Posted by RadioActive  March 9, 2023 10:38 am | #1 |
Vibe 105, the old CHRY-FM from York University, doesn't get a lot of publicity here, but they've announced a major series of specials to mark half a century of Hip Hop. And it will last a while - the programming is expected to go on for the rest of the year.
Toronto’s VIBE 105 commemorates 50th anniversary of Hip Hop
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Posted by dmcjeff September 23, 2024 2:12 pm | #2 |
I'm aware of the station. Way back in '95 I did a year of broadcast jounalism at Seneca @ York and did some volunteer work at CHRY back then. Interesting that they are now a for profit (?) low power commercial station but one that is also available on Tune In nation-wide (I hear it in my Tesla that way anywhere I am). I presume they do not participate in any ratings surveys but I'm curious what their listenership could be in comparison to 98.7 or even WBLK (via app or web streaming). Unfortunate that Toronto doesn't have a powerful signal for R&B/Hip hop still after all this time.
[img]https://1drv.ms/i/s!AuF8Sd9OzvCbg5oAXaSlHwJVUvLp-w?e=arHBuk[/img]
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Posted by RadioActive September 23, 2024 2:29 pm | #3 |
dmcjeff wrote:
I'm aware of the station. Way back in '95 I did a year of broadcast jounalism at Seneca @ York and did some volunteer work at CHRY back then. Interesting that they are now a for profit (?) low power commercial station but one that is also available on Tune In nation-wide (I hear it in my Tesla that way anywhere I am). I presume they do not participate in any ratings surveys but I'm curious what their listenership could be in comparison to 98.7 or even WBLK (via app or web streaming). Unfortunate that Toronto doesn't have a powerful signal for R&B/Hip hop still after all this time.
I agree with you - it is very odd that, despite numerous attempts at bringing a true Hip Hop/R&B station to Toronto, with a huge Black population, this type of radio has always been sort of out of the mainstream. You'd think it would be doing a lot better and be a lot more available on a better signal.
Kind of like the country curse, I guess. No matter how many times it's been tried (with perhaps the exception of CFGM, which was C&W for 26 years) It just never seems to work in this city. It's really inexplicable.
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Posted by DOPEfm September 24, 2024 2:45 am | #4 |
I'm aware of the station. Way back in '95 I did a year of broadcast jounalism at Seneca @ York and did some volunteer work at CHRY back then. Interesting that they are now a for profit (?) low power commercial station but one that is also available on Tune In nation-wide (I hear it in my Tesla that way anywhere I am). I presume they do not participate in any ratings surveys but I'm curious what their listenership could be in comparison to 98.7 or even WBLK (via app or web streaming). Unfortunate that Toronto doesn't have a powerful signal for R&B/Hip hop still after all this time.
I was also a volunteer there from 91-97.
Worked with News at Noon and News at 5, wrote and casted in rotation.
Also did a short six week open format show at night (I think Monday, maybe Tuesday) in summer '96.
Wow, what times and how open (literally, the station door in Vanier College never closed to my knowledge, at least until some unfortunate theft).
Managers Stephen Perry and Fionna York were very cool.
I still think of them (and all my experiences, co-op credits earned, etc) as I rock along in radio now...
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Posted by DOPEfm September 24, 2024 2:59 am | #5 |
I agree with you - it is very odd that, despite numerous attempts at bringing a true Hip Hop/R&B station to Toronto, with a huge Black population, this type of radio has always been sort of out of the mainstream. You'd think it would be doing a lot better and be a lot more available on a better signal.
Kind of like the country curse, I guess. No matter how many times it's been tried (with perhaps the exception of CFGM, which was C&W for 26 years) It just never seems to work in this city. It's really inexplicable.
When picking up my son in central Hamilton mountain, I regularly catch 105.5 over the air in the car with very little static (the schools along a north/south hydro corridor)
I remember them as the 50 watt station I was a volunteer at and i'd catch in Markham in the 90s with my dope ass clock radio, still have the darn thing in a box.
You know, CHRY had this annoying buzz on the hour, every hour with no way to turn it off.
I remember the hip-hop shows would DJ through that noise.
Now CHRY is Vibe at 150 watts.
