I have to admit...I like the Christmas music on 92.9 and on weekends on Q92.
There are probably others who enjoy it as well.

I haven't listened to 940 since they stopped being a talk station though and no
Ipod music will get me to listen to them unless they become a new/talk station
again.

Ryan Rider

Yes.  They've canned all regular weekend stuff and replaced it with automated
Xmas music.  Now the same at 940 except 7 days/week.  I don't think Brian DePoe
has a clue what he's doing.

--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, Fred Arshoff <arshoff4000@...> wrote:
>
> I know the past 2 weekends the Q is playing Xmas music and I've turned it off,
>

It just seems funny...people complaining that Christmas music is being
played 24/7....does it have to be like all the other stations?  Playing rock
of today, rock of yesterday or rock of way back then?  If you don't like it,
then don't listen.....if no one listens, then the suits upstairs may one day
figure it out.  I, personally, at this time of year, rather like it.  But
then again, I hate the so-called music of today, especially what some refer
to as music...meaning rap.

And then if you don't like Christmas music, you may think twice when you go
shopping for gifts this "holiday" season.

Happy holidays to some....Merry Christmas to others.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Likewise.  It is pretty clear that the suits at Q92 and 940 am have no idea what
they are doing.

--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, Fred Arshoff <arshoff4000@...> wrote:
>
> I know the past 2 weekends the Q is playing Xmas music and I've turned it off,
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: northeastradionews <nealford@...>
> To: radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sun, November 29, 2009 2:59:09 PM
> Subject: [Radio In Montreal] Re: AM 940 playing Christmas Music
>
>
>
> Is this a test to see if they can push their ratings any lower? :-)
>
> Did the at least get Gipp Forster's "It Feels Like Christmas" Vignettes?
>
> Or.... could it be just a ploy so they can launch a new format in January?
>
> Time will tell. I still say their best bet would be to try "Zoomer Radio" as
is being done on Znaimer's AM 740 in Toronto....
>
>
>
>
>
>       __________________________________________________________________
> Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your
favourite sites. Download it now
> http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I know the past 2 weekends the Q is playing Xmas music and I've turned it off,




________________________________
From: northeastradionews <nealford@...>
To: radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, November 29, 2009 2:59:09 PM
Subject: [Radio In Montreal] Re: AM 940 playing Christmas Music



Is this a test to see if they can push their ratings any lower? :-)

Did the at least get Gipp Forster's "It Feels Like Christmas" Vignettes?

Or.... could it be just a ploy so they can launch a new format in January?

Time will tell. I still say their best bet would be to try "Zoomer Radio" as is
being done on Znaimer's AM 740 in Toronto....





       __________________________________________________________________
Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your
favourite sites. Download it now
http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Is this a test to see if they can push their ratings any lower? :-)

Did the at least get Gipp Forster's "It Feels Like Christmas" Vignettes?

Or.... could it be just a ploy so they can launch a new format in January?

Time will tell. I still say their best bet would be to try "Zoomer Radio" as is
being done on Znaimer's AM 740 in Toronto....

Hey, don't blame us!  Janice and I spoke about Montreal being saved from having
an all-Christmas music station.

Well, it looks like that statement is no longer true.  Mike Mathieu just called
to say that he tuned in 940 this afternoon for his usual dose of Oldies but
instead got, yes, all Christmas music.

No idea when this started.  There is no mention of it on their webpage nor did
we receive any notice of this from Corus.

Sheldon

Please disregard the date at the bottom of the previous posting on this subject
that reads Wednesday, December 17, 2008.  That was obviously the date of last
year's party.

Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

Yes, believe it or not, we're about to head into December!  It's time to plan
for this year's edition of the annual RIM/CIDX Christmas Dinner.

I personally don't have a lot of dates available in December, so I'm going to
throw out a choice of two possibilities.  Most of you know the drill.  For those
who are new to the group in the last year, we have this dinner each year. 
Everyone is invited, guests included. All I need from you is a confirmation that
you will be attending and with how many people.

To facilitate matters, we'll use the same location as last year, the Buffet
Vichy in Ville Lasalle as it is centrally located, affordable, lots of free
parking, accessible easily by public transit, and simple to reserve!

So the two dates we have to choose from are Monday, December 14th or Tuesday,
December 15th.  It will, by necessity, be a majority rule thing.  So, if you
would like to attend, please let me know which date is more suitable.  Please
contact me directly by e-mail at ve2shw@..., NOT through a RIM Board
posting please. I'd like to get this firmed up ASAP, so please contact me by
Wednesday, December 2nd and will get things finalized then and post it up
officially.

I really encourage you to join in.  It's always a great time and the more, the
merrier. We hope to have a number of door prizes available, as usual, and
hopefully a few surprise guests.  Here is the location.  st

LOCATION: Buffet Vichy, 7205 Newman Blvd, Ville Lasalle
DATE: Wednesday, December 17, 2008
TIME: 6:30 PM.

