The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

**Posted by RadioActive** October 26, 2025 6:58 am

In an era where a younger generation may never listen to the radio (or even know how to operate one), Canadian media guru Dave Charles wonders where the next generation of talent is coming from to keep the medium up and running in the coming years.

Despite what would seem like a gloomy forecast, he actually believes the people are out there and knows where they could come from.

"Someone pitched the wild idea of scouting at karaoke nights. It sounded ridiculous until they did it. In a smoky pub outside of Winnipeg, they found a local teacher who sang 90s pop flawlessly and did weather reports between songs. Four weeks later, she had her own midday show called Lunchroom Mixdown—and ratings weren’t terrible. Management started to wonder if the bar circuit was the new talent pipeline."

I have my doubts, but Charles knows a lot more than I ever will, so who knows what the future holds - and where it will happen?

Where Will Radio Find Its Next Generation Of Talent?

**Posted by Binson Echorec** October 26, 2025 9:19 am

Well, it won't be from any college programs or doing overnights in Brandon, MB. The industry has successfully obliterated its farm system.

**Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99** October 26, 2025 2:30 pm

There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry.
I am 25 years old and still love the radio and am still interested in working in am/fm radio.

**Posted by RadioAaron** October 26, 2025 4:13 pm

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry..

That’s great! Had no idea that existed.

**Posted by torontostan** October 26, 2025 4:14 pm

There is no generation of talent because there won't be demand in the next generation

**Posted by Dale Patterson** October 26, 2025 4:56 pm

torontostan wrote:
There is no generation of talent because there won't be demand in the next generation

Bingo.

**Posted by The Weed** October 26, 2025 7:50 pm

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry.
I am 25 years old and still love the radio and am still interested in working in am/fm radio.

You might want to get in touch with AMI - Accessible Media Inc. They have an audio side as well as a video side.

**Posted by RadioActive** October 27, 2025 6:55 am

It's probably true the next generation of radio people will be fewer than in years past - but maybe this idea being tried by an Australian radio group might work: give people the chance to try themselves out on air and just maybe they'll get the bug. Plus, it might just reveal a hidden talent or two lurking out there who would never have considered radio as a career otherwise.

Your chance to be a radio star

**Posted by Shorty Wave** October 27, 2025 8:02 am

The Weed wrote:
Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry.
I am 25 years old and still love the radio and am still interested in working in am/fm radio.
You might want to get in touch with AMI - Accessible Media Inc. They have an audio side as well as a video side.

Great suggestion, the people at AMI are very approachable, I freelanced with them before COVID.

**Posted by The Weed** October 27, 2025 2:48 pm

Shorty Wave wrote:
The Weed wrote:
Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 wrote:
There's a program for people with disabilities that I just graduated from.
Its free and on zoom.
Its ran by an organisation called connect 4 life and its called an accessable voice in broadcasting.
They brang in talent from Rogers, Stingray, and CBC to talk to us about the industry.
I am 25 years old and still love the radio and am still interested in working in am/fm radio.
You might want to get in touch with AMI - Accessible Media Inc. They have an audio side as well as a video side.

Great suggestion, the people at AMI are very approachable, I freelanced with them before COVID.

I did DV for AMI including during COVID until they disbanded their DV department and furloughed the freelance narrators.