Archived News and Articles - February 2006
Archive Date - February 28, 2006
COUNTRY LISTENERS IN TUNE
Paul Heine – Billboard
The state of the country format in early 2006 is extremely healthy, tracking comfortably close to 2005 satisfaction levels. Country radio listeners have caught up with technology yet they remain hesitant to listen to the format at work – a challenge programmers continue to wrestle with.
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Archive Date - February 28, 2006
BROADCASTING DECISION CRTC 2006-51
Terrestrial subscription radio undertaking – Licence amendments
CRTC Release
CHUM Limited, on behalf of a corporation or a partnership to be established, across Canada. DENIED – Permission to link each Canadian-produced channel that it offers with one non-Canadian produced channel. APPROVED – Replacement of the current condition of licence 8 and addition of a condition of licence, as noted in the decision.
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Archive Date - February 27, 2006
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CRTC 2006-1-1
CRTC Release
Further to its Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2006-1 dated 13 January 2006 relating to a Public Hearing which will be held on 15 May 2006 at 9:30 a.m., at the Conference Centre, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Quebec, the Commission announces the following:
The following information is now available on the commission’s website in connection with the review of the commercial radio policy and is part of the public record of this proceeding:
1. Statistical and Financial Summaries 2001-2005 for Private Commercial Radio.
Related document
2. Music Use Study – 2005: a study on the use and scheduling of musical selections by commercial stations operating in category 2 (popular) music formats in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, and Quebec City.
Related document
3. Local Programming - a summary of the average amount of local programming broadcast by radio stations in 12 markets during a week in April 2005.
Related document
Archive Date - February 27, 2006
AD STANDARDS 2005 COMPLAINTS REPORT
CNW
Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) today released its 2005 Ad Complaints Report. The Report provides information about consumers’ complaints submitted to ASC in 2005 for review under the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards (Code).
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Archive Date - February 24, 2006
IN-CAR CELL PHONE USE LOWERS TSL
Adam Jacobson – Radio and Records
Bridge Ratings recently completed its first six-month analysis of in-car cell phone use as part of a commissioned, multi-year study for a wireless service provider, and Bridge President Dave Van Dyke says the early results show that the more time a commuter spends talking on their cell phone, the less time they spend listening to the radio. "A significant percentage of drivers either turned their radios down or off when engaged in a cell phone call," he said. "The implications are clear: the cell phone is vying for true Time Spent Listening in-car."
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Archive Date - February 24, 2006
10TH 'CMTC' TO DRAW INDUSTRY LEADERS
Broadcaster
Some of Canada's most influential corporate leaders are gathering for the tenth annual Communications, Media & Technology Conference being held February 22-23, 2006, at the Fairmont Chateau in Whistler.
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Archive Date - February 23, 2006
SIRIUS CANADA TO HOLD STEADY
Grant Robertson – Globe and Mail
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. suggested it may increase the price of its service in the United States amid deepening financial losses, but the Canadian operation doesn't plan to follow suit.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2006
CANWEST EXPANDS IN NEW ZEALAND
CNW
CanWest Global Communications Corp. announced today that its 70% owned New Zealand media operation, CanWest MediaWorks (NZ) Limited, has agreed to purchase Q92FM serving the fast-growing areas of Queenstown, the Wakatipu Basin and Central Otaga. The transaction is expected to close on or about March 1, 2006 following receipt of certain regulatory approvals.
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Archive Date - February 22, 2006
POSTER BOY FOR PAYOLA
Fired Station Employee Says Pay for Play Just Good Business
Brian Ross and Vic Walter – ABC News
Dave Universal always knew he was going to be in radio. When he was 15, he got his first job as an intern at 98.5 WKSE, a Buffalo, N.Y. radio station owned by Entercom Communications. From there, Universal worked his way up to eventually become the station's program director.
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Archive Date - February 21, 2006
I DON'T LISTEN TO RADIO - PART 2
Paige Nienaber – All Access
Last week, Paige concluded that, "Now, more then ever in the history of the medium, what's BETWEEN the music is what will determine the life or death of this industry." This week, he offers up some suggestions to beef up your station's perception in the minds of the listeners.
