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March 3, 2024 2:31 pm  #1


Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

Here is an interesting clip of Tarzan Dan doing his weekly Top 20 Countdown from 1992.  This show was syndicated across Canada and produced by Standard Broadcastings production unit Sound Source. This also was at a time when Top 40 had almost left the airwaves on AM radio.  CFTR was one of the last and still successful but TR dropped the music the next year on June 7 1993. 

The aircheck is from LG73 in Vancouver with Tarzan firing on all cylinders. Clip from soundcloud.com and RadioWest.ca..  Thanks to albertaboyforlife..https://soundcloud.com/westernbroadcasters/tarzan-dan-top-20-1-march-1992-pt-i

 

March 3, 2024 2:58 pm  #2


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

Great energy. Didn't know this show existed at the time!

Anyone know who the VO voice is?

 

March 3, 2024 3:22 pm  #3


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

RadioAaron wrote:

Great energy. Didn't know this show existed at the time!

Anyone know who the VO voice is?

Sounds a bit like Evelyn Macko.

     Thread Starter
 

March 9, 2024 10:48 am  #4


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

Here's part two with the remainder of the countdown - https://radiowest.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?p=12868168#p12868168


Faster cars, younger women, older cheese, more money . . .
 

March 9, 2024 2:04 pm  #5


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

When did each Of the AM stations in Toronto drop top 40 music or current music I believe AM640 was the last to have no music programming in any day part But do we have a date for the last bit of CHR music in Toronto on AM?
Also wasn't Tarzan Dan on M640 near the end of their music run ?
 

 

March 9, 2024 2:22 pm  #6


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

Nirvana being #1 on this countdown is very symbolic.

What a mess Top 40 was at the time. Imagine being 16 and the countdown on the CHR station includes Michael Bolton, Bryan Adams with Rod Stewart, Haywire, etc. The stage was set perfectly for Alternative to become the mainstream for a few years.

Even Z100 NYC, one of the most successful CHR launches ever, became an alt-rock driven station shortly after this aircheck. 

 

March 9, 2024 2:43 pm  #7


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

arc23 wrote:

When did each Of the AM stations in Toronto drop top 40 music or current music I believe AM640 was the last to have no music programming in any day part But do we have a date for the last bit of CHR music in Toronto on AM?
Also wasn't Tarzan Dan on M640 near the end of their music run ?
 

I believe you are right arc23 AM640 was the last AM station in Toronto to finish with top 40 music. 

640 was on Oct 10, 1995.
CFTR ended their top 40 years on June 7, 1993
CKOC Hamilton on Feb 17, 1992
CHUM on June 6, 1986

Of all of these 1050 CHUM had the most press about dropping top 40.  The Toronto newspapers had articles on the format change, and both CTV and CBC national newscasts in addition to local Toronto television covering the story.  Even a couple of Buffalo TV stations mentioned that CHUM radio in Toronto had moved away from top 40 music.  CHUM apparently had listeners in the Buffalo area for decades, and pre dated WKBW with the rock and roll format.

As far as I know Tarzan Dan was at AM640 or whatever the station was called when the music left the airwaves.

     Thread Starter
 

March 9, 2024 2:46 pm  #8


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

RadioAaron wrote:

Nirvana being #1 on this countdown is very symbolic.

What a mess Top 40 was at the time. Imagine being 16 and the countdown on the CHR station includes Michael Bolton, Bryan Adams with Rod Stewart, Haywire, etc. The stage was set perfectly for Alternative to become the mainstream for a few years.

Even Z100 NYC, one of the most successful CHR launches ever, became an alt-rock driven station shortly after this aircheck. 

Much Music, MTV, Video Hits etc. had a lot to do with this.  Top 40 radio was forced to play the wider playlists and new artists seen and heard on television. 

     Thread Starter
 

March 9, 2024 3:30 pm  #9


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

The width in 1992 was not due to video - most of the artists in this countdown didn't break because of video - it was due to lack of new superstars and overall direction. CHR ratings were in the toilet. It was a transition time in need of a lightning rod and Alternative provided it.

 

March 9, 2024 5:42 pm  #10


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

1993 was the year when CKSL London and Hits 109 from Kitchener left the CHR format. In addition to that, you did not have a CHR from Detroit for a few years. 

 

March 9, 2024 8:37 pm  #11


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

Top 40 radio in Toronto officially came to an end October 10, 1995,when Ken Coughlin signed off "The Hog" to make way for Talk 640...



http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/chog-end-oct10-95.mp3

 


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

March 9, 2024 9:02 pm  #12


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

RadioAaron wrote:

The width in 1992 was not due to video - most of the artists in this countdown didn't break because of video - it was due to lack of new superstars and overall direction. CHR ratings were in the toilet. It was a transition time in need of a lightning rod and Alternative provided it.

Not so sure.  In 1992 the video channels were at their peak of popularity and they were breaking the new music and artists with radio trying to keep up and often not succeeding.  The superstars were on Much Music and MTV with airplay, live concerts and interviews.  Music television absolutely contributed to top 40 and CHR's lack of direction, simply because they were being out gunned. 

Look how Much Music could fill the street with their live concerts outside of their studios or even for a weekly dance show like Electric Circus. They were showing their audience on TV every week, and in many cases the artists were right there to perform and to talk.  Top 40 and pop music popularity is often brief, but in the mid 80's and the next twenty years it was music television that largely determined who the new musical superstars were. 

     Thread Starter
 

March 10, 2024 3:59 am  #13


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

RadioAaron wrote:

Great energy. Didn't know this show existed at the time!

Anyone know who the VO voice is?

It says Erin Davis on the page.

 

March 10, 2024 10:34 am  #14


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

The page says CKLG Vancouver's Erin Davis, a different person than the one of CHFI fame, provided the news and weather updates. https://www.iheartradio.ca/move/vancouver/shows/erin-davis-1.1822239

I don't know who the VO voice was for the Toronto-produced Countdown.
 


Faster cars, younger women, older cheese, more money . . .
 

March 10, 2024 10:48 am  #15


Re: Last Days Of Top 40/CHR On AM Radio From 1992

Tomas Barlow wrote:

RadioAaron wrote:

Great energy. Didn't know this show existed at the time!

Anyone know who the VO voice is?

It says Erin Davis on the page.

Yes, as mentioned above Erin Davis (not the CHFI one) was the news reader.  The VO talent for the show sounds like Evelyn Macko to me.

Last edited by paterson1 (March 10, 2024 11:03 am)

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