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Program Profile: Hop the Fence � Independent Music and Interviews

By Magnus Thyvold

Hop the Fence host Anne-Marie BruggerOne of the things that’s a common factor among so many people involved in campus/community radio is a love of music. Anne-Marie Brugger is one of those people. Her radio program, Hop the Fence, on Ottawa’s CHUO 89.1FM is one of the ways she has found to express her love of music. By day she’s a communications professional for the government, by night a music fan. “After work hours,” she says, “I get involved in music.  I listen to it, I research it, I write about it in a blog, I prepare my radio show and talk about it. I go to lots of shows!”

“It is very rewarding to help promote independent artists, particularly” Hop the Fence features regular interviews with Canadian independent musicians of all genres and she has a established an impressive roster of guests. Plenty of Juno and other award winners have sat opposite her in the studio including K-Os and Buck 65 and members of Broken Social Scene, Arcade Fire, Stars and Billy Talent to name just a few. Local artist are also prominently featured on the program. “There's lots of talent in Ottawa and I'm making it my mission to help promote it.”

Radio runs in her blood. “My Dad worked at CBC radio in Ottawa and when I was a kid I used to run around the 7th floor at the Chateau Laurier.” But it is the music and an opportunity to give something back to the community that really drove her to sit down behind the microphone. “I've always been passionate about music and been attracted to non-commercial stuff,” Brugger says.  “There's so much music to discover out there.”

You can catch Hop the Fence on CHUO 89.1FM in Ottawa on Friday evenings from 5P.M. to 6P.M. or online at www.chuo.fm. Check out the blog at www.myspace.com/hopthefence

More program featuring artist interviews, profiles and more…

The Interview Show on CJSF 90.1FM in Burnaby, BC
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Double Down on CKXU 88.3 FM in Lethbridge, AB
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Touchstone on CKDU 88.1FM in Halifax, NS
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Canadian Artist Spotlight on CFBU 103.7 FM in St Catharines, ON
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