Binson Echorec wrote:

Shorty Wave wrote:

Does anyone remember Bachman’s tune from the 1990s “Prairie Town”? Neil Young also appeared on that song, It wasn’t too bad, about growing up in Winnipeg, playing in bands and dealing with the lovely winters!

Sure do, wasn't a bad tune either.

He and Neil actually recorded two versions of that song - one slower and more acoustic and the rockier take. Both were quite decent.

gch wrote:

It's interesting to note that CFCO will be celebrating 100 years in 2026  & CHOK will be celebrating 80 years in 2026.
    CHOK has 103.9 as a repeater, but again, with limited range.  Does CHOK have any plans to shut down 1070...

 

CHOK on 103.9, as mentioned has a very limited signal range so to shut down the AM would be a bad move. The station would lose a sizeable chunk of its coverage area.

haydenmatthews14 wrote:

km93 wrote:

Wouldn't 95.3 be a good candidate for purchase? They can dump 93.5 and revive "Country 95-3," and cover Southern Ontario right into cottage country or give the GTA a true Soft A/C and do 95-3 The Breeze!

But how would 95.3 do against KX 94.7? Or Country 89.1 from Wellend? I mean 94.7's signal is not very good in the Niagara area because of nearby 94.5 WNED-FM from Buffalo NY. But if Stingray did purchase 95.3 then it would do very well and bring back Country 95.3 to life.

With powerhouse KX94.7 in the market, the country format is not a viable choice. They want a station they can sell in Hamilton. Forget about reaching into Niagara - well covered by Welland and Buffalo. 
With the loss of a local A/C when they made the MOVE...there is a true opportunity for that.

mace wrote:

When I lived in Oakville, I had access to an outdoor Wineguard non directional FM antenna. CKOT would come in occasionally. I think they were the last of the "Beautiful Music" format stations in Southern Ontario.

The simple and stark reality is there is a reason the "beautiful music" format has disappeared from the commercial dial - there's no money in it. The demographic would be mostly 75 plus, of little interest to most advertisers. I'm not saying that's how it should be, it just is.
 

newsguy1 wrote:

Amazing how practically all the songs are secular pop or rock Christmas tunes.
Not that I care, but I would have thought Silent Night and The First Noel etc would be there.  I notice there's Do You Hear What I Hear.
I think you'd find more traditional carols in Canada because of our ongoing British ties.
But, like I say, I'm not a Christmas kind of person.

 

For the most part the religious-themed Christmas songs tend to get shoved to the back of the line until maybe Christmas Eve. It probably has a lot to do with mainstreaming it for those who don't celebrate the spiritual side.
In CHFI's case, they have in the past interchangeably used the terms holiday and Christmas.

Shorty Wave wrote:

Radio personality Alan Cross announced on X that he has cancelled his National Post subscription due to reporter Michael Taube’s October 30th endorsement of Trump, and it would appear others have followed Cross’ lead. This is too bad for the Post as I don’t think the entire paper agreed with Taube and now they’re losing business they won’t get back. I’ll (hopefully) be happy when the US elections are done.

Politics in the U.S. has always been divisive for a great many of its citizens. Sadly, with this election cycle, that has spilled over into this country causing rifts between friends, colleagues and family members. i have experienced a little of this first hand and find it deeply disturbing. 
The argument is often made that we need to be involved because the outcome of this election will have ripple effects north of the border. True as that may be, unless you hold U.S. citizenship, there isn't anything you can do about it. 
What you can and should do is become more invested in Canada's political scene, federally, provincially and especially on a local level. Sure it's not as glitzy or "showbizzy" but it affects our lives directly each and every day. Some time within the next year there will be a federal election and we need to pay closer attention to what our candidates stand for and how their actions impact our lives. There are media outlets that provide more fact-based reporting and now is the time to follow what is happening to cut through the spin and rhetoric to make an informed choice on this side of the border. It would be great to see more Canadians fired up enough to turn out in droves leading up to our election. 

Radiowiz wrote:

CFTR's 68 second news break right up until they went all news ended their news with weather in both temps just before going to music.

Any radio station near a border today should do both temps. It's the smart thing to do.
As for AM 740, well, it is targeting an older audience, I suppose...

Even into the 80's CHYR in Leamington was still giving temperatures in Fahrenheit. Only when mentioning the current temp did they give the Celsius figure and only after the Fahrenheit reading. I was told then that, due to their close proximity to the U.S. , people in the area still related more to Fahrenheit.

