Radio Active ’22
Is radio’s future “live and local”, or is there more to radio than that? Where will the next decade’s listeners come from? Where should we be investing, and how should we get the best from our investment in talent and licenses? A look outside North America may give some of the answers. In this global journey, see and hear some of the brightest new ideas, and get the latest data from across worldwide radio.
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James Cridland
Editor/Radio Futurologist
Podnews
Following the keynote speech from James Cridland, we have assembled some of the brightest minds from the radio and digital audio world to discuss and plan out just what the right path should be in meeting consumer expectations in 2022 and beyond. Be ready to hear insights, ideas and strategies in how to keep your business relevant and successful in the new audio universe.
Moderator: James Cridland
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James Cridland
Editor/Radio Futurologist
Podnews -
Leslie Merklinger
Executive Director
CBC Podcast Studios -
Matt Deegan
Co-Founder
Folder Media -
Ronnie Stanton
VP FM Radio
Corus Entertainment
In the ever-evolving audio landscape, how is our industry keeping up with accurately measuring audio consumption and proving radio’s advertising effectiveness for their clients? With advertising decisions more than ever being data driven; where buyers are being asked to validate every dollar spent and where results are expected in real time, radio is competing for advertising dollars against the numerous digital audio platforms competing for the same ears. What is radio doing to inform how a campaign impacted the advertiser’s business? Did it drive traffic either instore or online? Did it drive e-commerce and did it amplify other media tactics? We’ve assembled a panel of experts to provide updates on measurement, discuss what advertisers are looking for from their audio partners, and discuss how radio can prove its contribution to advertising outcomes and compete in the digital world.
Moderator: Caroline Gianias, Radio Connects
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Adam Ritchie
Business Manager
AudioVelocity -
Caroline Gianias
President
Radio Connects -
David Phillips
President & COO
nLogic -
Gina Banks
Chief Client Officer
Mindshare -
Scott Stewart
General Manager
Glassroom Toronto
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Dennis Clark
Vice President of Talent Development
iHeartMedia -
Melissa Bunting
Executive Producer, Katie & Ed
Stingray Radio -
Nik Goodman
Director
Bounce
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Barbara Williams
Executive VP
CBC
Introduction: Fred Jacobs, Jacobs Media (US)
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: leanStream

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Fred Jacobs
Owner
Jacobs Media -
Tobias Nielsen
Int'l Director of Premium Projects
Bauer Media Audio
Pundits have been touting the decline of radio for decades now. Whether it was the arrival of television, the Walkman or the internet, streaming, social media and gaming…radio has weathered all battles and survived to remain a vital voice in our local communities. Today, the challenge and the opportunity lie in the expansion of its audio products into the digital landscape. While traditional over the air radio still is a priority and core to the business, the audience move to digital requires broadcasters to embrace and adapt new business strategies. How do you balance this investment against your primary income source from over the air broadcasting? Where do you invest capital and where is the bigger payoff? How do you reconcile this today versus what the next 3-5 years might look like? Let’s hear from the experts, those people who have made the digital leap and are providing a new revenue source for their companies.
Moderator: Fred Jacobs, Jacobs Media (USA)
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: TRITON DIGITAL

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Caroline Beasley
CEO
Beasley Media -
Fred Jacobs
Owner
Jacobs Media -
Rod Schween
President
Pattison Media -
Tobias Nielsen
Int'l Director of Premium Projects
Bauer Media Audio -
Troy Reeb
Corus Entertainment
Moderator: Steve Pratt, Pacific Content
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Fatima Zaidi
CEO & Founder
Quill Inc. -
Hannah Sung
Co-Founder
Media Girlfriends -
Jeff Leake
Director of Podcasts, Listenership, Music Programming
SiriusXM -
Matt Deegan
Co-Founder
Folder Media -
Steve Pratt
Co-Founder
Pacific Content
For more than a decade now, some of Canada’s biggest radio stations have asked listeners to “join the conversation,” creating full-service radio stations where listeners’ stories and opinions matter as much as the music. These stations have a lot to tell all programmers about listener interaction and localism at a time when both have proven to be a challenge for radio. From programmers and consultants to on-air talent, we’ll talk about how all of radio can continue to engage with its audience.