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Archive Date - February 20, 2006
PAYING TO TOP CHARTS
Many Musicians Not Surprised by Payola Scandal
Brian Ross and Vic Walter – ABC News
The ride to the top of the charts was an American dream come true for drummer Jake Slichter, of the Minneapolis band Semisonic. The band's song "Closing Time" became the No. 1 tune in the country in 1998.
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Archive Date - February 20, 2006
ARBITRON TO ADD CELL-ONLY SAMPLE
Mike Boyle – Billboard
Big news from Arbitron: For the first time ever, the ratings company will recruit diary keepers by calling cell phones, starting in 2008. The development is significant because an increasing percentage of Americans rely exclusively on cell phones and have not been included in Arbitron ratings surveys.
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Archive Date - February 20, 2006
XM REPORTS A BIGGER QUARTERLY LOSS
Firm cites subscriber costs; director quits warning of looming ‘crisis’
Associated Press
XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. posted a much wider loss in the fourth quarter on higher costs for marketing and acquiring subscribers. At the same time, a key director quit over disagreements about the company’s direction, warning of a looming “crisis.”
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Archive Date - February 20, 2006
MUSIC ROTATES FULL CIRCLE
Mike Bloxham – Media Magazine
Those of us decrepit enough to have grown up with vinyl records and cassette recorders should have recognized that the 2005 sales figures for the music industry represent something akin to full circle for the music business. Back in the day, when I was still struggling with the trials of containing teenage hormones and living with older siblings and parents who just didn't get it, the music industry thrived. How? By selling large numbers of singles at a reasonable price to an audience that waited each week to hear which band or heartthrob would top the charts. It was all carefully and effectively orchestrated through collaboration with radio and TV. Those were the days when singles led and album sales followed. Gradually, all of that changed. Singles became more expensive, making albums look more affordable, and the balance started to shift. In the end, sales of singles took such a hit that the music business was in something of a bind long before the advent of digital downloads. The first salvation for the industry came in the form of the CD, when millions of us took to buying the same music on the new format, thereby generating millions in back catalog revenue for the major labels.
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Archive Date - February 17, 2006
JUNO LIST REASSURES STATUS QUO
Indie acts largely left off nominees list
Ben Rayner – Toronto Star
Idols, establishment crooners and the usual corporate Can-rock herd dominate the nominees list for the 2006 Juno Awards, confirming that while the domestic music industry will occasionally pay lip service to the emergent Canadian indie scene, "product" is still what receives its official endorsement.
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Archive Date - February 17, 2006
XM CANADA REVS UP FOR AUTOSHOW
CNW
XM Canada is gearing up for a major presence at Canada's largest auto show and will further establish its leadership position as the number one satellite radio service provider in the auto industry. XM Canada will be at booth RC-4 at the Canadian International AutoShow from February 17 to 26 at the Rogers Centre and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
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Archive Date - February 17, 2006
MICROSOFT USES RADIO
Broadcaster
Who wants to battle dangerous enemies with heroic magic powers in seductive, Daliesque worlds of mythic dreamscapes? Mostly guys 18-34, part of the small yet significant market for role playing PC games that represents less than 5% of the population. When Microsoft Canada Co. wanted to reach this growing niche to launch a sequel to the popular game Dungeon Siege, they investigated radio's ability to zero in on the target and achieve their goals.
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Archive Date - February 17, 2006
BROADCAST RADIO FIGHTS BACK
New digital format takes aim at satellite radio, iPods
Rolling Stone
As iPods, satellite radio and other new media increasingly compete for consumers' ears, the AM-FM radio establishment has launched a counterattack: digital radio. Last month, a consortium of the biggest radio conglomerates announced that more than a hundred FM stations had gone digital, offering listeners with a special receiver near-CD-quality sound and up to three additional channels per frequency.
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Archive Date - February 16, 2006
I DON'T LISTEN TO RADIO - PART 1
Paige Nienaber – All Access
When I was involuntarily remanded to Serenity Vista for yet another (lucky round seven) attempt at detox, one of the first things they pounded into our addled heads in Group was the importance of our accepting that we have a problem. I readily admitted it. I would have readily admitted anything by that point. I just wanted to be released so I could score.
