1 of 1- jughead jones
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CHUM FM NEW FORMAT
CHUM-FM Toronto has formally updated its status to Canada-Main AC, or simply AC (Adult Contemporary). This change brings a softer, more gentle-pop-oriented & throwback approach, with less emphasis on Top 40 hits. Chum’s playlist now aligning more closely with 98.1 CHFI, and less competitive with 99.9 Virgin radio and Kiss 92.5 which still focus on today’s hottest hits. This transition reflects the ongoing structural pivot under Program Director Christian Hall and Music Director Kelsey Lehman, officially dropping the station's long-held Hot AC tracking status. Dropping the Hot AC designation after more than 40 years is a massive pivot for 104.5, especially coming right on the heels of Marilyn Denis stepping down from mornings and Nat & Josie taking over the airwaves. It sounds like Bell Media is executing a complete strategic repositioning for the station behind the scenes.
- Shorty Wave
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Re: CHUM FM NEW FORMAT
I’m surprised that they didn’t go more the way of Boom, it is doing well and generally speaking, play a decent, upbeat selection. I don’t care for “softer, more gentle-pop-oriented” music, so won’t be tuning in to CHUM-FM anytime soon.
- kevjo
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Re: CHUM FM NEW FORMAT
jughead jones wrote:
Dropping the Hot AC designation after more than 40 years is a massive pivot for 104.5, especially coming right on the heels of Marilyn Denis stepping down from mornings and Nat & Josie taking over the airwaves. It sounds like Bell Media is executing a complete strategic repositioning for the station behind the scenes.
ack when Bell acquired former Astral and CHUM properties, I was always surprised they sold off BOOM but kept two stations that were closer in sound ie Virgin and CHUM. It sounds like they've realized they need to differentiate the two stations' sounds further. That said, could trying to grab some of the CHFI pie result in eroding that powerhouse's audience? Stay tuned.
- Radiowiz
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That said, could trying to grab some of the CHFI pie result in eroding that powerhouse's audience? Stay tuned.
To quote a friend of mine at the late great EasyRock "We had to switch to Boom. We were sinking..."
There really is no room in the Toronto market to literally sound like CHFI. There's going to be differences for sure, but CHUM FM just might find themselves "sinking" just like EasyRock did if they're not careful...
- RadioAaron
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Re: CHUM FM NEW FORMAT
About time.
There's PLENTY of room where they seem to be headed; definitely more than the muddy Diet CHR place where they were. Plenty distinct from CHFI still.
Probably should have done this a year or two ago while Marilyn was still there to ease the transition.
For context, in the current book CHFI is #1 with a 15.8 and CHUM is #8 with a 4.4. Yeah, it's summer and the sample can be (and is) terrible....but still.
- Scarboroughbluffsradiof99
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Re: CHUM FM NEW FORMAT
I'm so happy about this change.
I hope it becomes breezelike and it lasts for years.
Kiss has now changed mostly to Hot AC with virgin being the only real CHR in the market.
Maybe a rebrand to move or bringing back EZrock is in the works?
I have some Ideas for there hd subchannels.
Hd2 should change to sunny radio with classic easy listening and soft AC, hd 3 should be smooth jazz and new-age, and hd 4 should be sunday funnies or an oldies format, and pure country should move back to 99.9 hd4.
- paterson1
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Re: CHUM FM NEW FORMAT
I really don't notice that much difference in the music. They were upbeat with a lot of female vocalists when I listened the other night. Hasn't CHUM been more or less this for years? I do like on the website showing that the show is live. Heard Andrew Uyeno on air and he was fine, and he was present throughout the show, not just a lazy break every 12-15 minutes. Also the announcer previous to Andrew, also live, said her goodbye's about 4 minutes before the top of the hour. Not 20 minutes or more like other statons when voice tracking.
EDIT..I have been listening Saturday evening 8-9pm for over 40 minutes and no announcer breaks at all. The website says that Kelsey is "live" until 9pm and I have been listening since since 8:15pm. Shame on CHUM, just music, promo, station id's and commercials, but no Kelsey and certainly not live as advertised on the website.
The Weekend Blowout which supposedly begins at 9pm began four minutes early. Sloppy.
Last edited by paterson1 (Yesterday 9:01 pm)