Features

By Sandy Graham

Photo Credit Natasha Slinko

There has been a really cool commercial on television this last year featuring the likes of icons like Molly Johnson, Tomi Swick, Alex J Robinson, Justin Hines, The Arkells and Toya Alexis singing There’s No Place Like This – Ontario.

It seems this is true to fact with this year’s nominees for the 40^th Juno Awards Celebrations. According to OMDC data, 78 Ontario-based acts and companies collectively have earned 103 Juno nominations this year, and 56 of the acts are affiliated with independent, Ontario-owned or controlled record labels, publishers, and managers.

Emphasizing the importance of the music industry to the province’s new millennial economic strategy, Tourism & Culture Minister Michael Chan stated that “Ontario’s music industry is a pillar of our rapidly growing entertainment and cultural sectors, contributing over $20 billion annually to our province’s economy.”

FACTS FROM THE OMDC:

By Sandy Graham 

With the 40^th Anniversary of the Junos coming up, Cashbox Canada would like to pay homage to some of the music industry icons who have “built this city on rock ‘n’ roll.” On a summer night in August 1984, Much Music was launched in part to capitalize on the success of MTV, the American cable music channel that had premiered a little bit earlier.  It was the innovative brainchild of Moses Znaimer, and his on-air ‘vee-jays’ were personalities in their own right. Along with Erica Ehm, Michael Williams, Christopher Ward and JD (John) Roberts there was also the blonde haired blue eyed zany kid, Steve Anthony.

Now a co-host on the hugely popular CP 24 Breakfast show in Toronto, Steve Anthony has grown into the role of a serious broadcaster, while maintaining his outgoing personality that won him such popularity in his early days on radio and television.

Cashbox had the opportunity to ask a few questions of how the career of this music loving guy got to where he is today.  

When and how did you start in radio?

The year? 1972. Marconi had just invented the radio the year before. And all was good. At the tender age of 14, my big brother, Ron, took me under his wing and let me sit in with him on his radio show at McGill University. A mix of eclectic music and chat that got me hooked.

By Sandy Graham

When it was announced that The Cheiftains would be making a one night appearance in Toronto (and their only stop in Canada on a whirlwind tour of North America) Cashbox Canada made every effort to get a one on one with the legendary celtic music maestro himself, and Patrick Moloney did not disappoint us.

When I first called the hotel to speak to ‘Paddy’ as he is known amongst his friends and fans, I was delighted to hear a down to earth, friendly voice that obviously still loves every minute of still making music.

By now everyone who is conscious on the planet has heard we live in a disposable society.  Recently we had a major breakdown with our equipment in the recording studio.  I started calling all the electronic repair places I could find listed in the phone book to see about getting our gear repaired so we could continue doing business.  The first technician told me there would be a $75 bench fee to diagnose the problem.  In the event that there were no problems detected there was no refund on the bench fee.  I didn't think that sounded right so I called the manufacturer.  They told me I would have to find the original box and all packaging that came with the equipment and to ship it to them for repair.  The equipment I am talking about at that moment was 5 years old.  All the boxes and packing supplies that came with the purchase were tossed in the dumpster years ago.  I was also told if I could find all the original packing that it could take 6 - 8 weeks to get it back.  In the meantime we kept getting further and further behind in the studio work.  We then found on line a new and up-graded version of what we were using and it was on sale.  We opted to purchase all new gear and toss the old.  Just this week we found out our equipment has been discontinued and no repair facilities will be able to help us in the event it doesn't work any longer.  So should we repair or toss every time a crisis comes up?  I hope you don't have to make that decision none too soon.  It is costly and frustrating beyond belief.