EARLY RADIO Outgrowth of 'wireless' Marconi and Fessenden Station XWA in Montreal (later CFCF) became first radio station in Canada (1918) CKAC in Montreal, first french-language station (1922) Proto-broadcasting

Radio Days Titanic in 1912 showcased importance of radio as a transmissions device 1920's spread quickly But, early radio content borrowed from earlier media (phonograph) Could radio signals=life on other planets???

Radio News During the Depression radio news was trusted while newspaper news wasn't. --on the spot news --bulletins --commentary Which politicians were radio men?

Golden Age of Radio 's music: pre-recorded; symphony orchestras, Big Bands (live & recorded) drama: soap operas, serials, ‘prestige’ dramas political: use in campaigns

Canadian Radio Federal Involvement: commercial device 1913 Radiotelegraph Act July 1928 Diamond Jubilee (50th anniversary) highlighted

Canadianizing Airwaves 80% of Canadians spent time listening to American radio 1929 Royal Commission on Radio Broadcasting (Aird Commission) urban concentration of Canadian radios commercialization mediocrity

Aird Report Federal government should take over private radio Public broadcasting system would be nationalistic-Canadian programs for and by Canadians Led by Canadian Radio League and Graham Spry: "the state or the United States"

1932 Canadian Radio Broadcasting Act Created the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC) PUBLIC ownership of radio

1936 Broadcasting Act - CRBC replaced by CBC Mandate to establish national broadcasting service Licences issued to private broadcasters Mixed public and private ownership

1957 Royal Commission on Broadcasting Also known as Fowler Commission Recommended integration of private with public

Broadcasting Act of 1958 Put private & public sector on equal footing Tension between regulatory role of CBC and main player in radio Board of Broadcast Governors (BBG) initiated - role to regulate CBC and private broadcasters Later BBG=CRTC (1968)

CRTC… Independent public agency Reports to Parliament through Canadian Heritage Governed by Broadcasting Act of 1991 and Telecommunications Act of 1993 Awards and renews broadcast license Sets standards and quotos for broadcasting industry

CRTC… Tries to act on behalf of the public interest Tries to ensure that broadcasting meets needs of all Canadians - multicultural, bilingual etc. Controversial

CANCON – private broadcasters At least 35% of pop music selections played by commercial AM and FM stations each broadcast week must be Canadian Minimum of 35% of airplay must be between 6am-6pm M-F and be Canadian

CBC Cancon Minimum of 50% of general music and 20% of traditional and special interest selections during broadcast day (6am- midnight) must be Canadian More rigorous for french-language radio

MAPL-must meet at least 2: M - music composed entirely by a Canadian A - artists or lyrics must be performed principally by a Canadian P - production - live performance that is a) recorded entirely in Canada, or b) performed entirely in Canada and broadcast live in Canada L - lyrics written entirely by a Canadian

What’s a Canadian Musical Artist? CAN CANADIAN MUSICIANS "MAKE IT" in CANADA, OR DO THEY NEED THE GLOBAL MARKET? WHO ARE THE GATEKEEPERS OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? DO AWARD SHOWS LIKE THE GRAMMY & JUNO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE? DO THEY PROMOTE WHAT IS BEST & DISTINCT IN ONE YEAR?

Has Canadian radio been successful in nurturing Canadian culture? CanCon rules CBC support waning Howard Stern ‘Problem’

Community Radio rural...cooperative... participatory...free... alternative...popular... educational rural to urban musical to militant signals from 1 km. >country>shortwave

Trends in Radio Digital Audio broadcasting Pirate radio