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Archive Date - February 16, 2006
BROADCASTING NOTICE CRTC 2006-16
Call for comments on the Commission’s service standards
CRTC Release
The Commission is committed to introduce new streamlining activities, to provide timely responses to industry inquiries and to establish regular reporting mechanisms. In this Public Notice, the Commission calls for comments on service standards that it proposes to introduce for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, starting 1 April 2006, for the publication of decisions on applications for the amendment and renewal of broadcasting licences. The proposed standards are set out in the appendix to this notice.
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Archive Date - February 15, 2006
100'S OF STATIONS IN PAYOLA PROBE
FCC Commissioner: Evidence of 'Systematic Betrayal of the Responsibility of Broadcasters'
Brian Ross, Richard Esposito and Vic Walter – ABC News
Hundreds of radio stations are under investigation by the Federal Communications Commission in the payola scandal rocking the music industry, ABC has learned.
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Archive Date - February 15, 2006
PAYOLA CLOUD OVER THE GRAMMYS
New York State Attorney General Conducted Two-Year Probe
Brian Ross, Richard Esposito and Vic Walter – ABC News
It's party time at the Grammy's, but there is a cloud of scandal hanging over the music industry in the form of the most comprehensive investigation into corporate payola in the industry's history.
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Archive Date - February 15, 2006
CBC RADIO 'OFFENSIVE AND FLIPPANT'
Card-carrying NDP supporter of public broadcaster blasts extravagant expenditure
Denis Armstrong – Ottawa Sun
CBC Radio was blasted yesterday for spending an undisclosed amount of taxpayers' dollars to throw a concert in New Orleans.
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Archive Date - February 13, 2006
ROGERS Q4 2005 RESULTS
Quarterly Consolidated Revenue up 35.4% While Operating Profit Before Integration Expenses Grows 20.1% - 2006 Guidance for Continued Double Digit Revenue and Operating Profit Growth
CNW
Rogers Communications Inc. today announced its consolidated financial and operating results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2005.
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Archive Date - February 13, 2006
"OPRAH & FRIENDS" ON XM CANADA
New channel to feature diverse daily programming from popular "Oprah" personalities as well as original weekly reality radio program with Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King
CNW
Harpo Radio, Inc. and XM Canada today announced the launch of "Oprah & Friends," a satellite radio channel on XM. "Oprah & Friends" will debut in September 2006 and will feature a broad range of original programming from Harpo Radio, Inc., including regular segments hosted by popular personalities from "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and O, The Oprah Magazine and an exclusive original weekly reality radio show with Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King. The channel will be broadcast from a new state-of-the-art XM studio at Harpo Studios in Chicago.
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Archive Date - February 13, 2006
MUSICRYPT SIGNS THREE
Digital Delivery Now Available to the Independent Record Industry Across Canada With DMDS
CNW
Musicrypt Inc., the industry's leading digital music distribution company, today announced that it has entered into agreements with three new customers to use its patented Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS) to securely distribute independent music to radio, press, music publishers, booking agents, promoters and other destinations including U.S. radio.
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Archive Date - February 10, 2006
U2 STEALS CAREY'S GRAMMY SPOTLIGHT
Irish rockers win big; Sly Stone makes surprise appearance
Canadian Press and Associated Press
Irish rockers U2 managed to upstage diva Mariah Carey at Wednesday night's Grammy Awards, picking up five trophies including album of the year for How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
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Archive Date - February 10, 2006
BRYAN ADAMS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
CARAS Release
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced that rock music icon Bryan Adams will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In addition to receiving this honour, Adams will also perform during the CTV broadcast of The 2006 JUNO Awards on Sunday, April 2 from the Metro Centre in Halifax.
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Archive Date - February 10, 2006
'CRYSTALS' CALL TOP RADIO CREATIVE
Broadcaster
When it comes to the best, the Crystal Awards call it first. Canada's only awards show dedicated to excellence in the medium, and the first awards show of the year, the prestigious Crystals anticipate the top radio creative in the country – and potentially in the world. Last year's big platinum prize winner for 2004 Nickel Festival, Target Marketing and Communication, carried on from a seven-Crystals score to scoop up two golds and a silver at the Marketing Awards, two bronzes at Cannes Lions and numerous other Canadian and global awards.
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Archive Date - February 10, 2006
PAYOLA PROBE SHIFTS TO RADIO
Chuck Taylor – Billboard
ABC News will air an in-depth “Primetime” report Thursday evening (Feb. 9) on New York State attorney general Eliot Spitzer’s investigation into the alleged participation in payola by nine of the nation's radio groups. The segment will be anchored by ABC News investigative reporter Brian Ross, who's hard-hitting reports on the music business date back to 1986, when he uncovered alleged organized crime ties to record promotion.
