jingling radio numbers

The winter months on Toronto radio is where the music driven formats shine. Where people who are still in town tune in for their Bing Crosby and various versions of Baby, It's Cold Outside. While all the station mainstays go on vacation, the empty radio halls boast teasers why you should tune in after the New Year. Be it as it may, the numbers still need to be crunched. The ratings still do matter to station suits and advertisers.

 The all-Chrismas muzak monster CHFI once again  leads the winter book with a strong 16 point share followed by CHUM-FM and the always popular CBC Radio 1. The following is a list of the top 10 stations that were listened to in Toronto between November 2012  and February 2013. See if you can spot your favorite radio station among the usual suspects.

1 share point equals to 100,000 ears. To see the full list, go here.  

CHFIFM Toronto  16.9
CHUMFM Toronto 10.5
CBCFM Toronto 10.0
CFTR Toronto 6.5
VIRGINFM Toronto 6.3
Q107FM Toronto 5.8
CFRB Toronto  5.8
BOOMFM Toronto 4.8
CLASSICALFM Toronto 4.7
CKISFM Toronto 3.7

a plaque of appreciation.

As I was leaving this afternoon on the way to a meeting, I found a package at the door. Opened it. It was a plaque of appreciation from the Terry Fox Foundation. If you remember, my company, Fame Freelance Services, took part in the run last September. I have hung it on the wall and plan on adding more years to it, making each year bigger than the previous one.

 Thanks again for all those who helped out.

 To 2013!

it's 2013.

It's 2013. We've made it. While the holidays have come to an end, and we're all just about ready to head back to the normal grind, it's time to reflect on the end of the year spent family and friends. Time to reflect on how 2012 treated you and how you can make 2013 a better one. I'm back in full force working on a couple of projects and of course, still holding the Habitat for Humanity flag up proudly. Resolutions? No. I don't make 'em. I know what I need to do improve and grow, I don't have to make a public spectacle about it. I wish everyone growth in the New Year. The blog is turning 5 in a month and there's some other cool stuff we have to look forward to. So, enough talking and let's just giv'er. Let's Go..

rip capital steez

back with you in a few...

Not sure how much I'll be around this week. The calender is packed up which is not giving me a lot of Me time. And by Me time, I mean me chilling and being able to just sit and write. Or Read for that matter. It's that time of year. We just have to cheer along and bare it till we all go back to usual business. Not complaining. I love this time of year, but it's never a good time for those who like to be locked up in their room, being by themselves working or just doing nothing. The Holidays force cheerfulness and bonding time with the family and those who you are close with. Be it as it may, I'll be back around in 2013. 2013? It's coming up kids. Already. We'll be taking it in together. Like the past 4 years. We'll have fun doing living it. See you then. Enjoy Safe....

a second in time.

rip ravi shankar

don't blame the djs

Growing up listening to Top40 radio, I was privileged enough to hear some of the greatest bits on CFTR, CHUM, and other local outlets. Our pal, Tom Rivers, did the legendary Call of the Day. Jesse and Gene joked with listeners on Q, 'TR and AM640.  These are some of the examples how I feel in love with The Theater of the Mind. I would look forward to these skits on the radio to make me laugh. To Entertain Me. The tunes were a backdrop. It were these bits that made me listen.

Prank calls' on radio have been around for as long as I can remember. Pulling pranks on folks have been something that's been apart of  the appeal of radio. 

Who can forget Mike Coopers April Fools Day classic back in the 70s that got everyone thinking the jock was shot on air? 

When 2Day FM presenters, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, called King Edward VII's Hospital to see if they could find out the latest on a pregnant Kate Middleton, they were doing the same thing that Rivers, Jesse and Gene and many other DJs have been doing for eons. They were trying to have fun with a topical issue using an overdone radio sketch. Using bad voices mimicking The Queen and Prince Charles, they got more information that they really wanted. Or called for. Like with most DJs who do such bits, they thought they'd be hung up on thus having the joke on them. However it didn't work out that way. And it would later end in tragedy. 

But Don't Blame the DJs. 

They were doing their job. They pulled off a brilliant piece of parody radio. They never thought that it would end like this. 

It's natural for humans to want to point fingers We have to look at the masses over obsession with The Royals. We have to look at the protocol that the hospital obviously never set in place in regards to phone calls like these when a Royal visits. Most importantly, we have to look at Mental Health issues some face and how it can also harm innocent bystanders. 

