CHDI-FM
 | |
| City | Edmonton, Alberta |
|---|---|
| Branding | SONiC 102.9 |
| Slogan | Edmonton's Modern Rock |
| Frequency | 102.9 MHz (FM) |
| First air date | April 2005 |
| Format | Modern rock |
| ERP | 64,000 watts |
| Transmitter coordinates | 53°31′54.7″N 113°46′52.2″W / 53.531861°N 113.781167°WCoordinates: 53°29′48″N 113°29′29″W / 53.49667°N 113.49139°W |
| Owner |
Rogers Media, a division of Rogers Communications (Rogers Radio) |
| Sister stations |
Radio: CKER-FM, CHBN-FM TV: CKEM-DT, CJEO-DT |
| Website | www.sonic1029.com |
CHDI-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 102.9 FM in Edmonton, Alberta. The station currently broadcasts a modern rock format under the brand name SONiC 102.9 and is owned by Rogers Media.
General information and history
The OK Radio Group Ltd. was granted this license in 2005 as one of three new FM stations in Edmonton.[1]
The station spent its first year broadcasting from a run down oil-field trailer on the property of the Airways Country Inn in Nisku, Alberta. The station founders wanted to get the station on the air as quickly as possible so it was decided they would broadcast from the trailer until their Gateway Boulevard studios were complete. Local media latched on to their "pirate" story, giving them a huge shot in the arm in their first year.
CHDI FM is now owned and operated by Rogers Communications.
On September 17, 2007, Sonic 102.9 began the "Own Your Own Home Edition", a contest where one Edmontonian will win a $50,000 down payment on a Rohit Infusion condo or townhouse. On November 3, Sonic announced that James Prince was the winner.
Since the station was launched in 2005, ratings have been steady around a 6.0 share, peaking at an 8.0 share, 4th place station in spring 2007, however CHDI dropped to a 4.8 share in fall 2008, making it the 10th most listened to station in Edmonton.
Upon inception of the new BBM Canada radio ratings devices, the PPM (Personal People Meter), Sonic has held a steady 8.0 market share and a top 4 or 5 radio station in the Edmonton market. A fact many in the Edmonton market knew to be more accurate with the audience, based on Sonic's prevalence with the listeners. [2][3][4]
CHDI is currently ranked #7 in the market with a 6.3 share according to the Fall 2011 PPM data report released by BBM Canada.[5]
CHDI-FM is the only Edmonton radio station launched in 2005 to have not changed its format, while CHBN-FM moved from rhythmic top 40 to CHR later that year, and regarding CHMC-FM dropping smooth jazz for adult contemporary in 2010.
On-air personalities
- Garner Andrews - Host of the Garner Andrews Show weekday mornings, from 5:30 am until 10:00 am. Garner has become known for his rants/discussions on various subjects, from using debit at the Tim Hortons drive-thru, to man crushes and the ever-popular nap index, and is always pushing some sort of agenda, or idea. Features the Sonic Rock Door, daily at 8:20 am where listeners try to guess a song from a very short (usually less than 1 or 2 seconds) clip from the song. Garner also posts a daily Podcast of the program.
- Bryce Kelley - morning show newscaster.
- Teddy Peterson - Garner Andrews Show studio usher.
- Taylor Smith - Host of the midday portion of the station, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm on weekdays.
- Layne Mitchell - Afternoon drive host, on the air from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, also has his own Podcast, updated weekly that appears on his blog.
- Ryan G - Evening show host, on the air from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am.
- Brandy Taylor - Music Director.
- Lauren Hunter - Weekend host from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
- Tyler Sean - fill-in on-air host, promotions coordinator and leader of the SONiC Intern Army.
- Adam Thompson - Program Director, fill in on-air host; returned to Sonic February 2015 after a stint as Program Director in Toronto.
Former on-air personalities
- Rick Lee - moved to Vancouver to work for JackFM, another Rogers radio station.
