101 fm is near the bottom of the ratings in the Barrie market I would guess. Which would mean revenue is also near the bottom compared to a Rock 95 or 93.1 . It's likely a cost cutting survival move. 

 As much as I might not like the absence of a local morning show, at least they didn't choose to go with an American one. If Bob & Tom were still around doing mornings, there's no doubt they'd be a good cheap way to do it!!
It also makes it easier to work on a format change. The bodies are already gone. 
 

haydenmatthews14 wrote:

Was this the Colleen from CING-FM in Hamilton before she was let go in 2019?

I believe so. Her bio on the Big site lists a number of local stations she's been at:

"I’m Coming to BIG 101 from Energy 95.3 in Hamilton, with 23+ years in the biz, having been a part of the morning crew on Q107, EZ Rock and boom in Toronto to name a few."

There's also a very strict hiring freeze at Corus right now.

RadioActive wrote:

If you listen to Tim Morgan and Colleen Rusholme in the morning on Corus' Big 101.1 in Barrie, you're not hearing local radio. Instead, the Corus station is simulcasting its morning crew from CJOT-FM in Ottawa. This isn't that unusual, especially for a music station. But it is disappointing.

I think a morning show - arguably the most important on any radio station's schedule - should be local. A crew in Ottawa can't tell you about the big snowstorm that's striking the city, what happened at City Hall or the latest local controversy that people are talking about at their neighbourhood Timmy's. 

It's an unfortunate growing cost-cutting trend and if they wanted to save money by duplicating another city's show, maybe they could do it later on in the daypart. It could be argued listeners are getting higher-priced talent that might not be fiscally possible in a place the size of Barrie.

But to me, a morning show represents a station and its town. And you can't really get a feel for a place if you don't spend time there. If a show comes from a long way away, it's just not serving the audience, who deserve better, even in a smaller market. 

The Big Breakfast

It's the new normal. Morning shows are done from different markets all the time. Sometimes one announcer might be hosting five morning shows at once. The vast majority of listeners don't know the difference, and the corporations save money.Just wait 'til AI gets better, you won't need people at all.
 

Ms. C. wrote:

Dale Patterson wrote:

    The vast majority of listeners don't know the difference, and the corporations save money.     

Long-time lurkers and contributors may recall similar statements posted to SOWNY when this forum was under the Craig Smith administration (decades ago).     The subject then was the wonders of voice-tracking.     Listeners wouldn't know the difference.     

Maybe so, but listeners have disappeared.     They didn't say "goodbye", but they're gone
 

They've gone to Spotlify, satellite radio and numerous other alternatives and will continue to do.
 

Customized playlists and lack of commercials.

RadioAaron wrote:

Customized playlists and lack of commercials.

Sure. That must be why I left. 

In summary, Bay Street got wind that Radiowiz cancelled Spotify, and it was by then too late for conventional radio to recover its former glory which in turn lead to Putin invading Ukraine and the death of Jerry Lee Lewis.     The rest is history  

pinto wrote:

Sadly, the old B101 used to do quite well

I agree 100%.  It's too bad Corus doesn't agree.

Dale Patterson wrote:

   Spotify is a music service. They have no announcers. 

Point I tried (and failed miserably) to make was that as Spotify is evidently falling out of favor, perhaps conventional, music-based broadcast radio still has a future 
 

Ms. C. wrote:

Dale Patterson wrote:

   Spotify is a music service. They have no announcers. 

Point I tried (and failed miserably) to make was that as Spotify is evidently falling out of favor, perhaps conventional, music-based broadcast radio still has a future 
 

If you think the big broadcast conglomerates are suddenly going to open their vaults and go on a hiring spree then I have a bridge you might be interested in.
 

brian451 wrote:

Corus is no stranger to syndication of a morning show. Vancouvers Willy in the Morning based out of rock 101 in Vancouver also airs on Calgary’s Q107 and Edmontons Chuck 92.5. Whenever I have listened it all sounds local based on whichever of the three stations I tune in to. They are the proof it can work and compete in the ratings

Just Like Hamilton's Y108 107.9 airs the Taz and Jim morning show from CFPL-FM 95.9 in London.

Last edited by haydenmatthews14 (November 5, 2022 12:44 am)

Ms. C. wrote:

Dale Patterson wrote:

If you think the big broadcast conglomerates are suddenly going to open their vaults and go on a hiring spree then I have a bridge you might be interested in. 

When shares in a public company collapse as suddenly and deeply as have Spotify shares, some investors may prudently decide that something is wrong there.   If the client count is unchanged, then the decline might be interpreted that the monthly fee to individual users is too low.   But, if the fee is raised, will that cause some former participants to cancel and return to old-fashioned broadcast radio?     

Alternately they might decide to re-invest sale proceeds in your bridge endeavor.

Good luck with that (seriously)  

How do you explain the 15-per-cent year-over-year increase in subscribers? More subscribers is good, right?