Although I'm normally not one to defend the CRTC when it comes to Cancon, I can understand them stating that Canadian songs must be broadcast in their entirety. It would be because of radio stations editing Canadian songs to remove verses and choruses in the 1970s. On CHUM, I think that such versions were only played on weekends between 6 am and 9 am, when they'd stack them to the point that they probably got in around 30 each hour. That allowed them to play more 1950s and 1960s non-Cancon hits during the rest of the day on their "Million Dollar Weekends".
As for the pre-1981 reference, I think that it reflects the shifting of the oldies era over time. On the Oldies Music Bulletin Board that preceded the one I administer now, I think I recall seeing the moderator (the late Chicago area broadcaster Ron Smith) say that he considered the era to go from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s -- but he allowed messages about music from the 1950s to the 1970s in general. I think that it also makes sense to have it go up to 1980 here to allow stations to have much more in the way of Cancon hits to choose from. 

paterson1 wrote:

I think this editing and speeding up of songs in the early 70's is way exaggerated and didn't happen that much. The CRTC also said in the early 70's that songs had to be played in their entirety after some stations attempted to skirt around the rules. 

Weekends between 6 and 9 CHUM no way played 30 songs per hour.  Saturday morning had reasonably good ratings and would often have a full log of commercials along with news and sports. There may have been some editing of songs at some stations early in cancon, but it was not wide spread and didn't last long.

If it were true, there should be airchecks floating around and I have never heard any. Also artists and record companies would have complained and gone to the CRTC or possibly threatened lawsuits if it was widespread on stations and over a long term. 

I  was in radio in the 70's, and it never happened anywhere I worked and we only heard some  rumours of this happening but very little if any proof.   

I wasn't working in radio at the time but as a listener I can confidently say CHUM was stacking Can-Con during the early morning  hours on weekends. At one point I did notice some edited versions being played but that practice didn't last too long. 
CFTR was rumoured at one time in their history to slightly speed upthe songs. This allowed them to fit an extra tune or two into each hour allowing them to claim that they played more music per hour than anyone else. Clever idea if it happened.
 

kevjo wrote:

paterson1 wrote:

I think this editing and speeding up of songs in the early 70's is way exaggerated and didn't happen that much. The CRTC also said in the early 70's that songs had to be played in their entirety after some stations attempted to skirt around the rules. 

Weekends between 6 and 9 CHUM no way played 30 songs per hour.  Saturday morning had reasonably good ratings and would often have a full log of commercials along with news and sports. There may have been some editing of songs at some stations early in cancon, but it was not wide spread and didn't last long.

If it were true, there should be airchecks floating around and I have never heard any. Also artists and record companies would have complained and gone to the CRTC or possibly threatened lawsuits if it was widespread on stations and over a long term. 

I  was in radio in the 70's, and it never happened anywhere I worked and we only heard some  rumours of this happening but very little if any proof.   

I wasn't working in radio at the time but as a listener I can confidently say CHUM was stacking Can-Con during the early morning  hours on weekends. At one point I did notice some edited versions being played but that practice didn't last too long. 
CFTR was rumoured at one time in their history to slightly speed upthe songs. This allowed them to fit an extra tune or two into each hour allowing them to claim that they played more music per hour than anyone else. Clever idea if it happened. 

I remember hearing about CFTR doing that as well, and I felt that it was enough to be slightly noticeable -- but not enough to be problematic except for people who really wanted to hear songs the way that they were recorded. I was actually in that camp, but had to admit that the songs still sounded fine and that it was clever on their part.
Re CHUM, I based my estimate on how much the edited versions were shortened, and I recall hearing so many songs during those hours that I think they might have reduced their commercial load in the interest of getting in as much Cancon as possible. Guess I should confess that I actually liked to listen during these hours, because CHUM would play some more obscure Cancon songs that I liked and that they didn't play much at other times. And it certainly isn't just me who recalls how much they shortened songs. Here's what Toronto resident, CHUM listener, and longtime music journalist Roman Mitz posted about this three years ago at https://oldies.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?pid=2445#p2445:
One thing the author didn't mention, likely because it doesn't fit with the story's positive slant, is the creative way some Canadian radio stations skirted around the Cancon regulations. We've talked about this before; sometimes in late evening/early morning hours, stations played seriously chopped down versions of Canadian singles, thereby allowing them to meet their quota without playing the entire tracks. I haven't heard the 70 second version of Devil You in a long time.

Last edited by Lorne (May 19, 2023 9:37 pm)

The Grand has been at 30% since it requested a reprieve from 40% approved  in CRTC decision 2016-400. This is consistent with the policy outlined in Public Notice 1998-132, in which it stated that, in the case of stations with formats based on the presentation of older music (“oldies” stations), it will be disposed to give favourable consideration to applications of this nature requesting flexibility to broadcast a lower level of Canadian popular music than required of other commercial radio licensees by regulation. This lower level takes into account the relatively limited supply of Canadian music appropriate for the format of these stations.

Yes, for AM's, didn't realize it carried over to FM's