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Archive Date - February 10, 2006
RADIO STATION BANS 'V' WORD
Easy listeners won't hear `vagina' on CHFI - Other stations run ad for new Ensler play
Richard Ouzounian – Toronto Star
Sometimes Easy Listening isn't as easy as it seems. Toronto radio station CHFI has refused to run a series of promotional spots for Eve Ensler's play The Good Body, which opens next month at the newly refurbished Music Hall on the Danforth.
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Archive Date - February 9, 2006
RADIO VS. THE IPOD
Chuck Taylor – Billboard
News flash: Technology may not be the enemy. A challenger at times, certainly, but not the competitive antagonist that many inside and outside the radio industry have made it out to be.
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Archive Date - February 9, 2006
SATELLITE FALLS FROM LOFTY ORBIT
Shares of Sirius and XM have taken a tumble so far this year. Are they worth tuning into now?
Paul R. La Monica – CNN
Satellite radio stocks are slowly descending back to earth this year, despite the presence of the radio industry's biggest star.
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Archive Date - February 8, 2006
CANWEST ACQUIRES TURKISH STATIONS
Broadcaster
CanWest Global Communications Corp. today announced that subsidiaries of its Turkish partner, Turkcom Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S. (Turkcom) have agreed to acquire Joy FM and Joy Turk FM from The Turkish Savings and Deposit Insurance Fund. The two radio stations serve Istanbul, Turkey's largest city (population - 11.3 million). The aggregate purchase price for the two stations will be US$5 million. Completion of the acquisitions are subject to certain regulatory approvals.
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Archive Date - February 8, 2006
BYRNESMEDIA CLIENT STATION TURNS 60
Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Release
Prince George’s Classic Rock, 99.3 The Drive, is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this Wednesday, February 8th.
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Archive Date - February 8, 2006
BYRNESMEDIA CLIENT WINS AWARD
Silk Release
101.5 Silk FM was proud to support the 27th annual “Heart and Stroke Breakfast”, which took place Thursday, February 2nd at the Coast Capri hotel.
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Archive Date - February 7, 2006
BUYERS FOR ELECTRONIC MEASUREMENT
Ken Tucker – Billboard
Media buyers are ready for radio to embrace electronic measurement. And while a few early bumps are to be expected, in the end radio will benefit from it. That was the word from a panel of advertising professionals at the Radio Advertising Bureau’s RAB 2006.
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Archive Date - February 6, 2006
CBC ADMITS TO QUALMS ABOUT STERN
John McKay – Canadian Press
The CBC and Howard Stern? Not exactly a conventional media marriage. And the public broadcaster, part owner of the new satellite radio service that will bring the shock jock back to Canadian airwaves next week, admitted Thursday it has qualms about the move. "It's no secret that Howard Stern's programming is not consistent with the kind of programming you would find on CBC/Radio Canada's airwaves, but this is a Sirius Canada decision," said CBC spokesman Jason MacDonald.
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Archive Date - February 6, 2006
FANS TO MUSIC: LOWER PRICES
Associated Press
Music executives love to blame illegal downloading for their industry's woes. But, based on the results of a new nationwide poll in the United States, they might want to look in the mirror.
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Archive Date - February 6, 2006
RADIO'S FREQUENCY BECOMES LESS '05
Erik Sass – MediaDailyNews
Despite the promise of new high-definition digital technologies and more accurate audience measurement systems, the radio industry ended 2005 on a sour note, reporting a 1 percent decrease in December ad sales and ending the year on a flat note. U.S. radio broadcasters took in $21.455 billion during 2005, essentially unchanged from $21.411 billion in 2004, according to estimates released Thursday by the Radio Advertising Bureau, which also happened to the second day of the RAB's annual conference in Dallas. "2005 has not been the best year," ," Gary Fries, president-CEO, during an address to the conference's attendees. "It's been lackluster. Local ad sales were up 1 percent; national was down 2 percent, and total spot was flat. But before we become too concerned about that, let's look at what is going on in some categories." Fries noted that 14 percent of radio's advertising sales still come from the automotive industry, an ad category which itself has "been in flux." A study earlier in the week by the Polk Center for Automotive Research declared that traditional media such as radio have become "nearly obsolete" for new car shoppers, only 1.1 percent of whom cited radio as key to their car purchases.