The following classified is appearing on Milkman Unlimited.  Seems like Virgin
Radio Montreal needs an overnight host.

Sheldon


Overnight Host - Montreal QC

Astral Media brings together people with a passion to perform, as one team, with
integrity and imagination. Astral Media is always on the lookout for dynamic,
innovative and passionate professionals who embrace change and new technologies
and who are looking to continually challenge themselves within a growing
organization.

Position: OVERNIGHT HOST – VIRGIN RADIO 96
(Full time - permanent position)

Reports to:
Program Director
Address:
1411 Fort Street
Montreal, Quebec
H3H 2R1

Schedule:
5 overnights12a-5:30a

Responsibilities :

• Providing a fun, upbeat, energetic radio show that fits the target audience of
Virgin Radio 96;
• Preparing relevant content for each on air shift as scheduled and as per
station target;
• Updating Interactive content, (blogging on relevant Astral websites,
participating in daily podcasts and such other Interactive content related
activities);
• Making public appearances;
• Commercial production;
• Preparation and recording Voice track shifts when required.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Minimum 1 yr of experience
• Must be creative and innovative
• Must be able to relate to, and embrace the lifestyle of CHR (contemporary HIT
radio) audience
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills
•Passionate, detail oriented and goal oriented
• Able to work under pressure and with tight deadlines
• Self-motivated and able to take direction

•English mandatory, French an asset

Any candidate who wants to apply for this opportunity should send their resume,
cover letter and MP3 to:

Bob Harris VP Programming
Astral Media Radio Virgin Radio 96
Email: bharris@...

Deadline :

December 4th 2009

Each year we pass along info on the airing of the Paul Reid Christmas special on
CJAD.  We'll do that again when we have the details, but this year there is a
unique event taking place called "An Evening with the Paul Reid Christmas". 
Here is the link to the Facebook event page

http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=180708583055&ref=nf

Sounds kind of interesting.

One of the last English articles in the Verdun Messenger:

A Shtern

  CTV’S DEREK CONLON: STILL A GOOD OLD VERDUN BOY Bob Dubois [image: Bob
Dubois] *par Bob Dubois * <bobbyd@...>
Voir tous les articles de Bob
Dubois<http://www.messagerverdun.com/journaliste-141-Bob-Dubois.html>
*Article mis en ligne le 13 mai 2009 à 13:47*
*Réagissez à cet
article<http://www.messagerverdun.com/article-336977-CTVS-DEREK-CONLON-STILL-A-G\
OOD-OLD-VERDUN-BOY.html#comment>
*
  [image: CTV’S DEREK CONLON: STILL A GOOD OLD VERDUN
BOY]<http://www.messagerverdun.com/imgs/dynamique/articles/gros/DSCF0966.jpg>
Pictured above is Verdun’s Derek Conlon getting ready for a report outside
the CTV studios.
CTV’S DEREK CONLON: STILL A GOOD OLD VERDUN BOY
Bob Dubois
Derek Conlon, CJAD News. This is Derek Conlon, CTV News, Ile Perrot.
Familiar sign-offs for anybody who works at these local media giants, but in
particular, these belong to someone who still belongs to us and still shops
some of the local stores and drops in to the local depanneurs.
They belong to Derek Conlon, who unknown to many, is a Verdun product and
has gone through the local school system, Riverview’s class of 74 and Verdun
High’s class of 79. So we recently had a chat with Derek as part of our
“They Remember” series to talk about his younger days here and a bit of his
enviable media career.

Derek vividly remembers some of his elementary teachers. “ I started in 1967
with kindergarten with Miss Smith, Miss Gallen was my grade 1 teacher, Mrs.
Richard was grade 2 , I had a Miss Halifax and a Miss Brown a couple of
times.

It was great then, walking to school, we grew up on Stephens, walk along
Monteith, over to the school (Riverview), and then continued on to Verdun
High. Back then in school, it was great, the same kids who were in your
class in kindergarten were the same kids in grade 1, 2, 3 and you would be
in the same class all the way to high school, so those friendships that you
formed were truly lifelong friendships,” recalls Derek.

Back then, as Derek recalls, summers were easy going, not like the
distractions of today like web-surfing or video games. Derek mentions that a
gang of friends would ride around on their bikes everywhere, and depending
on the summer, he would have one best friend for the summer. Derek
continues, “One year it was a kid named Kevin Law, and one was Kenny Drover,
we would spend endless days at Angrignon Park, along the boardwalk, hanging
out in people’s backyards.”

