sowny.net | The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum


You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

October 26, 2025 6:58 am  #1


Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

In an era where a younger generation may never listen to the radio (or even know how to operate one), Canadian media guru Dave Charles wonders where the next generation of talent is coming from to keep the medium up and running in the coming years. 

Despite what would seem like a gloomy forecast, he actually believes the people are out there and knows where they could come from.

"Someone pitched the wild idea of scouting at karaoke nights. It sounded ridiculous until they did it. In a smoky pub outside of Winnipeg, they found a local teacher who sang 90s pop flawlessly and did weather reports between songs. Four weeks later, she had her own midday show called Lunchroom Mixdown—and ratings weren’t terrible. Management started to wonder if the bar circuit was the new talent pipeline."

I have my doubts, but Charles knows a lot more than I ever will, so who knows what the future holds - and where it will happen?

Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

 

October 26, 2025 9:19 am  #2


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

Well, it won't be from any college programs or doing overnights in Brandon, MB. The industry has successfully obliterated its farm system.

 

October 26, 2025 2:30 pm  #3


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry.
I am 25 years old and still love the radio and am still interested in working in am/fm radio.

 

October 26, 2025 4:13 pm  #4


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:

There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry..

That’s great! Had no idea that existed.

 

October 26, 2025 4:14 pm  #5


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

There is no generation of talent because there won't be demand in the next generation

 

October 26, 2025 4:56 pm  #6


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

torontostan wrote:

There is no generation of talent because there won't be demand in the next generation

Bingo.
 


"Life without echo is really no life at all." - Dan Ingram
 

October 26, 2025 7:50 pm  #7


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:

There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry.
I am 25 years old and still love the radio and am still interested in working in am/fm radio.

You might want to get in touch with AMI - Accessible Media Inc. They have an audio side as well as a video side.
 

 

October 27, 2025 6:55 am  #8


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

It's probably true the next generation of radio people will be fewer than in years past - but maybe this idea being tried by an Australian radio group might work: give people the chance to try themselves out on air and just maybe they'll get the bug. Plus, it might just reveal a hidden talent or two lurking out there who would never have considered radio as a career otherwise. 

Your chance to be a radio star

     Thread Starter
 

October 27, 2025 8:02 am  #9


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

The Weed wrote:

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:

There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry.
I am 25 years old and still love the radio and am still interested in working in am/fm radio.

You might want to get in touch with AMI - Accessible Media Inc. They have an audio side as well as a video side.
 

 
Great suggestion, the people at AMI are very approachable, I freelanced with them before COVID.

 

October 27, 2025 2:48 pm  #10


Re: Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

Shorty Wave wrote:

The Weed wrote:

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:

There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry.
I am 25 years old and still love the radio and am still interested in working in am/fm radio.

You might want to get in touch with AMI - Accessible Media Inc. They have an audio side as well as a video side.
 

 
Great suggestion, the people at AMI are very approachable, I freelanced with them before COVID.

I did DV for AMI including during COVID until they disbanded their DV department and furloughed the freelance narrators.