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CFXJ-FM

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Coordinates:43°38′55″N79°22′54″W/ 43.648611°N 79.381667°W/43.648611; -79.381667
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the station currently branded as Flow, seeCKFG-FM.
CFXJ-FM
Broadcast areaGreater Toronto Area
Frequency93.5MHz(HD Radio)
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatStunting
Ownership
OwnerStingray Group
CHBM-FM
History
First air date
February 9, 2001;23 years ago(2001-02-09)
Technical information
Licensing authority
CRTC
ClassB
ERP1,058wattsaverage
3,706 watts peak
HAAT298.7 meters (980 ft)
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.935todayradio

CFXJ-FM(93.5FM) is acommercialradio stationinToronto,Ontario.Owned by theStingray Group,it is currentlystunting.Its studios are located onYonge StreetatSt. Clair Avenuein Toronto'sDeer Parkneighbourhood.

CFXJ was Canada's firstBlack-owned radio station, and was launched on February 9, 2001 under the on-air brand ofFlow 93.5.From its launch through 2022, the station aired variousurbanandrhythmicformats.

CFXJ has aneffective radiated power(ERP) of 1,058watts(3,706 watts peak). The maintransmitteris located atopFirst Canadian Placein Toronto'sFinancial District.There are plans forbooster stationsinMississaugaand in Toronto'sNorth Yorkneighborhood, also on 93.5MHz.

History

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Launch

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Milestone Radio,a company incorporated byDenham Jolly,first applied to theCanadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission(CRTC) for anurban contemporarymusic station in 1989. Milestone was passed over in favour of acountry musicstation,CISS.[1][2]Jolly applied again in 1997, and was passed over in favour ofCBLA,theRadio Onestation, which theCBCwanted to move to FM as it was leaving its longtime Toronto AM outlet,CBL.[3][4]

Both decisions sparked controversy in Toronto, a city with Canada's largest minority population but with no urban contemporary outlet. Some accused the CRTC of passing over an urban station in favour of existing radio services as an example ofracism.The lack of an urban station also created difficulties for Canadianhip hop,reggaeandR&Bmusicians, who had no radio outlets in Canada to play and promote their music.[5][6][7][8]

The original logo of Flow 93.5 (2001–2007)

As well, the 99.1 signal which was awarded to the CBC was believed to be the last available FM frequency in the city. However, in 1998, the CBC found that it was able to surrender two of the CBC'srepeater transmittersoutside of Toronto due to CBLA's superior coverage of the region.[9][10]In 2000, the CRTC opened applications for new services on these two frequencies. With Milestone's third application, the CRTC awarded the 93.5 frequency to the company on June 16 of that year.[11]

CFXJsigned onthe air at 9:35 p.m. on February 9, 2001, under the nameFlow 93.5."Roots, Rock, Reggae"byBob Marley and the Wailerswas the first song played. For several weeks, the station wasautomated.Live programming launched on March 1.[12][13][14]Before the station became prominent in theGreater Toronto Area,many listeners would try to tune in toBuffalo, New York'sWBLK,which has aired anurban contemporaryformat since the 1960s. Since CFXJ's debut, manyCanadian hip hopand R&B musicians, includingJully Black,k-os,Kardinal OffishallandJarvis Churchhave made the types of significant career breakthroughs that often eluded Canadian urban musicians in the 1990s.

Rhythmic top 40 era (2007–2014)

[edit]
Logo used as "The New Flow 93.5" until 2011

In 2005, the station began to shift towards a morerhythmicdirection. In 2007, the station re-branded asThe New Flow 93.5,completing its shift to arhythmic contemporaryformat. By 2009, with Rogers' relaunch of theKissTop 40 (CHR) formatonCKIS,CFXJ shifted back towards an urban direction. However, this proved unsuccessful, and many of the adult urban tracks were dropped by March 2010.