And with a bit of prodding, he also mentions of knowing a familiar Verdun
family well. “I do know the O’Reilly family very well, I went to school with
Brian, we’re about the same age, the family grew up just up the street from
me, I can remember Brian O’Reilly, while playing ball in the Riverview
school yard, and the ball rolling down to home plate, Brian would knock it
out of the schoolyard with his foot,” says Derek with a laugh.

During the high school years, Derek, who says he was an average student,
would do the usual teen thing those years, like going to the school dance,
go to Woodland restaurant, and the late lamented Kosta’s at the corner of
Godin and Bannantyne.

But a special memory for Derek remains the Natatorium. “My fondest memory
growing up on Stephens, right up the street from the pool, was spending my
entire summer in my elementary school years and spending entire days at the
Nat, you couldn’t have gotten better value for a buck if you tried. You
would spend a dollar to get a pass for the summer from 10 am to 4 o’clock;
you’d roll up your bathing suit in your towel and walk down the street.
They’ve done a good job rehabilitating with the grass, it was nothing but a
big concrete jungle and it was scalding hot when you rolled out your towel
when you lay down. Absolutely my fondest memory,” says Derek happily.

Derek originally didn’t want to be a radio or TV guy. He wanted to be a
writer, but thought newspapers wouldn’t be a bad thing after watching the
Lou Grant show back in the 70’s.He took some journalism courses at Dawson
College, but still wanted to be a writer and write books, and figured if
Ernest Hemingway, who started as a journalist, could do it, then why not,
but he had to start writing somewhere and a job as a newspaper reporter
where you had to write everyday would do that.

An intro radio course at Concordia in his second year, showed Derek that
writing for radio was much simpler, as you’re emulating for speech, unlike
the newspapers which is writing for the eye, and got himself a stint at a
campus radio station, and rewriting the copy that’s supplied to the station
by the wire services. I’ve done it, so I know the feeling. The radio medium
now seemed to be the way to go.

So Derek sent out copies of tapes and CV’s to the stations in town and
beyond and got a few nibbles and people saying he was green and got the same
reaction from someone named Gord Sinclair, the news director at a radio
station called CJAD, and a letter advising him to get a job in the boonies.
Ever been to Kapuskasing anybody?

Brief stints in weekly papers in Shawville and Sherbrooke were followed by a
stay at CJSS in Cornwall, and after 3 ½ months, sent out tapes to CFCF and
CJAD.This time he got a call from the master himself, the late great Gord
Sinclair, and was hired for a part-time weekend overnight gig doing news.
Derek would go on to stay at ’AD for 18 years until 2005, including the
afternoon traffic copter beat up in the air, Lunch with Derek and Kim and
the Free-For-All show. He was being groomed by his mentor Gord Sinclair to
be the successor one day, and was named news director in 2002 under untimely
circumstances, with the passing of his mentor, Mr. Sinclair.

Derek would stay until 2005, where after he was hired by Mike Piperni,
another native of the southeast, who was News Director at CTV aka CFCF-12,
where he is to this day as a reporter for CTV News. Derek is a resident of
the Crawford Park area, the Westmont of Verdun and would probably be the
first one to say he’s been lucky being the CJAD News Director and a reporter
at CTV News, arguably, the most influential voices of English Quebec. Not
bad for a good old boy from Verdun.
http://www.messagerverdun.com/article-336977-CTVS-DEREK-CONLON-STILL-A-GOOD-OLD-\
VERDUN-BOY.html



On 11/27/09, radio_observer <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> My guess is that seeing as Empress Kim Fraser, who with a couple of swings
> of her Royal Scepter managed to dispatch Derek Conlan to the land of the
> commoners and subsequently chopped an hour off Kevin & Trudy's show, She
> found that there was still something missing from Noon to 2:PM...
>
> Oh yes, that's it, she wasn't hearing the sound of her own voice from 12:05
> to 12:15pm so she likely had the newscast shortened under threat or duress
> or whatever keeps the Duchess of Windbag on the air.
>
> --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com <radioinmontreal%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "Bob W" <robert.w.welch@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi there...
> >
> > Did the long form Noon News end when Ed Kowal retired just recently or
> quite a while ago?
> >
> > Bob Welch
> > Noon News anchor at WSTJ St Johsbury, VT
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re, CHOM:  Sad to say that the editorial in The Monitor is not available on the
printed page anymore as more people would have seen the excellent comments being
made.  CHOM et al are not interested in their heritage or their listenership. 
They are only interested in the bottom line.

Avrom Shtern


--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, nickxynis <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Many here may have heard the miniscule 15 seconds of silence that CHOM
observed on Nov 11th @ 11am.
>
> Here's the story of one listener who dared to ask " Why so little respect ?"
>
>
http://www.westmountexaminer.com/article-404935-Shame-on-CHOM-for-intentional-sl\
eight-to-our-war-veterans.html
>

My guess is that seeing as Empress Kim Fraser, who with a couple of swings of
her Royal Scepter managed to dispatch Derek Conlan to the land of the commoners
and subsequently chopped an hour off Kevin & Trudy's show, She found that there
was still something missing from Noon to 2:PM...

