Peter Anthony Holder has interviewed a lot of people. From the famous to the quirky, his weekly show "The Stuph File" is syndicated on radio stations around the world and delivered in podcast form every Sunday night. Peter has a new book out now called "Great Conversations: My Interviews with Two Men on the Moon and a Galaxy of Stars." He picked up his interview craft working in radio at Montreal's CJAD. The show later was simulcast on CFRB Toronto before layoffs pushed the show to further syndi...
Aug 12, 2017•31 min•Ep. 60
Rob Greenlee is the Head of Content at Spreaker. Recently, I spoke with him on a panel at the Conclave Radio Learning Conference in Minneapolis. At the end of the session, the moderator and panelists all felt we had a few more things we could have gotten to if time had permitted. No worries. That's what podcast is for! Rob and I spoke about some of the things radio does well with podcast, and some of the things they don't do well. We catch up with some of the podcast headlines that have dominate...
Aug 06, 2017•34 min•Ep. 59
Dahlia Kurtz does not do things conventionally. She has worked in radio, written a national newspaper column, nearly went to the Olympics, and spent her first day in radio under water. And she lived to tell me about it. We worked together for a period when she was at 680 CJOB in Winnipeg and I felt the need to catch up with her. The link to her demo: http://www.dahliakurtz.com/my-uncover-letter Her full webpage is here - http://www.dahliakurtz.com/ This episode is brought to you by NLogic and th...
Jul 28, 2017•34 min•Ep. 58
Alan Burns has been consulting radio stations since the mid 80's, and knows a thing or two about change. His company Alan Burns and Associates has had long standing relationships with some of the biggest brands across North America. His company is well known for their "What Women Want" research which always creates more than one a-ha moment upon reveal. Now comes word that headphone listening is more pervasive than ever, which should sound more than a few alarm bells for radio stations who rely ...
Jul 24, 2017•23 min•Ep. 57
Ira Haberman is the host of the Sound Podcast and passionate about storytelling, and the Grateful Dead. Put it together, and that's a podcast. He has hosted the Sound Podcast since December, but its success has radio roots as he was working as creative director for Corus Entertainment's Deep Sky in Toronto in 2003, and segued to digital content in 2008, right when it all began to happen. We look back at the last 9 years of how digital has changed radio, what it has done right and wrong, and what...
Jul 07, 2017•32 min•Ep. 56
Tootall is a Montreal radio legend. Earlier this week he announced his retirement this September, making it an even 40 years on Montreal's legendary CHOM 97.7FM. Tootall is well known not only to Montreal radio listeners, but in Canadian Music Industry circles. He's interviewed every band long before they had airplay, a video, or even a label deal. I worked with Tootall twice in my radio career and we have kept in touch over the years. While his radio career may be coming to an end, I have the h...
Jul 04, 2017•36 min•Ep. 55
Dave Farough has a lot of ideas about radio. Today he published some of those ideas on his LinkedIn page entitled "If I Had a clean Sheet of Paper" and I asked them if I could add them to my page - and then the only thing that was missing, was the companion podcast. On this Canada Day in 2017, we spent our time talking about radio and tossing out ideas that could move it forward. So of these ideas aren’t new - but they also haven’t been tried yet. This episode is why I started the podcast: To ta...
Jun 28, 2017•36 min•Ep. 54
Fred Jacobs is the president of Jacobs Media. Their tech surveys have become increasingly important as we progress through the digital revolution. The survey itself undergoes changes with the inclusion of new questions about personal assistant devices like Alexa. Which brings me to Podcast itself. Jacobs Media went all-in on podcasting a few years ago and I met up with Fred Jacobs and Seth Resler at Podcast Movement 16 in Chicago. This year they have partnered with the Podcast Movement Organizer...
Jun 14, 2017•35 min•Ep. 53
X92.9 in Calgary is celebrating 10 years of being Calgary’s Alternative radio station. The station launched January 1, 2007 and immediately found an audience. It’s brand promise has made it a favourite in a city where Millennials are becoming the majority. In this episode we discussed hiring talent, managing talent, and giving yourself permission to create great radio programming in the name of branding instead of ratings. We also spend some time discussing Power 97 in Winnipeg which we programm...
Jun 11, 2017•34 min•Ep. 52
This week, I look back on the last few episodes and provide some lingering thoughts. Special appearances and re-appearances from Georgia Beasley and Jeff Vidler. In this episode: * I make reference to Larry Gifford's insightful conversation with Jeff Vidler which you can listen to here: http://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-qk8cs-2670662 * If you are talent and looking for new on air opportunities, please send your resume and demo to matt@mattcundill.com This episode is brought to you by NLogic...