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Archive Date - February 6, 2006
COX TO CEASE REPORTING ADDS
All Access
On the heels of Cumulus Media's policy of not reporting music adds to trade publications, a memo from a Cox station has been widely circulated to National and Regional record label execs stating that: "Effective immediately, per Cox, we cannot discuss research or report any adds to trade publications."
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Archive Date - February 6, 2006
NOMINEES FOR CMW INDUSTRY AWARDS
Broadcaster
Rogers Wireless Canadian Music Week is proud to announce the nominees for the 24th Annual CMW Industry Awards.
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Archive Date - February 3, 2006
A STERN RETURN TO CANADA
The shock jock starts broadcasting on Sirius Canada's satellite radio service Monday
Guy Dixon and Grant Robertson – Globe and Mail
Howard Stern, the shock jock accused of bigotry, misogyny and everything in between, will be coming to Canadian satellite radio starting Monday.
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Archive Date - February 3, 2006
DON'T FLAY THE DJ
Will a cocky FM station and a Web radio service turn radio hosts into a dying breed?
Guy Dixon – Globe and Mail
There's a new hate-on for DJs among radio listeners out there, at least that seems to be the message in two billboard campaigns currently plastered around Toronto.
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Archive Date - February 2, 2006
IDEAS ON 'PODCASTING FOR PROFIT'
Adam Jacobson – Radio and Records
McVay Media News/Talk Specialist Holland Cooke led an afternoon RAB session yesterday devoted to making podcasts a revenue generator for radio. For radio stations that aren't hip to the power of the podcast, Cooke said, referring to newspapers, "We're letting the 'gray lady' beat us at our own game. We need to be in as many places as we can with podcasting."
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Archive Date - February 2, 2006
ROCKERS, KEEP YOUR DAY JOBS
Jon Fine – BusinessWeek
To quote the sages of AC/DC, rock 'n' roll ain't noise pollution. And now it ain't that good a business, either.
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Archive Date - February 2, 2006
SIRIUS CANADA ADDS HOWARD STERN
Canada's leading satellite radio provider to add The Howard Stern Show on Howard 100 as of February 6th
CNW
Sirius Canada today announced that the "King of All Media," Howard Stern, will be included as part of the company's 100 channel premium line up. As of February 6, 2006, Sirius Canada subscribers will be able to hear Stern on the widely publicized Howard 100 channel.
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Archive Date - February 2, 2006
CAB CELEBRATES 80TH ANNIVERSARY
Broadcaster
2006 marks the 80th Anniversary of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB). Established by the pioneers of Canadian broadcasting on January 28 1926, the CAB was formed to defend the interests of Canada's private broadcasters and to ensure the ongoing vitality and strength of the Canadian broadcasting system.
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Archive Date - February 2, 2006
NOMINATIONS FOR CRM AWARDS
Broadcaster
Canada's hottest music stars will be honoured at the 9th Annual Canadian Radio Music Awards on March 4, 2006. Arcade Fire, Matt Mays and El Torpedo, Bedouin Soundclash, Divine Brown and Massari are among the artists nominated in ten categories honouring the hottest new radio music stars in Canada.
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Archive Date - February 2, 2006
IMUS REMARKS ARE 'ABUSIVE,' CRTC SAYS
Etan Vlessing – The Hollywood Reporter
Don Imus has been fingered by Canada's TV watchdog for calling Muslims "brainwashed" and "stinking animals" during a 2004 broadcast that aired on MSNBC Canada.
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Archive Date - February 1, 2006
SIRIUS, XM EXPOSE CANADIAN ACTS TO U.S.
Billboard
Canadian acts picking up airplay on the country's new satellite-based subscription radio services are also getting much-coveted U.S. exposure.
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Archive Date - February 1, 2006
CANADIAN HELPS TEXAS TEEN BATTLE RIAA
Angela Pacienza – Canadian Press
A prominent Canadian record executive who has taken the unusual step of helping a Texas family fight a downloading lawsuit says he has the support of all the artists he manages, including Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan and the Barenaked Ladies.
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