Oh yes, that's it, she wasn't hearing the sound of her own voice from 12:05 to
12:15pm so she likely had the newscast shortened under threat or duress or
whatever keeps the Duchess of Windbag on the air.

--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "Bob W" <robert.w.welch@...> wrote:
>
> Hi there...
>
> Did the long form Noon News end when Ed Kowal retired just recently or quite a
while ago?
>
> Bob Welch
> Noon News anchor at WSTJ St Johsbury, VT
>

Re: CJAD Noon News... CFRA Ottawa has a one half hour package at Noon. It used
to included "The Rest Of The Story" with the late Paul Harvey. I guess CJAD had
to cut back for economic reasons.

Avrom Shtern

--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "Bob W" <robert.w.welch@...> wrote:
>
> Hi there...
>
> I know I've been on the air myself.. at noon.. every weekday.. minus holidays
like today.. as it's Thanksgiving here in Vermont... for the past 18 months. So
excuse me if I missed a change that happened sometime in the past year and a
half.
>
> I heard a normal... run of the mill... top of the hour newscast at 12 Noon
today instead of something running for 15 minutes.  I recall the program used to
be hosted by Claude Beaulieu.. most recently and of course the late Gord
Sinclair made the Noon News in most of the minds of people reading this I'm
sure.  I remembered I used to hear a Business report.. a live chat about the
weather.. along with a sportscast.  Did the long form Noon News end when Ed
Kowal retired just recently or quite a while ago?
>
> Bob Welch
> Noon News anchor at WSTJ St Johsbury, VT
>

Following up on my posting on the passing of K-103's Jesse Deer, services for
Jesse will be held in Kahnawake tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm.

In addition, I have received this notice of a unique initiative organized by
Kahnawake's various media outlets.

Jesse Deer Memorial Media Scholarship Announced
Kahnawake - November 26, 2009

Kahnawake's local media are proud to announce the establishment of the Jesse
Deer Memorial Media Scholarship.

The Eastern Door, Iori:wase (Kahnawakenews.com), Mohawk Television, KTV and K103
Radio have combined their efforts to pay tribute to the dynamic, energetic and
kind-hearted Jesse Deer, who passed away this week at the tragically young age
of 23.

The Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student pursuing post secondary
media-related studies. A committee consisting of representatives of the founding
media will select students who exemplify Jesse's ideals, work ethic, community
involvement and, most of all, the positive spirit he embodied.

In his all-too-brief lifetime, Jesse worked at almost every Kahnawake media
outlet. He was a radio host, co-host, newspaper columnist, newscaster, TV
reporter, hockey color-commentator and professional deejay.

He also was a member of the Visioning Committee and active participant in the
Community Decision Making Process. He volunteered tirelessly and
enthusiastically. His last public appearance, one short month ago, was at the
Boston Bruins Alumni events. Apart from volunteering, he also spoke on behalf of
K103 that night.

The Committee consists of Greg Horn (Iori:wase), Steve Bonspiel (Eastern Door),
Regan Jacobs (Mohawk TV), Gene Diabo (KTV) and Joe Delaronde (K103).

Each organization has donated $500 to establish the fund. A bank account is
being set up and will be administered by the Committee.

Anyone wishing to donate to the fund should make cheques payable to the Jesse
Deer Memorial Media Scholarship Fund.

The Committee sincerely hopes that the fund will honor the memory of Jesse for
many years to come.
-30-

Contact:
Regan Jacobs (Mohawk TV), 450-632-6397
Gene Diabo (o/b/o KTV), 450-632-7500 ext 2254
Joe Delaronde (o/b/o K103), 450-632-7500
Greg Horn (Iori:wase), gregh@...
Steve Bonspiel (Eastern Door), 450-635-3050

Hi there...

I know I've been on the air myself.. at noon.. every weekday.. minus holidays
like today.. as it's Thanksgiving here in Vermont... for the past 18 months. So
excuse me if I missed a change that happened sometime in the past year and a
half.

I heard a normal... run of the mill... top of the hour newscast at 12 Noon today
instead of something running for 15 minutes.  I recall the program used to be
hosted by Claude Beaulieu.. most recently and of course the late Gord Sinclair
made the Noon News in most of the minds of people reading this I'm sure.  I
remembered I used to hear a Business report.. a live chat about the weather..
along with a sportscast.  Did the long form Noon News end when Ed Kowal retired
just recently or quite a while ago?