On June 23, 2010, it was announced that CTVglobemedia'sCHUM Radiowould acquire the station, subject to CRTC approval. The transaction was approved on December 23.[15][16]CHUM previously had a joint venture with Milestone withCHBN-FMinEdmonton,which was later sold toRogers Radioalong withCHST-FMinLondon.The station's headquarters were relocated from their longtime home at 211 Yonge Street to CTV's250 Richmond Street West(near299 Queen Street West,whereMuchMusicand other CTV specialty television stations were based). In February 2011, the sale to CTVglobemedia (which was acquired by shareholderBell Canadaand renamedBell Mediaseveral months later) was completed. Upon the closure of the sale, many on the staff were laid off, all specialty programming was cancelled, and the station shifted back to a rhythmic contemporary format.[17]

CHUM's vice president of programming, David Corey, replaced Wayne Williams as PD and reshuffled the lineup. He brought in fellow ex-WJMNBostonimaging director Scott Morello as APD, and re-teamed morning host Melanie Martin with her fellow CKIS alumnus J.J. King. Midday personalityMiss Ange,afternoondrive timepersonality Jeni, swing personality Peter Kash, MD Justin Dumont, promotions coordinator Angelique Knights, morning show producer Johnny Michaels, creative writer John Shannon, and producer Korey Bray, along with former sales manager Byron Garby and some other account representatives, were all retained.[18]With the launch of urban AC competitorCKFG-FM,the station moved back to an urban direction once more. However, by December 2012, the station had moved back to a rhythmic CHR format.

Third logo (2011–2015)

In March 2013, theCompetition Bureauapproved a proposal by Bell Media to acquireAstral Media,under the condition that it divest itself of several television services and radio stations. Following the closure of the merger in July 2013, CFXJ was placed in ablind trustpending its eventual sale.[19][20][21]CFXJ and four other Astral Media radio stations were sold to Newcap Radio for $112 million.[22][non-primary source needed]The deal was approved by the CRTC on March 19, 2014, and the sale closed on March 31, 2014.[23][24][non-primary source needed]With the sale, CFXJ moved its studios to the formerCFRBandCKFMstudios at 2 St. Clair West (at Yonge and St. Clair).

Classic hip hop era (2014–2016)

[edit]
Fourth logo (2015–2016)

In late 2014, influenced by the popularity ofThe Back in the Day Buffetnoon-hour mix-show, as well as the growing popularity of theclassic hip-hopformat in the United States, the station revamped itsplaylistto include hip-hop hits, R&B and reggae tracks from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, while still playing some currents. In addition, CFXJ added a secondary slogan: "The Best Throwbacks and Hottest Hits."

By March 2015, the station's primary slogan was altered to "All The Best Throwbacks".[25][26]

The Move, return to Flow (2016–2022)

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Logo as "The Move" (2016–2019)

On February 25, 2016, CFXJ went jockless and began promoting a "big move" to take place at 8 a.m. the following Monday (February 29). At that time, after playing "Over"by Toronto nativeDrake,the station flipped torhythmic adult contemporaryas93.5 The Move,with a focus on rhythmic and hip-hop hits from the late 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The first song on "The Move" was "The Way You Move"byOutKast.[27][28]CFXJ joinedCKBEMontrealas the only English-language rhythmic AC outlets in Canada.[29]

As part of the rebrand, the station also axed numerous on air hosts, including Melanie Martin of theJJ & Melaniemorning show, midday host Miss Ange, and evening host Megan Coady. Weekend host J'ness moved to sister stationCIHT-FMinOttawaprior to the rebrand. On November 6, 2017, CFXJ switched back to a rhythmic contemporary format once again, while maintaining theMovebranding and a small amount of rhythmic recurrents. CFXJ also changed slogans to "Toronto's Hits. Toronto's Throwbacks." before changing to "Toronto's Hip Hop".[30]

Logo under second iteration as "Flow" (2019–2022)

Newcap Radio was acquired byStingray Groupin October 2018.[31]On February 11, 2019, CFXJ reverted to theFlow 93.5branding and returned to anurban contemporaryformat.[32]