Jun 07, 2017•18 min•Ep. 51
If you don't tell your story, someone is going to tell it for you; which is why we have Radio Connects. They speak to advertisers and agencies on behalf of 540 stations in Canada. Today we provide a little background on what they do for Canadian radio. Radio Connects has commissioned a Share of Ear Study for Canada – aptly called "The Canadian Audio Landscape Study". The results show that radio is slightly stronger in Canada than in the United States - for interesting reasons. And it also tells ...
May 28, 2017•22 min•Ep. 50
Georgia Beasley has penned 2 articles for Radio Ink magazine called, "My Life as a Radio Millennial". The podcast was in the midst of assembling an episode on the Millennials coming of age now that they occupy a whole key ad-buying demo to themselves. (Adults 25-34) We speak to Georgia Beasley, Digital Sales Director for Beasley Media Group. Other contributions from Matt Abra who attended #NAB2017 in LasVegas in April, and Rebecca Henderson who provided us with a review of the new Radio Player C...
May 23, 2017•31 min•Ep. 49
Broadway Bill Lee is one of the reasons I fell in love with radio. In the late 80's I would watch Vuolo Video airchecks and Bill stood out amongst the crowd. Fast forward to the digital era and Bill is still entertaining people on multiple social media platforms with his unique song intros that make him one of a kind. His afternoon show on the legendary WCBS-FM is top rated because of the hard work he puts into the show, and the great programming team at the station. Yes, it's a trip down memory...
May 20, 2017•44 min•Ep. 48
Pat Holiday has spent 9 years away from work inside a physical radi station. In that time he has seen that its issues remain the same and there is both good and bad in that. He moderated the Broadcast Leadership panel "Like a Boss" at Canadian Music Week and did not serve up any softballs, but he did admit to leaving a few fast balls on the table. From his iconic beginnings at the Big 8 at CKLW in Detroit, to working in three Canadian cities in management, Pat has a knack for taking a market's t...
May 12, 2017•38 min•Ep. 47
David Phillips is the President and COO of NLogic, His discussions on data and surveys have been well received at media conferences, which spurned my interest in bringing David onto the podcast last fall. The timing was right this spring with the recent upgrades to the Lens product. His perspective is unique and refreshing; it will leave radio people wondering why we behave and think the way we do. I have spent nearly 30 years in radio through 100+ rating books and will be look at data different...
Apr 26, 2017•34 min•Ep. 46
A few weeks ago, we had J.J. Johnston on the podcast to give us the story and background behind Steve Young and the Alan Waters Young Broadcaster Award. This year the award goes to Jesse Modz from CJAY 92 in Calgary. In this episode, you will get to know Jesse and what it takes to win this award. He is already wise enough to realize that one will always do better with more creativity (and more creative people) around you. Jesse also gives the early picks on who might win the award next year. Thi...
Apr 22, 2017•26 min•Ep. 45
It takes a whole conversation with J.C. Douglas to realize that the journey lies somewhere between the Grateful Dead's "Truckin'" (What a Long Strange Trip it's been...) and Motley Crue's Wild Side. From the early days at Q104, to nearly 30 years at the station - and now at long-time rival C100. His durability on air is a result of hard work, learning and knowing the brand of your station. I know that sounds hoaky but if you're gonna rock, you had better rock; if you want to attract females on a...
Apr 10, 2017•37 min•Ep. 44
Ronnie Stanton emigrated from Australia to Canada in 2008 after a successful stint as a morning show host and programmer on the Sunshine Coast. His 5 years at Astral Media's 95 Crave then Virgin Radio, morphed into a difficult decision to cross the street to Corus Radio's CFOX and Rock 101. His latest career move has him heading south to Alpha Media where he is VP/Programming and residing in San Jose. We spend our time discussing the rise of the classic hits format, and discussing life under the...
Apr 01, 2017•27 min•Ep. 43
Chuck McCoy has been in radio for 52 years. But he won't tell you he has worked in radio - but in audio. He is forward thinking enough to recognize that he has been an audio business all along. You might think that when we bring someone onto this podcast who has had a long and storied career, that we would talk about the past. Instead he wanted to talk about the NOW and the future. Chuck also provides a great advice on how to stay sharp. Chuck's brother Jeff Vidler appeared in Episode 33 of this...
Mar 28, 2017•36 min•Ep. 42
Eric Samuels hired me to do evenings at 100.3 the Bear in Edmonton in 1994. Although Eric would move on to Vancouver a few years later, the two years I worked under him set the tone for how I would broadcast and program radio for years to follow. The best way I could describe his approach is that it is okay to broadcast outside the lines of the unwritten rules of radio. (And by that, I don't mean vulgarity or profanity - those are the written rules of radio) A few months ago, Eric reached out to...