Bob Welch
Noon News anchor at WSTJ St Johsbury, VT

Just came across this site with a lot of history of radio and tv

http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.php?url=http%3A//www.broadcasting-hist\
ory.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/listings.php%3Fpt%3D212%26r%3D213

I just have to hear the first few notes of  U2 song, and i tune away! Most
overrated band of all time.. Heard one U2 song, you've heard 'em all.

My morning rant aside, whole album sides during regular programming would not be
a good idea, but a non- prime time show which featured a new release to give
listeners a chance to hear a whole album right through before buying would not
be a bad idea...

But then again, we do live in the age of the MP3 and Limewire, so much of the
time we don't concern ourselves with "buying albums" in the traditional sense
anymore. However such a show would ai greatly in determining what tracks we
might want to download.

One of the  drawbacks of the MP3 era has been that bands no longer emphasize
putting together quality albums anymore, but really only on 2-3 tracks that
could become what we used to refer to as "B sides" and a bunch of filler
material to complete a CD that most people wil shum anyway in favour of the MP3
track they want anyway.

Here's a blog that you might like to check out.

Airchecker - The Voice of the Canadian Radio Industry
http://aircheckerradioindustry.blogspot.com/

They are skewing younger with more alt rock, 80s hard rock thrown in (when's the
last time you heard Accept on Chom ... 1984?) and younger dj's after Sharon. 
But if you skew younger then don't you go all the way?

I always assumed that the guy who's into 60's/70's rock likely doesn't get into
80s/90s/2k rock and vice versa (Faith No More followed by Heart?).

There's also the rythm of the station which at times I find odd.  When I hear
say Green Day or AC/DC mixed in with Grand Funk Railroad or John Lennon ... to
me that doesn't work.  The energy is broken,  the tracks don't work well
together and you go back to the IPod.

Anyone know how tracks are strung together to create a playlist?

But yeah overall the sound is edgier and younger and that's a good thing.


--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, nickxynis <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Yes, "Classic Album Sides" are gone.
> Replaced with the "Rock Pod Challenge".
> What exactly is a "Rock-Pod" ? I've never seen one.
>
> Most likely you can chalk this one up to a consultant who has told Astral that
"Album Sides" are so yesterday and they need to gear the station towards younger
listeners. Hence the bastardization of Apple's i-Pod.
>
>
> As for CanCon, I could not agree more that the percentage is way too high.
However, you are never going to kill this aspect of radio. There are way too
many parties involved with vested interests who will work night and day to
maintain the status quo.
>
> And really, if you want to hear the best in new Canadian music try CBC's Radio
3. It's there and you are already paying for it.
>
> For some inexplicable reason you keep trying to foster the myth that
programmers are "Lazy".
> While you may view it that way, they are just doing what their overlords
demand of them. It has nothing to do with being lazy and everything to do with
Astral's EBITDA.
>
>  You are not going to get rid of radio run by focus groups, it's been here for
three plus decades and isn't going anywhere. Playing B-sides will drive away
listeners, the majority of whom want their radio to be familiar and if they
aren't getting what they want, they will change the dial. People who want
variety in their music choices left radio a long time ago.
>
>
>  More than anything competition would improve Montreal's English radio market.
However, that's not going to happen, licenses if given out, will go to french
broadcasters. Were you in a city like Winnipeg, where you would have three FM
rock stations, you would get more variety. Here you will get little or none.
>
> The idea that Astral would jeopardize the income that CHOM generates by adding
more old music (albeit great music) and losing listeners is at best a diluted
fantasy.
>
> If you haven't noticed CHOM is starting to trend younger, this won't stop. As
the listeners who have been faithful for 40 years enter retirement, advertisers
will demand that their messages reach men 20 to 49. CHOM will program more and
more towards that demo.
> This means, no more album-sides, no B-sides and less and less of what made the
station great.
>
> If you want to hear what you mentioned, there's really only two choices, first
an i-pod or similar device, second a lifetime subscription to satellite radio.
>
> The situation couldn't suck more if you designed it that way.
>
> If you are expecting Astral to be more responsive, look at my post about
remembrance day and read the article that's attached to the link.
>
>
> --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "maddean10" <shockjock@> wrote:
> >
> > The points I've been trying to make and there are two of them, that may have
been missed by some in this group
> > , are the following;
> >
> > 1)CanCon rules are no longer needed in radio. Back when they were instituted
they were, but for the last 2 decades at least, Canadian talent has been holding
it's own if not shining brighter than American Talent. Proof of that is the
number of Canadian Artists winning Grammy Awards. Force feeding us tired old
music or songs by crappy artists just because they're Canadian, is killing
Canadian Radio.
> >
> > 2)Classic Rock stations don't need consultants, focus groups or market
testing of songs. We're not dealing with new material - as is the case with
other stations. Here we are dealing with time tested material. We are dealing
with an audience, which in most cases, listened to entire albums not just the
hits. As is the case with other formats. And to my point that programmers are
lazy (Sheldon touched on this) is whenever they play songs by Deep Purple or
Heart or Neil Young or AC-DC, it's always the say songs. Sheldon asked why they
don't go deeper? Because they're lazy! Playing B-Sides is not going to drive
away listeners! On the contrary I think it would encourage them to stick around
with the addition of some variety. Whatever happened to the CHOM album sides?
Did they do away with that? I haven't heard that feature in some time.
> >
> > I've said it before and I'll say it again "there's enough classic rock or
hard rock material out there that we needn't hear the same song twice in a 24 to
48 hour period" that's if someone put a little more effort into things.
> >
> > Michael Dean
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, swansongtoo <no_reply@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I understand about the Cancon thing.  But after 30+ years of what you can
argue is not very good rock (ok so Neil Young has some good rockers) it'd be
refreshing to hear something else.  I Mother Earth,  Junkhouse, Age of Electric,
Treble Charger (admittedly some one hit wonders there) to more current Theory of
a Deadman, Three Days Grace and Billy Talent would be a nice change.  Makes no
sense to hear Billy Talent on NRJ and not CHOM.
> > >
> > > And add Steppenwolf to the list of aformentioned bands that should be
bannished from the airwaves.
> > >
> > > --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "Nick" <nickxynis@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Everyone of the groups you would like to kill (except The Beatles)
qualifies as CanCon.
> > > >
> > > > Given the fact that CHOM must play 1/3 CanCon by law you tend to hear
these songs alot.
> > > >
> > > > Some of the new music CHOM has added is CanCon, but, in many respects
thier hands are tied.
> > > >
> > > > As for a narrow playlist, the truth is CHOM plays what tests well with
it's core demo.
> > > > This by it's very nature leads to songs that everyone knows and stifles
variety.
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