Let's carry on with heavy hearts and think of the real issues. Let's not make this unfortunate circumstance end    laughter on the radio. 

speak of it again...

Our friends, The Holiday Crowd, are up for for the Song of the Year on a podcast based in the UK. Big deal for a group from Scarborough. It's been a great year for the foursome, only to get busier and better in 2013. Show some local love and vote for their tune, Never Speak of it Again as the Song of the Year. 

Here's the Link. You can also check out an interview I did with band lead, Imran Haniff back in 2011 Here. 

dave "bookie" bookman gone from edge

The remaining piece of CFNY 102's golden era, Dave "Bookie" Bookman, has been canned. Bookman joined 102 in 1991 and instantly became a solid personality on the station.  No word yet on who will take over his PM-shift. But I think it's safe to say now that the Spirit is officially dead.

'fi tops toronto cluster

The all important Fall Radio Ratings were released today. Courtesy of our friends at Airchecker, here's the rundown:


Toronto bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap go to CHFI-FM with a 13.5% share of hours tuned for A12+ (up from 12.2% last time out). CHUM-FM holds their #1 spot with the ladies 25-54 delivering a 19.0% share (up from 17.9%) followed by CHFI-FM posting a 17.0% share (up from 14.0%). Q107 holds their #1 spot for males 25-54, posting an 11.9% share (up from 10.7% in the last 13 week book). The Edge holds their edge over the competition with M18-34 turning in a 15.5% share (down from 15.9%). For F18-34, CHFI-FM tops the list with a 21.4% (up from 17.5%) share of hours tuned followed by CHUM-FM posting a 20.4% (up from 19.6%) share.

rip dave brubeck

jigga live

Industry circles have been bubbling about this documentary since early fall. It's a look at the making of Jay-Z performance at the Barcklays Center. The first person to ever bless the stage. From a former concert promoter standpoint, It brought back a lot of memories of putting on a show, coupled with shivers down my spine just seeing how far Hip Hop has come...


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the small tree

So, last night I put up a tree in my room. It's small, but I've been decorating her for the past few years and it's helped me get into the spirit while being a really cool night light.

mad high on mad men

While I have a comfortable amount of shows to cure my itch for escapism, I miss the quality shows. The shows with good writing, acting and just all around great entertainment. Man Men tops the list. Missing my favorite show, I tried to find out when Season six will begin, to only find that they'll be doing a few episodes from Hawaii in 2013. Production on a hush-hush vibe, I dug into the crates to find this classic scene from Season 5.

If you haven't gotten a chance to watch Mad Men, do yourself a favor and do so. Put aside a weekend this holiday season and catch up by watching the previous seasons. It'll feed your entertainment itch while also being captivated by top notch television.

rip larry hagman

d-sisive's dream is over

I've been waiting for this to drop. Finally. Today, was able to download the album. D-Sisive's (last?) album. The Toronto Hip Hop staple hit the stage for the album release last night at Toronto's Rivoli. Doing laundry and getting ready for a Sunday funday writing and  jotting this post, I was able to quickly run through the free release. Mixed with top notch production from Munshine and heavy lyrics, it sounds like D's swan song. The Dream is Over. Unfortunately. the record is a great piece of local Hip Hop history to keep in your MP3 files. From what I heard, my favorite tracks include November, Friend of Mine, All My Friends Are Dead and (Un)Answered Prayers. 

You can cop it  for free Here. 

If this is your final bow, homeboy, thanks for the memories, Derek. You made Toronto proud.

letter from the premier's office.

read the news today...

Newsweek has folded its pages for the final time. It broke this week that the magazine staple for the past 60 years will be focusing solely on digital space. The last print edition in the U.S. will be the December issue. On New Years Eve, in fact. While Newsweek was always a good read before getting your teeth pulled or that dreadful needle, it also played a huge part in my traveling. Whether it was on a plane or a train or an automobiles, the magazine was better company that Steve Martin and John Candy with Thanksgiving dinner getting cold in the backseat. Thank you for the pages full of good memories, Newsweek. You'll be missed.

a fall show

Some guys play golf or hunt. I go take pictures of the fall leaves to get away from it all. This afternoon, I decided that everything and everyone could wait for an hour and half so I could be one with nature and my thoughts. Fall is my favorite season. And this is the main reason why...