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The AM band in Canada

Yeziknoradio said:
mimo said:
A non-hit is what it sounds like, a song that didn't make the charts on one of 3 recognised charts. I can't remember what the charts were.

I believe one of them was billboard.

Billboard was one, I'm thinking Radio and Records for one of the other 2. Any help would be appreciated.
 
From the (newly updated) CRTC website:

Charts used to determine hits

30. Since the last policy review in 1997, several of the charts used to determine hits were discontinued. Given that the policy regarding the broadcast of hits remains in effect for English-language commercial FM radio stations serving the bilingual markets of Montréal and Ottawa-Gatineau and for campus radio stations, the Commission expands the lists of charts to determine hits to include Nielson BDS Country Spins Chart and the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart. The Commission received no comments opposing the addition of the two charts. The list shall now read as follows:
Nielson BDS Country Spins
Billboard Canadian Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100 Singles
Billboard Hot Country

31. The Commission notes that the catalogue of past hits also includes selections that reached one of the Top 40 positions on any of the following charts:
Canadian Music Network National Airplay
Canadian Music Network Country Top 50 Audience
The Record Country
RPM 100 Country Tracks
RPM 100 Singles
RPM Retail Singles
The Record Retail Singles

32. The latest charts used to determine hits will be those contained in publications dated up to and including two Saturdays before the date of broadcast. Canadian selections that enter the Top 40 will continue to be considered as non-hits for one year from the date they first enter the Top 40. In addition, selections performed and aired live, or contained in a live performance recorded primarily for broadcast use will not be counted as hits.
 
gr8oldies said:
"We play music that sucks..because the government says we have to".

While I'm philosophically opposed to government interference of any sort with free speech or expression, I respectfully disagree with a blanket statement of "music that sucks". 

I'm in Canada on business about a half dozen times a year....venues ranging from Vancouver to Montreal.  (Next week I'll be in Toronto and Ottawa). 

To be sure, some of the stuff that music stations are forced to program is indeed pretty lame to put it mildly.  However, there's also a good percentage of quality stuff that might not have ever gotten any airtime whatsoever were it not for Can-con.

About a dozen or so years ago, Burton Cummings of the Guess Who had found something of a new career hosting afternoon drive on the old CKY in Winnipeg. I liked the way he put it.  One afternoon he related how appalled he was when Can-con went into effect.  But he went on to say he had to grudgingly admit that it undoubtedly had provided exposure and employment to a good number of worthy artists and support people who otherwise might have found all doors shut to them.
 
I was referring to the "non-hit" requirement really. I'm aware of some great Canadian music (One of my mp3 favorites is Lighthouse's "Pretty Lady"). Correct me though, do the "non-hits" have to be Canadian?
 
gr8oldies said:
I was referring to the "non-hit" requirement really. I'm aware of some great Canadian music (One of my mp3 favorites is Lighthouse's "Pretty Lady"). Correct me though, do the "non-hits" have to be Canadian?

The non hit rule was just flushed out the door in every market except Montreal/Ottawa.

I think they should let AM fly free with no (music) regulation so it can be free to play what it wants in effort to survive.

As for "non hits", I don't think the CRTC cared/cares as long as the can con regs are met.
 
Yeziknoradio said:
gr8oldies said:
I was referring to the "non-hit" requirement really. I'm aware of some great Canadian music (One of my mp3 favorites is Lighthouse's "Pretty Lady"). Correct me though, do the "non-hits" have to be Canadian?

The non hit rule was just flushed out the door in every market except Montreal/Ottawa.

I think they should let AM fly free with no (music) regulation so it can be free to play what it wants in effort to survive.

As for "non hits", I don't think the CRTC cared/cares as long as the can con regs are met.

I can quote one example of when they did care. Back in the late 80's a Quebec City FM station lost it's license for violating the no-hit rule. They were playing, if I remember correctly, between 55 and 60% hits.

I'd love to see your idea of letting AM fly with whatever they want to do music-wise. It can create some very interesting stations, and some I'd actually tune into. I have no problem with music on AM at all. I grew up in the era of top-40 AM radio and due to my extreme sensitivity to high pitch sounds, I prefer music on AM radio. There's to0 much high end on FM for my ears and on some radios I can't turn the treble down far enough to listen to it comfortably.
 
With AM being a mono source, it's good to stick mainly with music that was originally recorded in mono, I'm guessing.
 
gr8oldies said:
I was referring to the "non-hit" requirement really. I'm aware of some great Canadian music (One of my mp3 favorites is Lighthouse's "Pretty Lady"). Correct me though, do the "non-hits" have to be Canadian? ]

I think Yezikonradio and Mimo have successfully answered your question. As for "Pretty Lady", It's in regular rotation on Canadian a.m. oldies stations, as is Lighthouse's equally excellent "Sunny Days". Two examples of why...on balance...I have to say I like what Can-con has brought about. Other examples for me would be "Albert Flasher" and "Follow Your Daughter Home" by the Guess Who (too racy for US top 40 radio?)., Charity Brown's superb cover of "Take me in Your Arms (and rock me for a little while)", "Thirsty Ears" by Powder Blues to name just a few.

Of course Can con also repeatedly assaults us with a few stiffs, such as "Love me Love me Love" by Frank Mills. Bobby Cutola's ridiculous "Three Rows Over" and Susan Jacks' insipid "Is That What Good Friends Do". And along the lines of "even Betty Crocker burns a cake once in a while", you've got Burton Cummings' pompous and bizzarre "Sour Suite".
 
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