Flowmoves to 98.7;Today Radio(2022–2024);New Country(2024–)

[edit]
See also:CKFG-FM
Logo as "Today Radio" (2022-2024)
Logo as "Today Radio" (2022-2024)

On February 9, 2022, Stingray announced that it had reached an agreement withCKFG-FMand its new owner, Neeti P. Ray's CINA Media Group, to move theFlowbranding to that station beginning February 14, and that 93.5 would launch a new format the same day. CFXJ subsequently went jockless, and much of its on-air staff was let go.[33][34]

A Stingray executive stated that the company had originally wanted to "[bring]Flowback to its roots as a community-driven station ". However, after realizing that this would have competed directly with CKFG, Stingray instead reached an agreement to transfer theFlowbrand to that station. CINA plans to position the station as serving the entirety of Toronto'sBlack Canadiancommunity by essentially merging the two formats into one station, adding the hip-hop already heard onFlowto its existing format of R&B andAfro-Caribbeanmusic.[34]

On February 13, CFXJ beganstuntingwith a self-described "random selection" of pop songs, interspersed with promos redirecting "Flow" listeners to CKFG, andsweepersstating that "Today" was "arriving tomorrow".[35]The following day at midnight, CFXJ relaunched as93.5 Today Radio,anadult hitsformat with a focus on topical discussions and interactions with listeners. The brand and format were licensed from aVancouver-based marketing company. The format is also aired onPattison Media'sCKCE-FMinCalgary,with similarities to theNow!hot adult contemporaryformat used by its sister stationsCKNO-FMEdmontonandCHNW-FMWinnipeg.[35][36]

On September 20, 2022, the CRTC published applications by Stingray to addboostersfor CFXJ on the 93.5 frequency inMississaugaand in theNorth Yorkdistrict of Toronto, which Stingray said would be the firstsingle-frequency networkimplementation of its kind in Canada.[a][38][39]The applications, which were opposed by a subsidiary ofEvanov Communications,were denied in September 2023, on the grounds that they would have constituted a "service expansion" beyond the station's current licensed area.[40]

New Country 93.5

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On August 29, 2024, at 10 a.m., after playing "Bye Bye Bye"byNSYNC,CFXJ flipped tocountry music,soft launchingby playing what they deemed the "top 100 country songs of all time" while teasing that the official launch, branded on their Instagram page as "New Country 93.5" (a brand Stingray operates on 19 other stations nationwide), would occur the following Tuesday, September 3 with the debut of the Paul McGuire Show at 6:00 a.m.[41]

Footnotes

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  1. ^A few other Canadian stations already operate synchronous repeaters; for example,CJKX-FM(95.9 MHz), licensed toAjaxin the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area, has a repeater at 95.9 in Toronto.[37]Stingray stated that its implementation would have used a new implementation branded as "MaxxCasting".

