The Sound Off Podcast

Matt is on the road in Quebec this week and explains that the spoken word has more than than music to radio programmers. Canadian radio regulations need to be reviewed and instead of focusing on Cancon for music - maybe the CRTC should be focusing on regulating who is doing the talking and from where.In this episode, we made mention of Kevin Getz's from 102.1 the Edge. He just releases an album where he monetizes his audio content. You can buy it on Apple Music, Amazon and Google Play.Thanks to our sponsors Matt Fogarty Voiceovers, Core Image Studios and Promosuite for your continued support of the show.There's more about this episode on our show page!Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week.PromosuiteMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom Webster is a Senior VP at Edison Research. There are a few spots on our company calendar we circle in anticipation of Tom. It's either a data release for Edison's Share of Ear, an Infinite Dial Study, or an address at Podcast Movement. This month we would have heard Tom at PM20 but with 2020 being as it is, this episode will have to serve as our fix.In this episode you will hear about some of the differences between Canadian and U.S. radio listening habits, our discussion around Pandora being unavailable in Canada, and the effects the CBC is having on our listening. We also get into podcasting's growth and what's ahead for an industry closing in on $1 Billion in ad revenue. We also revisited two of Tom's talks from Podcast Movement and discussed if your podcast needs to be in places beyond the RSS feed and if enough mainstream content is being created to satisfy America's podcast appetite. Finally Tom offers lots of advice for the independent podcaster who might be feeling the squeeze from large podcasting creators occupying most of the discovery space.We mentioned that Tom has a newsletter worth signing up for called I Hear Things.There's also more about this episode on our website, including links to the shows Tom made mention of in the podcast.Please support our sponsors including:PromosuiteThe NLogic Services DivisionMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How did Pete Marier become Bad Pete? He tells us. I spent my teenage years listening to Pete Marier on my clock radio when he was at 980 CKGM and 95.9 CJFM. The next decade Pete was a co-worker and we've been friends since. We are not strangers to Winnipeg and Montreal radio, nor the task of raising three boys, So we always have lots of talk about. A lot of people don’t immediately associate Pete with being Bob-FM's first morning host when the format was launched back in 2002 in Winnipeg. He tells the story of how it he found himself in the middle of that and a whole lot of other radio fuckery that goes on.In this episode, Pete and I settle in for a long talk about life, family life and radio life. This is a very candid and conversation about one of Montreal's most enduring radio figures. By the way, if you are listening to the episode expecting him to say something bad about someone - it doesn't happen.There's more about this episode on our show page!Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteCore Image StudiosMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode Julie and I talk about working from home, having to adjust while doing multiple radio tasks including imaging, music programming, music meetings, and building a home office. It's the little things like an extra monitor or a chair to endure prolonged periods of work. I also asked Julie about the AC format and how it has evolved over the last few years, some of the tools she uses to help make music decisions, what it all takes to keep great radio stations sounding awesome, and what she learned from Valerie Geller. We also talked about her time in Edmonton and London, Ontario programming and her eventual move back to Toronto where she has worked with Rogers since 2009. In this episode Julie and I talk about working from home, having to adjust while doing multiple radio tasks including imaging, music programming, music meetings, and building a home office. It's the little things like an extra monitor or a chair to endure prolonged periods of work. I also asked Julie about the AC format and how it has evolved over the last few years, some of the tools she uses to help make music decisions and what it all takes to keep great radio stations sounding awesome. We also talked about her time in Edmonton and London, Ontario programming and her eventual move back to Toronto where she has worked with Rogers since 2011.Julie also shared one of her Spotify Playlists which she curates to listen to some new music. Now you too can listen like Julie.There's more about this episode on our show page!Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:NLogicPromosuiteMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alan Cross loves music. Over the last few months we have done a few episodes discussing radio on a pandemic planet. But what about the music industry? What about the business side of music? It is especially curious given that music's entire business model has been turned on its head since 1999. Income has shifted from selling physical music to subscriptions and live touring; the latter of which is now effectively cancelled for this year, and possibly next year.In this episode, Alan talks about the latest round of RIAA takedowns to hit podcasting and how it's problematic for podcasters who violate copyright but also for musicians who are essentially leaving money on the table. We discussed the durability of the Ongoing History of New Music and how it has transitioned into becoming one of the planet' most downloaded podcast. We talked about the impact the pandemic is having on the music industry, how musicians are reverting to new marketing strategies and how concert promoters like Live Nation are handling the severe downturn in business.Alan is also the host of the Geek and Beats podcast and also manages a music blog called A Journal of Musical Things.There's more about this episode on our show page!Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatrax NLogic See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you're a Gen Xer, you likely know Stu Jefferies. He was the host of the venerable CBC TV show Good Rockin' Tonight which ran from 1983 to 1993. The Canadian reply to NBC's Friday Night Videos carried it's weight and powered the Cancon to kids whose parents were too cheap to spring for MuchMusic. Yes... this was a thing. If all you know about Stu is his stint on TV, then here is the rest of the radio story. It all started in Winnipeg, went to Saskatchewan, Vancouver, Edmonton, and then back to Vancouver, Burlington, and finally Toronto. There was some country thrown in, some Country television, and finally he landed at what became Boom.In this episode you'll get your fill of Winnipeg and what it mean to grow up on the legendary radio in the city that sprung the Guess Who, Randy Bachman and Neil Young. You'll also hear how he led a hectic travel schedule to accommodate working on television. And finally, with the pandemic in full swing, we discuss what it is like to work from home doing radio with podcasting's most popular tool, the Rodecaster Pro. (Yes, Stu even provides a review)As always there is more on the episode webpage including tons of additional video footage of things I consider important.There's more about this episode on our show page!Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxNlogicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When we had Jenna on our podcast 18 months ago, she was in the throes on getting ousted from a gig she loved on a station where they were working hard and building a following. It's a tall order to compete in a market like Ottawa where their direct competition is #1 and have been for 15 years. Since then, Jesse and Jenna launched a podcast and with the help of Blast The Radio, they have found the podcast strut after 200 episodes. Like any podcaster who is in it for the long haul, they had to make decisions of what worked and what didn't work. What didn't work was doing a radio show on podcast. Instead they looked as each episode as a long form break. And then the numbers took off.In this episode, I catch up with Jesse and Jenna and tremendous news everyone... they are still willing to work in radio. They come equipped podcast ready, social media savvy and ready to rock quarter hours again. They are making content and much of it can be repurposed for radio. It's not all sex ya know.This is our first episode where we streamed the show and then took the audio to podcast. You can click above for the podcast stream and below to watch it all on Youtube. I'd love your feedback about this as there is a push amongst podcasters to be everywhere - and YouTube doesn't make the my cash register ring the way a podcast download does. But if you could do me a HUGE favour and Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube - that would be helpful.You can find the video and other bonus material on the episode page.Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxNlogicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Here's something you need to know about Jay Richardson. He's a really nice guy. Know what else? He's a true empathetic soul who cares. Which is why he always feels a little uneasy about the present and especially the future. However, we spoke a lot about the past in this episode.Jay is the afternoon drive host at Power 97 in Winnipeg, which is where he started the on-air portion of his radio career back in 2007. One day while worrying about the future, he came into my office and we can up with a plan that would include him being an on air personality. It wasn't long before he worked at two other radio companies, a credit union and as a salesman outside radio before return back to where he felt most comfortable - on air. Jay has also been the voice of the Winnipeg Jets inside the building. Yes, that's him announcing all the penalties, goals, assists and in-house announcements at Bell MTS Place. It's a job he has had since the days of the Manitoba Moose and we spent a fair amount of time talking about what it was like to have the Winnipeg Jets come back in 2011. Jay took a leave of absence last November from both his roles at Power 97 and the Winnipeg Jets and shares where he is at and what he has been up to.There's more about this episode on our show page!Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxNlogicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lochlin Cross is the morning show host at Cruz 95.7 in Edmonton along with Grant Johnston and James White. He spent time in Winnipeg and Edmonton programming two heavy hitter rock stations in Power 97 and K-Rock 97.3. Which got switched back to K97 at some point but we were too lazy to look it up. He also did on air stints at other rock powerhouses like 100.3 The Bear in Edmonton and the Max in Prince George. And why doesn't he play Rush? And what's the deal with the Harmonica he whips out at concerts and on the LRT? And is it true he doesn't like to appear on podcasts?In this episode, all these questions get answered.There's more about this episode on our show page!Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxNlogicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Abe Hefter and I finally crossed paths in 2002. I recall hearing him on CJFM (FM96) in the 80's, and in 2002 we convened on Fort Street at that station when CHOM, Mix96 and CJAD merged itself into one entity. Abe began to transition into academia in 2003 when he received an opportunity to teach part time at Concordia University. There's something about teaching that brings out the energy in Abe. Very simply, you can hear it in the episode when we talk about inspiring the next generation of broadcasters.In this episode, Abe and I track his career in short order which included stops at notable radio stations like CFNY, CKEY, CKNW, CJFM, and CJAD. He also told us what it was like to be call Montreal Canadiens hockey games. Abe has always done a little of everything, and today that includes hosting a blues show on WWUH 91.3, on campus at the University of Hartford. We also discussed in depth about social media and the impact it is having on news, and whether a platform should be censoring its users. Abe said Twitter was his "go-to" so give him a follow. We also referenced other episodes which featured former personalities and creators now teaching.This includes:Dave Bannerman, Nova Scotia Community CollegeDonna Halper, Lesley UniversityCarlos Benevides, Conestoga CollegeThere's more about this episode on our show page!Thanks also to the people who make this show possible every week including:PromosuiteMatt Fogarty VoiceoversJustin Dove at Core Image StudiosMegatraxSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.