Yes, "Classic Album Sides" are gone.
Replaced with the "Rock Pod Challenge".
What exactly is a "Rock-Pod" ? I've never seen one.

Most likely you can chalk this one up to a consultant who has told Astral that
"Album Sides" are so yesterday and they need to gear the station towards younger
listeners. Hence the bastardization of Apple's i-Pod.


As for CanCon, I could not agree more that the percentage is way too high.
However, you are never going to kill this aspect of radio. There are way too
many parties involved with vested interests who will work night and day to
maintain the status quo.

And really, if you want to hear the best in new Canadian music try CBC's Radio
3. It's there and you are already paying for it.

For some inexplicable reason you keep trying to foster the myth that programmers
are "Lazy".
While you may view it that way, they are just doing what their overlords demand
of them. It has nothing to do with being lazy and everything to do with Astral's
EBITDA.

  You are not going to get rid of radio run by focus groups, it's been here for
three plus decades and isn't going anywhere. Playing B-sides will drive away
listeners, the majority of whom want their radio to be familiar and if they
aren't getting what they want, they will change the dial. People who want
variety in their music choices left radio a long time ago.


  More than anything competition would improve Montreal's English radio market.
However, that's not going to happen, licenses if given out, will go to french
broadcasters. Were you in a city like Winnipeg, where you would have three FM
rock stations, you would get more variety. Here you will get little or none.

The idea that Astral would jeopardize the income that CHOM generates by adding
more old music (albeit great music) and losing listeners is at best a diluted
fantasy.

If you haven't noticed CHOM is starting to trend younger, this won't stop. As
the listeners who have been faithful for 40 years enter retirement, advertisers
will demand that their messages reach men 20 to 49. CHOM will program more and
more towards that demo.
This means, no more album-sides, no B-sides and less and less of what made the
station great.

If you want to hear what you mentioned, there's really only two choices, first
an i-pod or similar device, second a lifetime subscription to satellite radio.

The situation couldn't suck more if you designed it that way.

If you are expecting Astral to be more responsive, look at my post about
remembrance day and read the article that's attached to the link.