References

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  1. ^CRTC Decision 90-993
  2. ^Greg Quill, "Twelve applicants dance for last local FM radio spot,"The Toronto Star,November 23, 1989.
  3. ^CRTC Decision 97-362
  4. ^Peter Goddard, "CBC vs. 'dance' - who'll win 99.1 FM?,"The Toronto Star,April 12, 1997.
  5. ^Royson James, "Wrong headed CRTC fails Black community,"The Toronto Star,August 30, 1997.
  6. ^Peter Goddard, "How the CRTC sold out Toronto decision to reject 'urban' format for 99.1 was power play, pure and simple,"The Toronto Star,August 2, 1997.
  7. ^"Seems Blacks denied FM voice for reasons other than ability,"The Toronto Star,September 19, 1997.
  8. ^"Canadian radio fails young urban musicians,"The Toronto Star,September 30, 1997.
  9. ^Tim Harper, "CBC offers plan for new FM station,"The Toronto Star,October 1, 1997.
  10. ^Tim Harper, "Cabinet eyes a radio deal for black station and CBC,"The Toronto Star,October 18, 1997.
  11. ^Decision CRTC 2000-203
  12. ^Greg Quill, "Radio dream gives city its first black station,"The Toronto Star,February 8, 2001.
  13. ^Greg Quill, "" Flow "goes with Marley as new station hits the air,"The Toronto Star,February 10, 2001.
  14. ^Ashante Infantry, "Two Mikes go with the" Flow 93.5 ","The Toronto Star,March 2, 2001.
  15. ^Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-715
  16. ^Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2010-964
  17. ^"Changes Flowing In Toronto".RadioInsight.February 3, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 13,2019.
  18. ^"More Changes At Flow 93-5 In Toronto".All Access.RetrievedFebruary 13,2019.
  19. ^Biblic, Mirko (June 27, 2013)."Re: Voting Trust Agreement between BCE Inc. and Pierre Boivin, the trustee Application No. 2013-0243-9 – Approved".CRTC.RetrievedJuly 5,2013.
  20. ^"Competition Bureau OK's BCE-Astral deal, with conditions".CBC News.RetrievedMarch 5,2013.
  21. ^"Bell moves closer to Astral with sale of TV assets".The Globe and Mail.RetrievedMarch 5,2013.
  22. ^"Newcap signs agreement with Bell Media to acquire five radio stations in Toronto and Vancouver".CNW.RetrievedAugust 26,2013.
  23. ^Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-129
  24. ^"Newcap Radio receives CRTC approval to purchase stations in Toronto and Vancouver".Canada Newswire.March 19, 2014.RetrievedMarch 20,2014.
  25. ^"Flow Toronto The Best Throwbacks and Hottest Hits".October 16, 2014.RetrievedOctober 23,2014.
  26. ^"classic rock and classic rap".November 12, 2014.RetrievedNovember 17,2014.
  27. ^"93.5 The Move Debuts In Toronto".RadioInsight.February 29, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 13,2019.
  28. ^Flow 93.5 Becomes The Move
  29. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on April 2, 2015.RetrievedMarch 27,2015.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. ^"93.5 Toronto Moves Back To Currents".RadioInsight.November 6, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 13,2019.
  31. ^"CRTC Approves $506-Million Sale of Newcap Radio to Stingray".VOCM.Archived fromthe originalon July 8, 2019.RetrievedOctober 31,2018.
  32. ^Slingerland, Calum."Toronto Hip-Hop Radio Station Flow 93-5 Relaunches".exclaim.ca.RetrievedFebruary 12,2019.
  33. ^Venta, Lance (February 9, 2022)."Double Flip Coming In Toronto As Flow 93.5 Moves To 98.7".RadioInsight.RetrievedFebruary 9,2022.
  34. ^abThiessen, Connie (February 9, 2022)."G98.7 rebrands to Flow 98.7 as Stingray relinquishes heritage brand".Broadcast Dialogue.Momentum Media Marketing, Inc.RetrievedFebruary 9,2022.
  35. ^abVenta, Lance (February 14, 2022)."93.5 Today Radio Arrives In Toronto".RadioInsight.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  36. ^Ross, Sean (February 7, 2022)."Sometimes Live, Sometimes Local, Always Vital, Still Winning".RadioInsight.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
  37. ^Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (March 29, 2006)."CRTC Decision 2006-107: CJKX-FM Ajax - New transmitter in Toronto".RetrievedSeptember 20,2022.
  38. ^"CRTC Application 2022-0687-0"(ZIP).RetrievedSeptember 20,2022.
  39. ^"CRTC Application 2022-0704-2"(ZIP).RetrievedSeptember 20,2022.
  40. ^"Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-305".September 1, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 9,2024.
  41. ^The Calendar Turns in Toronto, as Today Radio Comes to An End and Country Prepares to Come to Town
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43°38′55″N79°22′54″W/ 43.648611°N 79.381667°W/43.648611; -79.381667

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