Review of the Ottawa radio dial.

[webhamster]

I talked to a co-worker who was around at the time (I was living out west back then) and he also mentioned 1310 being a top 40 rocker that was really go0d. I did catch them back in 1987 while in Scho0l in Iowa, and damn they were go0d. My co-worker said it was a battle between CFRA and 1310 which I think was CKOY. Then it became between 1200 and 1310. I remember CJRC played hit music to0. Caught them at times in Iowa as well.

1987? Where's 54 Rock in all this? (540 AM, before moving to 106.9 FM as the bear.)

From what I understand, 54 rock was an A.O.R. Sure you had the hair metal hits of the day there, but (from what I've read and been told) they were not a top 40 station and didn't really compete for the audience of the other stations, but as you and I both know, there had to be some overlap.

54 Rock didn't come around until about 1989. In 1987 or so they were "54 Lite" and then became "54 Lite Rock" a year or so later. That didn't last very long until they adopted the "54 Rock" moniker either in Fall 1988 or Spring 1989. Definitely not Top 40. Yeah, there was crossover, but not much. They were the "rock hits" AOR while CHEZ was the rock music nerd AOR station with the deep cuts they were required to play by the FM rules at the time.

1310 was a mix of AC and news/talk until January 1, 1986 when it went oldies as W1310.

Here's an excellent history capsule for every Ottawa station: http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/radio/listings.php?pt=132&r=206

 

[Dan Sys]

CJRC 1150 is supposed to go dark today, as is CHLT 630 in Sherbrooke. Can anyone out that way confirm this.

 

[mimo]

CJRC 1150 is supposed to go dark today, as is CHLT 630 in Sherbrooke. Can anyone out that way confirm this.

It happened this evening. CJRC 1150 is no more. I don't know at what time it occured. HOWEVER... at 10:45 I received an email from Barry McLarnon reporting the shut-off and saying there is interest in another company buying the facility and resurecting 1150. With what, I don't know

Also in Ottawa AM radio news, (and Dan I know you can confirm this) there is an application for a 1000 watt station carrying Catholic programming in French for 1350, which was in use at one time up in the Ottawa valley. And an open carrier had re-appeared a week ago at 1630, meaning that the airport is getting their station back up. No news on the 1670 facility. I'm begining to doubt it will ever come on.

 

[Mid West Clubber]

I like Energie 104,, its the only station in Ottawa I will listen to.. I am a CHR listener but HOT is just too much leaned toward 13 yr old girls.. I like Energie because its Rock Friendly,, I would listen online at home too if it didnt play french music.. I like the English POP-Rock and dance, but could do without the urban and french music...

I dont care much for Virgin,, I like the one in Toronto though cause it leans CHR,, but if I cant listen to Energie, or if they are speaking french on Energie i will listen to Virgin if forced.

Hot 899--- Only if desperate measures.... Only at times during weekend Late Night mixshows, but Energi'e are better..

Tag Radio-- its ok,, I liked it better when it was more English based,,, i cant speak french, thats why i dont like the music.....

 

[Yeziknoradio]

then became "54 Lite Rock" a year or so later. That didn't last very long until they adopted the "54 Rock" moniker either in Fall 1988 or Spring 1989. Definitely not Top 40. Yeah, there was crossover, but not much. They were the "rock hits" AOR while CHEZ was the rock music nerd AOR station with the deep cuts they were required to play by the FM rules at the time.

Too bad there's no 54 rock aircheck to strengthen your point.
Not doubting...just wishing. 8)

 

[Tincap]

then became "54 Lite Rock" a year or so later. That didn't last very long until they adopted the "54 Rock" moniker either in Fall 1988 or Spring 1989. Definitely not Top 40. Yeah, there was crossover, but not much. They were the "rock hits" AOR while CHEZ was the rock music nerd AOR station with the deep cuts they were required to play by the FM rules at the time.

Too bad there's no 54 rock aircheck to strengthen your point.
Not doubting...just wishing. 8)

CJSB 540 Aircheck from August 30, 1982, just shortly before the station began regular broadcasting on September 1 ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-RJBCL6tyQ

Six years later, it had become 54 Rock, running a classic rock format ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHdyZpZgyU

Before finding it's stride it had struggled through a number of formats, including talk and standards.