It's a bit anachronistic - a throwback to the days when radio personalities were seen an superstars. Admittedly talk show hosts do carry a bit more weight, positively or negatively but would the prize be any less special without Jerry along for the ride?

betaylored wrote:

When Peter Shurman was introducing a segment on the radio he often took the time to give a quick overview of the subject before going on with the discussion. This gave the less informed listeners a chance to get up to speed and become interested in the topic and also allowed the more in the know listeners a moment to feel knowledgeable.

I wish Mr. Shurman well.

He is a true class act and exemplifies how to properly construct a good talk program. 

paterson1 wrote:

I too enjoyed Jim Brady on CFTR  Other favourites on TR were Mike Marshall and Keith O'Bryan.  Big fan of John Mahjor, Jim Van Horne, Jay Nelson and Roger Ashby on CHUM.  On WLS liked John Landecker and when in Florida had to listen to WAPE and The Greaseman, Doug Tacht.  Only heard Peter Garland on CKSL London for about six months, but he was a great morning man, as was Don Percy on CKY in Winnipeg.

As a kid in Montreal Donny Burns and Steve Shannon were among my favourites...both would later do stints in Toronto.
In southern Ontario the big names for me were John Majhor (another one taken away too young) and John Rhode.
Don Daynard was another stellar talent to listen to.

paterson1 wrote:

This is one CHUM chart where I can honestly say, I don t remember some of these songs that likely haven't had much airplay in decades.  Goodbye Mama from Dave Nichols, Johnny Taylor I Believe in You, Gypsy Man from War,  A Million to One and the flip Young Love from Donny Osmond.  I don't remember any of these being hits.  I never played any of thim in my time on radio. 

Interesting that the Monster Mash had a second life on the CHUM chart and was number one on this date in 1973. Toronto writer and singer Tony Kosinec had a one hit wonder with All Things Come From God.  Tony was also the producer and one of the writers for OK Blue Jays which is heard during the 7th inning stretch for home games.

Kind of a nothing chart IMO.  But it is interesting that the station played both Smoke On The Water and Sweet Gypsy Rose and charted these songs in September 1973.  
 

All the songs you mentioned were legitimate hits and are further proof as to just how diverse Top 40 radio once was.
I remember the Dave Nicol track getting airplay, later learning it was Can-Con. I never did learn what caused Monster Mash to rechart but it was across the board. Especially strange that it happened during the summer instead of closer to Hallowe'en.

RadioAaron wrote:

kevjo wrote:

RadioAaron wrote:

If it were a hole in the market, the station formerly in the format wouldn't have been unplugged. Key word there is "market." That format no longer provides a product (listeners) that the medium's customers are looking to buy - at least not at a rate that covers the cost to provide it.

It sounds like the time is ripe for someone to pursue a community licence for the market. With the right sales and marketing approach it could be a success. 
 

How is a community license based on selling ads any different than a commercial approach?  
 

It is a different type of licence which, firstly means that, aside from a couple management positions, the majority of the staff are volunteers thus keeping wage costs down. This has worked in communities of various sizes including bigger cities  such as Winnipeg. One of this country's longest-running community stations is just up the road in Kitchener/Waterloo.
Secondly, varied programs targeted at specific cultural  and special  areas of interest provide an opportunity to obtain sponsors whose product or service caters to those groups. 
As for covering local news, the station can liaise with local independent reporters who often have connections to obtain "scoops". The key is to be hyper local in everything and listeners will connect.


 

Saul wrote:

newsguy1 wrote:

And when the kid grows to teenage it'll be, "God, dad your music is so (insert derogatory term 15 years from now).
And those tattoos, man what were you thinking??? so lame.
No I'm not going out to get druink and party tonight -- I have to study for the priesthood.
 

Reminds me of a Mad magazine parody of many years ago ... the children of hippies as short-haired serious classical music lovers... visually it was priceless...

Family Ties had a lock on that concept in the 80's with the conservative son of former hippies.
 

RadioActive wrote:

I don't think any offence was intended, but it's hard not to notice all that ink. It's his choice, of course, and it doesn't affect his terrific on-air abilities in any way.

"Records and Rock Stars" airs on Sauga960, and I only wish it had a better local outlet than a weak AM signal from Mississauga. It deserves to be heard in stereo on a Toronto FM station somewhere. 

By the way, if you're curious about the show, it airs Sundays at 6 PM on CKNT. 

He still has a weekly gig on 94.9 in Oshawa playing classic rock Sundays Noon-6pm.
 

Forward Power wrote:

...and MBC's Freq 90.5 in Peterborough.

They touted themselves as such - Alternative Rewind - when they first signed on. However, soon after they began to mix in a number of much newer tracks. That trend has continued.