-Yo "Single"
#3 M.I.A. "Paper Planes"

Rock:
#1 Sam Roberts "Detroit"
#2 Buckcherry "Too Drunk"
#3 One Day As A Lion "Wild International"

Hot A/C:
#1 Jarvis "Whole Day Long"
#2 Pussycat Dolls "When I Grow Up"
#3 Jordin Sparks "One Step At A Time"