I appreciate what they do today, but miss that community radio format that allowed others in the community to participate with little to no barriers.
Ah, 105 and a 1/2 love!
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Posted by Radiowiz September 24, 2024 6:58 am | #6 |
CHRY is where I first learned how to produce things with the late great Cool edit Pro.
Quite a while ago. I also took pledges for them, back when they were a listener supported station.
I believe this was back in 2003.
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.
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Posted by The Weed September 24, 2024 12:54 pm | #7 |
Cool Edit Pro was bought by Adobe and became Adobe Audition. AFAIK, the last version of AA that was a perpetual license before Adobe changed all their programs to subscription was v3.0. I have the original install disks for v3.0, but several years ago, for about 2 years, Adobe had a free for download v3.0 on their website with a license that anyone could download and use along with a patch. I have that download too. A few people have gotten it to work on windows 10.
I much prefer Pro Tools and have been using it since 2001, but I know a few radio producers that prefer Audition and Cool Edit before it. To be fair, I know a few radio producers and Recording Studio owners who prefer Pro Tools. To each.
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Posted by RadioAaron September 24, 2024 1:00 pm | #8 |
I'm aware of the station. Way back in '95 I did a year of broadcast jounalism at Seneca @ York and did some volunteer work at CHRY back then. Interesting that they are now a for profit (?) low power commercial station but one that is also available on Tune In nation-wide (I hear it in my Tesla that way anywhere I am). I presume they do not participate in any ratings surveys but I'm curious what their listenership could be in comparison to 98.7 or even WBLK (via app or web streaming). Unfortunate that Toronto doesn't have a powerful signal for R&B/Hip hop still after all this time.
I agree with you - it is very odd that, despite numerous attempts at bringing a true Hip Hop/R&B station to Toronto, with a huge Black population, this type of radio has always been sort of out of the mainstream. You'd think it would be doing a lot better and be a lot more available on a better signal.
Kind of like the country curse, I guess. No matter how many times it's been tried (with perhaps the exception of CFGM, which was C&W for 26 years) It just never seems to work in this city. It's really inexplicable.
Problem was, in the past - even if such a station got good ratings, advertising would have been difficult due to....um...misconceptions about the audience. (racism, mostly)
Today, you'd hope that would be less of a problem, but it's too late. Even in bigger US markets, the format is starting to falter as the audience is one of the quickest to embrace streaming, where they can go deeper into many of the format's niches as well as not dealing with radio edits cutting the tracks to within an inch of their lives,
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Posted by dmcjeff September 24, 2024 2:12 pm | #9 |
I've spent months in five different U.S. Cities this year ranging from NYC/NJ Trenton to DC, Philly, Las Vegas and I have noticed that there is a resurgence of old school hip hop stations being programmed, likely catering to older audiences. Jammin 105.7 Las Vegas, 97.5 Kveg, 94.7 the Block NJ Trenton and even WBLS, WBLK are finding success playing a Lot of Gold. You're right, Today's youth don't even know what the current radio stations are in the area typically.
This is also why Boom 97.3 is top of the pack in Toronto as it caters to old folks like us
[img]https://1drv.ms/i/s!AuF8Sd9OzvCbg5oAXaSlHwJVUvLp-w?e=arHBuk[/img]
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Posted by DOPEfm September 24, 2024 2:57 pm | #10 |
I've spent months in five different U.S. Cities this year ranging from NYC/NJ Trenton to DC, Philly, Las Vegas and I have noticed that there is a resurgence of old school hip hop stations being programmed, likely catering to older audiences. Jammin 105.7 Las Vegas, 97.5 Kveg, 94.7 the Block NJ Trenton and even WBLS, WBLK are finding success playing a Lot of Gold. You're right, Today's youth don't even know what the current radio stations are in the area typically.
This is also why Boom 97.3 is top of the pack in Toronto as it caters to old folks like us
How true about an old school resurgence.
I was also recently in New York City and noticed what you're saying.
I've also started programming at Classic 1220 in St Catherines doing a disco & funk mixshow. So far, the audience reception has been generally good.
But to stay on topic. I'm so pleased Vibe105 is doing things relevant to urban culture. This 50 year celebration special should be great.
Thanks RadioActive for the mention of this.
