RadioActive wrote:

Would a station with a huge signal like CFNY have made the difference?

CRTC Regulations back then were very different. The 49% non hit rule for FM would have automatically made the station sound very different than WYRK. (plus 30% Can Con)

To better answer this question, what were the music tests of that time suggesting? An audience that loves the "Canadian Country sound" or an audience that wishes they could hear more Nashville/American artists? 

I suppose CFNY itself could have easily hit the same bump in the road with so much great New Rock coming out of Seattle back then.
This may be why it's tough to know what to think...except, thankfully (for them) Edge 103.3 was cut off or drowned out by DC 103five (or maybe Hot 103.5, either way, it was there...)
106.5 was wide open and not yet in use in Toronto to block anything out. 


  
 

A good indication if country could have taken off on FM in Toronto was the the launch of CISS FM in January of 1993 by Rawlco Communications.  The new station had a decent amount of promotion and did well initially in the ratings. If a country station can flourish in Vancouver, should be able to in Toronto. 

After three or four years CISS started to play too many pop cross overs into their music mix and playing less country music overall.  This was a mistake since you are losing the country music fans, and the listener who likes pop music won't be tuning into the station anyway.  

CISS only had six years as Toronto's country station. When Rogers announced they had reached a deal to buy CISS from Rawlco in February 1999, they immediately dropped country and became Top 40 initially as Power 92 and then quickly after as Kiss 92.5.  Other later formats included JACK FM, then back to top 40 and Kiss 92.5. 

Toronto has enough fans to support a country FM station but it requires dedication and sticking to country music. not watering down the format with pop cross over songs.  Another issue is the fact a Toronto country station today would have more problems picking up listeners outside of the city.  Simply because there are more country stations outside the GTA than 25 years ago.

KX 94.7 out of Hamilton is very popular and has been country since 2011.  They now have much of the western portion that a country station out of Toronto could have had 15-20 years ago.  Kitchener's Country 106.7 has the area to the north.  Other smaller stations are in Brantford, Barrie, Oshawa and Listowel.

Last edited by paterson1 (December 17, 2023 4:53 pm)

There is no country music radio station in Barrie. CICX FM known as Pure Country 106 does indeed cover the Barrie area, but broadcasts out of Orillia. 

turkeytop wrote:

I've noticed the past several evenings, the MWs that normally pound in here at night like WCBS, WSM, WGN and KYW have been weak and noisy.

Might be due to some solar activity.