--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "maddean10" <shockjock@...> wrote:
>
> The points I've been trying to make and there are two of them, that may have
been missed by some in this group
> , are the following;
>
> 1)CanCon rules are no longer needed in radio. Back when they were instituted
they were, but for the last 2 decades at least, Canadian talent has been holding
it's own if not shining brighter than American Talent. Proof of that is the
number of Canadian Artists winning Grammy Awards. Force feeding us tired old
music or songs by crappy artists just because they're Canadian, is killing
Canadian Radio.
>
> 2)Classic Rock stations don't need consultants, focus groups or market testing
of songs. We're not dealing with new material - as is the case with other
stations. Here we are dealing with time tested material. We are dealing with an
audience, which in most cases, listened to entire albums not just the hits. As
is the case with other formats. And to my point that programmers are lazy
(Sheldon touched on this) is whenever they play songs by Deep Purple or Heart or
Neil Young or AC-DC, it's always the say songs. Sheldon asked why they don't go
deeper? Because they're lazy! Playing B-Sides is not going to drive away
listeners! On the contrary I think it would encourage them to stick around with
the addition of some variety. Whatever happened to the CHOM album sides? Did
they do away with that? I haven't heard that feature in some time.
>
> I've said it before and I'll say it again "there's enough classic rock or hard
rock material out there that we needn't hear the same song twice in a 24 to 48
hour period" that's if someone put a little more effort into things.
>
> Michael Dean
>
>
>
> --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, swansongtoo <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > I understand about the Cancon thing.  But after 30+ years of what you can
argue is not very good rock (ok so Neil Young has some good rockers) it'd be
refreshing to hear something else.  I Mother Earth,  Junkhouse, Age of Electric,
Treble Charger (admittedly some one hit wonders there) to more current Theory of
a Deadman, Three Days Grace and Billy Talent would be a nice change.  Makes no
sense to hear Billy Talent on NRJ and not CHOM.
> >
> > And add Steppenwolf to the list of aformentioned bands that should be
bannished from the airwaves.
> >
> > --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "Nick" <nickxynis@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Everyone of the groups you would like to kill (except The Beatles)
qualifies as CanCon.
> > >
> > > Given the fact that CHOM must play 1/3 CanCon by law you tend to hear
these songs alot.
> > >
> > > Some of the new music CHOM has added is CanCon, but, in many respects
thier hands are tied.
> > >
> > > As for a narrow playlist, the truth is CHOM plays what tests well with
it's core demo.
> > > This by it's very nature leads to songs that everyone knows and stifles
variety.
> > >
> >
>

Remember this is coming from a station that seemingly didn't even think enough
to respect its own history by totally ignoring the 40th anniversary of their
station earlier this year; never mind the fact that there are probably a number
of their listeners who have been with them since the beginning as well.

They want to be a classic rock station and want us to remember the 40 year old
music, much of which they were responsible for introducing to us, but they don't
think enough to mark the anniversary.

Maybe they think we old gray-hairs can remember that far back!!

Good points, Michael.

However, one thing I do understand is stations' hesitantcy to play album sides. 
This can be risky.

For example, let's say I'm a CHOM listener and they decide to play a full album
side of Pink Floyd or U2.  I can tell you right now that I'm outta there, but
quickly.

Stations would seriously be taking a risk of listeners tuning away should a
significant number of listeners not be particularly fond of a specific band.

I, for one, would probably sit through two songs, possibly even a third, by a
band I wasn't crazy about, but a whole album side? Definitely not.  The chances
are that if you tune away or turn the radio off during one of these album sides,
there is a good chance you won't be back for a while.

So, I can understand staying away from complete album sides.

--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "maddean10" <shockjock@...> wrote:
>
> The points I've been trying to make and there are two of them, that may have
been missed by some in this group
> , are the following;
>
> 1)CanCon rules are no longer needed in radio. Back when they were instituted
they were, but for the last 2 decades at least, Canadian talent has been holding
it's own if not shining brighter than American Talent. Proof of that is the
number of Canadian Artists winning Grammy Awards. Force feeding us tired old
music or songs by crappy artists just because they're Canadian, is killing
Canadian Radio.
>
> 2)Classic Rock stations don't need consultants, focus groups or market testing
of songs. We're not dealing with new material - as is the case with other
stations. Here we are dealing with time tested material. We are dealing with an
audience, which in most cases, listened to entire albums not just the hits. As
is the case with other formats. And to my point that programmers are lazy
(Sheldon touched on this) is whenever they play songs by Deep Purple or Heart or
Neil Young or AC-DC, it's always the say songs. Sheldon asked why they don't go
deeper? Because they're lazy! Playing B-Sides is not going to drive away
listeners! On the contrary I think it would encourage them to stick around with
the addition of some variety. Whatever happened to the CHOM album sides? Did
they do away with that? I haven't heard that feature in some time.
>
> I've said it before and I'll say it again "there's enough classic rock or hard
rock material out there that we needn't hear the same song twice in a 24 to 48
hour period" that's if someone put a little more effort into things.
>
> Michael Dean
>
>
>
> --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, swansongtoo <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > I understand about the Cancon thing.  But after 30+ years of what you can
argue is not very good rock (ok so Neil Young has some good rockers) it'd be
refreshing to hear something else.  I Mother Earth,  Junkhouse, Age of Electric,
Treble Charger (admittedly some one hit wonders there) to more current Theory of
a Deadman, Three Days Grace and Billy Talent would be a nice change.  Makes no
sense to hear Billy Talent on NRJ and not CHOM.
> >
> > And add Steppenwolf to the list of aformentioned bands that should be
bannished from the airwaves.
> >
> > --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "Nick" <nickxynis@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Everyone of the groups you would like to kill (except The Beatles)
qualifies as CanCon.
> > >
> > > Given the fact that CHOM must play 1/3 CanCon by law you tend to hear
these songs alot.
> > >
> > > Some of the new music CHOM has added is CanCon, but, in many respects
thier hands are tied.
> > >
> > > As for a narrow playlist, the truth is CHOM plays what tests well with
it's core demo.
> > > This by it's very nature leads to songs that everyone knows and stifles
variety.
> > >
> >
>