- Sherry Ryan - Returned to school in the summer of 2006. In 2011 she returned to Rogers Radio and is now Promotions Director for SONiC 102.9 and 91.7 The Bounce. Occasionally fills in on air.
- Kory Read - Kory won his job as the SONiC Newscaster in the Fall of 2005. Ultimately, the SONiC listeners voted to have Kory as the Newscaster. Kory left SONiC in 2008 to return to his career as a teacher in Berlin. He returned to Canada and took over weekend afternoons. He left once again to pursue other business opportunities.
- Craig "Young Craig" Lawrence - former on-air host/producer.
- Jason Manning - former SONiC Music Director who moved to Medicine Hat to launch and program the Rogers station Rock 105.3.
- Shaun Bogner - former weekend/overnight host.
- Matty Bezanson - former fill-in/weekend guy and Intern Army member.
- Liann Cameron - Left SONiC to join 91.7 The Bounce.
- Awkward Travis (Bretzer) - Left the on air side of SONiC to become the stations full time producer.
- Penny Quinn - Left SONiC in 2013.
- Graham Scott - Former weekend host. In August 2007, he moved to Sonic's sister station, CKER-FM (World FM) to take over the morning show. However, after a short-stint in mornings, Graham returned to weekend hosting on Sonic until his untimely death.[6]
Band of the Month
Sonic has a feature called "Band of the Month", which features a local band or artist from the Edmonton region and gives them airtime.[7] Some previous bands of the month have received more national attention, such as Ten Second Epic, Tupelo Honey, and My Sister Ocean.
Former bands of the month include: Drive By Punch, The Red Threat, Screwtape Lewis, Murder City Sparrows, Jets to Theory, Red Shag Carpet, Our Mercury, Whitey Houston, Mark Birtles Project, Casanova Playboys, Calico Drive, Rake, Ellis, The Surgents, Tim Gilbertson, Hot Panda, Radioforhelp, Greater Than Giants, Portal, Michael Rault and the Mixed Signals, Christian Hansen and the Autistics, and Parachute Penguin.
The first "Sonic BOTM" was in July 2005.
In addition to airtime, bands perform live at the Pawn Shop in Edmonton, Alberta, after a month of promotion on the station.
Sonic Boom Festival
On September 5, 2009, the first Sonic Boom Festival, was held at Northlands in Edmonton.[8] The line-up was The Wet Secrets, Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker, illScarlett, Girl Talk, Metric, Franz Ferdinand, Alexisonfire, and headliners, Billy Talent. Taking Back Sunday experienced a flight delay the morning of the festival in Kansas City, and were unable to perform. The event was hosted by Jason Mewes, of Jay and Silent Bob fame. The festival drew a crowd of over 11,000. The festival also featured a pro wrestling match between each band, and culminated in a battle royale prior to Billy Talent's set. Since their inaugural festival, "Sonic Boom" has hosted musicians annually such as Jack White, Tegan and Sara, Arctic Monkeys, The Smalls, Death Cab for Cutie, Weezer, Jane's Addiction, Linkin Park and more.[9]
References
- ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-135, Modern Rock FM radio station in Edmonton, CRTC, April 5, 2004
- ↑ RADIO MEDIA REPORT FINAL ver 2.xls
- ↑ RADIO MEDIA REPORT FINAL ver 2.xls
- ↑ BBM Canada Top-Line Rafio Statistics - S4 2008
- ↑ Fall 2011 Edmonton PPM Ratings
- ↑ http://www.sonic1029.com/2011/06/20/graham-scott/ Our Friend, Graham Scott
- ↑ Sonic 102.9 Band of the Month
- ↑ Sonic Boom Festival
- ↑ Sonic Boom Festival Sonic Boom Lineup
External links
- SONiC 102.9
- CHDI-FM history - Canadian Communications Foundation
- Query the REC's Canadian station database for CHDI-FM
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