Mar 26, 2017•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 41
TJ Connors has come full circle. The station he grew up around is now his afternoon home. His father, the legendary Scruff Connors, was the morning man at 97.7 HTZ-FM in St. Catherines during the height of rock radio's mass appeal phase in the early 90's. A quarter century later, the Connors name is back on HTZ-FM. I hired TJ to do mornings at Power in 2012, and had a chance to work with him as a consultant to his Country 103 station in Kamloops, where he was morning man and program director. We...
Mar 18, 2017•36 min•Ep. 40
The Allan Waters Young Broadcaster Award, (a tribute to Steve Young) will be announced this week. It goes to a Canadian broadcaster under the age of 30 for their creative contributions on radio and in the community. Past winners include Fearless Fred, Amanda Logan, Rena Jae, Adam Wylde and others. It made me wonder how much younger broadcasters know about Steve and his contributions to radio in North America. So I called up JJ Johnston, someone who knew him very well, and had him paint a picture...
Mar 10, 2017•39 min•Ep. 39
Larry Gifford has worked at great radio stations across the U.S.A. like KIRO in Seattle and Sports radio 710 ESPN in LA. After a stint in consulting, he found his way north to CKNW in Vancouver where he watched the American Election of a lifetime unfold from the other side of the border. Larry also has a podcast called “Radio Stuff” which is now out of hibernation and sponsored by the same people who support this podcast - http://www.promosuite.com/soundoff - I also asked him about his home stat...
Feb 24, 2017•29 min•Ep. 38
Lori Lewis is the Chairperson for the 42nd edition of the Conclave which will be taking place July 26-28 in Minneapolis. She is also the VP of Social at Cumulus; which means this call was a great opportunity to ask her some of the social media and radio questions that I get asked a lot. If you want to check out the line up at the Conclave, go to http://www.theconclave.com - tickets are on sale for a very limited time for $249. Our show sponsor Promosuite is also going to be at the Conclave! http...
Feb 19, 2017•25 min•Ep. 37
Erica Farber is the CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau. And as the picture says - she loves radio! If you ever get the feeling that no one has your back in radio, stop by the website and you will remember the great things radio has going for it. There are tools, tips and tricks for non-members, but as we discussed - membership does have its privileges. She has a storied career that spans great decades at stations with legendary call letters. (Think KRTH, KABC and KIIS in Los Angeles) Many who e...
Feb 12, 2017•29 min•Ep. 36
Jason Barrett is the owner of Barrett Sports Media, a New York based sports programming and marketing company designed to help sports radio and television companies, professional sports teams, and sports agencies, enjoy long-term success in the audio, digital and social media space. Okay - I took that part from his website, but if any part of your radio day involves sports or digital - you need to watch the digital trends in sports to understand how it's all going to be consumed in the future. I...
Feb 04, 2017•32 min•Ep. 35
Hal Anderson has been a fixture on the radio in Winnipeg since the late 80's. On our 34th episode, we thought it would appropriate to have the 34th Greatest Canadian on the podcast; which also coincided with his return to 680 CJOB, after being let go in a move that ratings wise, appears regrettable. I took the podcast on the road this week to catch up with Hal and talk about the 1999 "Naked Girl on the Bike" incident, how he became the 34th Greatest Canadian, and his co-hosts over the years. See...
Jan 27, 2017•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 34
Jeff Vidler has been involved in research for a long time. After the podcast had been recorded, I remembered a time when, as program director of CJFM in Montreal, he would use his research to entice clients as much as listeners. As the years went on, I worked with Jeff on music testing, perceptuals, and format finders. All my experiences have been positive as research generally shone a light, showed direction, and moved our stations to where they needed to go. As the industry has changed, Jeff's...
Jan 18, 2017•33 min•Ep. 33
Canadian Music Week is taking place in at the Sheraton Centre Downtown in Toronto April 18 to 23. Greg Simpson has been working all of them since 1993, and tells us what to expect this year, how the conference has evolved to include digital, and the value in attending. This week's episode is sponsored by Promosuite - who will also be in attendence at Canadian Music Week. If you are going, be sure to say hello to Rachel, CJ and Rocco and thank them for supporting this podcast . See Privacy Policy...
Jan 13, 2017•33 min•Ep. 32
Sports is fast becoming the format of choice for graduating media students. With the commodity value of music at an all time low, and news becoming polarizing and at time "fake", Sports broadcasting attracting aspiring millennial broadcasters. Alex Rawnsley is the owner and creator of Sportscasterlife.com - a website designed to help Sportscasters get better at their craft. He has made available all the things he wished he had when he was developing as a sportscaster. After spending a few minute...
Jan 07, 2017•27 min•Ep. 31