BG

 

[webhamster]

then became "54 Lite Rock" a year or so later. That didn't last very long until they adopted the "54 Rock" moniker either in Fall 1988 or Spring 1989. Definitely not Top 40. Yeah, there was crossover, but not much. They were the "rock hits" AOR while CHEZ was the rock music nerd AOR station with the deep cuts they were required to play by the FM rules at the time.

Too bad there's no 54 rock aircheck to strengthen your point.
Not doubting...just wishing. 8)

CJSB 540 Aircheck from August 30, 1982, just shortly before the station began regular broadcasting on September 1 ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-RJBCL6tyQ

Six years later, it had become 54 Rock, running a classic rock format ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoHdyZpZgyU

Before finding it's stride it had struggled through a number of formats, including talk and standards.

Being a regular listener to the station back in those days I'll dispute the "Classic Rock" format thing. They were pretty heavy on contemporary hard rock with classic hard rock mixed in for balance. They did do alot of classic rock in specific time periods as I recall, though. I remember there was one show that ran most of Sunday afternoon called "Psychedelic Psunday" which was mainly 60's/70's psych-rock. Being that there was no classic rock station at the time (this was before CHEZ went CR) I think they used the idea of going a little heavier of the classic rock and promoting it more than was really proportional to its content on the playlist. I was digging through a box in my basement a few weeks ago and found an old "54 Rock, Ottawa's Best Rock" bumper sticker and the cassettes with tracks by the 3 finalists from the "Homegrown '89" and "Homegrown '90" new music competitions and I'm pretty sure there's still a 54 Rock T-Shirt lying somewhere in the darker depths of my closet.

I'd also like to point out my personal pride in that a letter I wrote to the station back in '89 (I was about 15) or so got them to start printing the Top 30 Countdown (later narrowed to the Top 20) in the Ottawa Sun each Sunday. Something that Virgin continues to this day.

 

[Tincap]

I myself don't recall 54 Rock being classic rock specifically either...just going by the air-check. Not that I listened to 54 Rock much, prefering CHEZ's FM sound quality and programming...until Rogers bought them out.

Having said that, I don't know what the terms were in CJSB's (54 Rock) licence, perhaps they had to push the 'classic rock' thing a bit. Being on the AM band, they had to adhere to the CRTC's rather restrictive guidelines as to what content could be played and perhaps 'active rock' was on the blacklist.

BG

 

[webhamster]

I scanned the covers of the 54 Rock Homegrown '89 and Homegrown '90 cassettes I found in my basement. Just for curiosity's sake...or memories for those that listened way back then...

Since the board won't let me embed the images here are the direct links to them on my Photobucket account:

54 Rock Homegrown '89
54 Rock Homegrown '90

They're also interesting because it seems they changed logos between 1989 and 1990 so you get to see the original and the one that persisted until they became The Bear on 106.9 in 1994.

 

[webhamster]

Actually, I stand corrected. It appears that shortly before the move to FM they changed their branding to "Classic Rock...54 Rock" with an updated logo. It must've been a short period when I wasn't really paying attention.

1994-ish logo

 

[mimo]

You'll have to remember the biggest difference between AM and FM back then: the non-hit rule. AM hard rockers (and there were quite a few of them) were able to play the latest hard rock singles and keep them on rotation after they became hits. FM was forced to drop them after they charted, or reduce their airplay significantly. An FM had to play 800 DIFFERENT selections a week. If they played a song twice it counted as one selection. That gave stations like 54 rock an advantage. They didn't have to adhere to the very strict guidelines that were on the FM dial.

They got by for years playing strictly new music, They were more or a Rock 40 format. Edmonton had one (630 CHED) Vancouver had 1040 kix (CKXY). They were all go0d stations.

 

[Tincap]

Actually, I stand corrected. It appears that shortly before the move to FM they changed their branding to "Classic Rock...54 Rock" with an updated logo. It must've been a short period when I wasn't really paying attention.

1994-ish logo

Cool, the aircheck which I've linked is from '94, as well.

Anyways, it's great to see an active radio board with a local component to it. Looks like an interesting place to hang around.

BG

 

[Yeziknoradio]

You'll have to remember the biggest difference between AM and FM back then: the non-hit rule. AM hard rockers (and there were quite a few of them) were able to play the latest hard rock singles and keep them on rotation after they became hits. FM was forced to drop them after they charted.

Actually, not 100% true. Good point, but if the song was Canadian, it could remain on FM for up to one year after charting before being counted as hit music. This was applied to encourage can con, even though there was already a 30% can con reg in place back then.
(currently 35-40%)