!earshot Top 200 of 2021

Program Profile: I am Canadian

By Magnus Thyvold

A recent move to Saltspring Island
and new father hood hasn�t slowed Rob Pingle
down at allOnce upon a time you’d hear a lot of complaints about having to play so much Canadian music in the hallways and studios of campus radio stations. Cancon regulations meant that you had to play 30%, and then 35% Canadian music and programmers would complain that there just wasn’t enough good stuff. But the last ten or fifteen years has seen such a blossoming of the music scene in Canada that you don’t hear those complaints much any more. In fact, some programmers are so convinced of the strength of Canadian music that they devote their entire program to it like Rob Pingle and his show Home Game on CFUV 101.9 in Victoria, BC (Tuesday, 5:30 to 6:30 PM, http://cfuv.uvic.ca).

“I've always felt Canadian musicians got a bum wrap” says Pingle. He first tried an all-Canadian show at CHMR Radio while I saw how much they appreciated their local artists; it made me resolve to continue supporting Canadian music studying at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland. (he’d also had a show at Windsor’s CJAM before that.). A stint in Australia convinced him he was on the right track. “” Home Game focuses on emerging Canadian artists and whenever possible features interviews with artists coming through town. Rob also likes to support and feature local acts as much as possible. He has also developed a supporting website, www.homegameradio.com, with podcasts, info about the bands and more.

Some of Rob’s favourite recent Canadian releases include Christine Fellows, Geoff Berner, Great Lakes Swimmers, Buck 65, Jenn Grant and the Weakerthans. Home Game airs every second week and alternates with another Canadian-focused program, Canada Post with Johanna Henderson.

Check out Rob’s picks for the best of 2007.
Plenty more Canadian music shows are available across the nation.

Random Radio on CHCR 102.9 FM in Killaloe, ON
Friday from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. ET
Online at www.chcr.org

Let's Get Baked with Mat & Dave on CKDU 88.1FM in Halifax, NS
Thursday from 5 P.M. to 6 P.M. AT
Online at www.ckdu.ca, podcast at http://letsgetbaked.ckdu.ca

The Vinyl Exam on CJAI 92.1FM Stella ON
Tuesdays from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. ET
Online at www.cjai.ca

We Surrender on CJAM 91.5 FM in Windsor, ON
Thursday 7 P.M. to 8 P.M. ET
Online at www.cjam.ca

The Northern Basement on CKLN 88.1FM in Toronto, ON
Monday overnights
Online at www.ckln.fm

Underground Sounds on CKUT 90.3 FM Montreal, QC
Monday from 8 P.M. to 10 P.M. ET
Online at  www.ckut.ca

Village Meat Radio Show on CHCR 102.9 FM in Killaloe, ON
Saturdays from 9 P.M. to 11 P.M. ET
Online at www.chcr.org