The points I've been trying to make and there are two of them, that may have
been missed by some in this group
, are the following;

1)CanCon rules are no longer needed in radio. Back when they were instituted
they were, but for the last 2 decades at least, Canadian talent has been holding
it's own if not shining brighter than American Talent. Proof of that is the
number of Canadian Artists winning Grammy Awards. Force feeding us tired old
music or songs by crappy artists just because they're Canadian, is killing
Canadian Radio.

2)Classic Rock stations don't need consultants, focus groups or market testing
of songs. We're not dealing with new material - as is the case with other
stations. Here we are dealing with time tested material. We are dealing with an
audience, which in most cases, listened to entire albums not just the hits. As
is the case with other formats. And to my point that programmers are lazy
(Sheldon touched on this) is whenever they play songs by Deep Purple or Heart or
Neil Young or AC-DC, it's always the say songs. Sheldon asked why they don't go
deeper? Because they're lazy! Playing B-Sides is not going to drive away
listeners! On the contrary I think it would encourage them to stick around with
the addition of some variety. Whatever happened to the CHOM album sides? Did
they do away with that? I haven't heard that feature in some time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again "there's enough classic rock or hard
rock material out there that we needn't hear the same song twice in a 24 to 48
hour period" that's if someone put a little more effort into things.

Michael Dean



--- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, swansongtoo <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> I understand about the Cancon thing.  But after 30+ years of what you can
argue is not very good rock (ok so Neil Young has some good rockers) it'd be
refreshing to hear something else.  I Mother Earth,  Junkhouse, Age of Electric,
Treble Charger (admittedly some one hit wonders there) to more current Theory of
a Deadman, Three Days Grace and Billy Talent would be a nice change.  Makes no
sense to hear Billy Talent on NRJ and not CHOM.
>
> And add Steppenwolf to the list of aformentioned bands that should be
bannished from the airwaves.
>
> --- In radioinmontreal@yahoogroups.com, "Nick" <nickxynis@> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Everyone of the groups you would like to kill (except The Beatles) qualifies
as CanCon.
> >
> > Given the fact that CHOM must play 1/3 CanCon by law you tend to hear these
songs alot.
> >
> > Some of the new music CHOM has added is CanCon, but, in many respects thier
hands are tied.
> >
> > As for a narrow playlist, the truth is CHOM plays what tests well with it's
core demo.
> > This by it's very nature leads to songs that everyone knows and stifles
variety.
> >
>

Astral has contracted out traffic in Toronto and Vancouver.

http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/traffic-global-traffic-network-adds-new-station-groups\
-in--/de/Unternehmensnachrichten/20733094


Can Montreal be far behind ?

Many here may have heard the miniscule 15 seconds of silence that CHOM observed
on Nov 11th @ 11am.

Here's the story of one listener who dared to ask " Why so little respect ?"

http://www.westmountexaminer.com/article-404935-Shame-on-CHOM-for-intentional-sl\
eight-to-our-war-veterans.html

That's essentially what we have in Belleville: One country station that plays
the new country (Cool 101.1), and another that plays the classics (CJBQ 800).
I can agree with your brother in the sense that fans of Jim reeves, Patsy Cline
and Eddy Arnold would have some trouble appreciating alot of the newer stuff,
but I would also argue that those who like the mouldy oldies (rock 'n'roll,
Motown etc) would be just as repelled by today's new rock.
Similarly, there is a lost seventies and eighties geeration caught in the
middle, for country fans that would be Ronnie Milsap, Eddie Rabbit, Juice
Newton, Dwight Yoakim,David Allen Coe, Aaron Tippin Randy Travis and others that
can bridge the gap between the newbies or the classic stalwarts. I hear many of
these artists on both stations.

I agree with you that K-103 would be best splitting the classic country from the
new country, and see where that goes.

Right you are!  You'll find him there just about every Monday night.  I'll tell
you that Monday night hoedown at the Wheel Club is like something from another
world to me!!

I was aware that K103 played country (as does BOOMER AM), which is why I threw
it into the subject line.

Saw Sheldon's brother Monday during my once-in-a-blue-moon-of-Kentucky trip to
The Wheel Club. Looked like he was selling off some LPs...