Moderator: Sean Ross – RossonRadio Newsletter
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Mark Hunter
Senior Programmer for Calgary and Edmonton
Pattison Media -
Mat Mitchell
Brand/Content Director
KSTP-FM (KS95) -
Nik Goodman
Director
Bounce -
Sean Ross
VP Music and Programming
Edison Research
We know our industry has been lagging in the establishment of a proper and effective model for diversity in the workplace. We also know that it is proven that diverse teams perform better. So why are we still so far behind? Where’s the leadership? How do we coach and mentor our staff to ensure more diverse voices in senior management positions? Who’s leading the pack in diversity initiatives? There are lessons to be learned from those who’ve been there and from those now taking up the challenge. This session will begin to formulate a roadmap for success.
Moderator: Saroja Coelho – Morning Host – CBC Music
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Gary Gunter
General Manager
Flow 98.7 FM -
Keziah Myers
Executive Director
ADVANCE, Canada's Black Music Business Collective -
Nick Davis
Executive Director of Equity & Inclusion
CBC -
Saroja Coelho
Morning Host
CBC Music -
Sharon Hinds
Manager, ALL IN Executive Office Media Business Unit
Rogers Sports & Media
This past year saw the CRTC formally begin the long-awaited Review of Radio process by seeking input from the Canadian Radio & Music industries and all Canadians as it seeks to update the current Canadian broadcast regulations that have been in place for well over 20 years. And as we all know, there has been massive change during this time. New technology is providing Canadians with a much wider universe of listening options. Weekly time spent listening to radio has declined over 3 hours over the past ten years. Revenues are being challenged; profit margins are shrinking. New digital media undertakings are operating in Canada without the tax and regulatory responsibilities that Canadian licensed broadcasters must abide by. And they are directly impacting over the air radio. Our governing policies and regulations need a comprehensive and thorough overhaul. Ownership limits to Cancon levels and support will be a large part of the conversation.
Moderator: Rita Cugini, Former CRTC Commissioner
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Doug Bingley
President
Central Ontario Broadcasting -
Kevin Desjardins
President
Canadian Association of Broadcasters -
Lenore Gibson
Senior Counsel, Regulatory Affairs
BCE Inc. -
Patrick Rogers
CEO
Music Canada -
Rita Cugini
Media Professional, Broadcast Consultant & Strategic Advisor
Media Results
Moderator: Steve Parsons – General Manager, Boom 97.3/ 93.5 Today Radio, Toronto
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Matt Bailey
President
Interr8 Research -
Max Dugan
Co-Founder
P1 Media Group -
Sarah Cummings
Director of Radio Content
iHeartRadio & Orbyt Media -
Steve Parsons
GM Toronto and National Director of Programming
Stingray Radio -
Warren Kurtzman
President
Coleman Insights
During this session, we’ll explore the resurgence of personality driven radio and why it’s our key to long-term success. We’ll talk about what Programmers can do to “teach” their talent the foundations of a great story – tension, silence, drama, and surprise. And Talent will come away armed with the tools to engage the audience- proper story structure, how to insert your likes, dislikes, and quirks, creating effective teases, powerful “outs” and more.
When you tell a great story, you connect with people, engage them emotionally, and keep them coming back for more. Stories form the foundation of human communication and are the essence of radio and audio.
Moderator: Dave Farough – Programming Advisor | Talent Development
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Amanda Cupido
Director of Talk and Talent
640 Toronto -
Dave Farough
Programming Advisor | Talent Development -
Roz & Mocha
Radio Hosts
The Roz & Mocha Show (Kiss 92.5) -
Vanessa Newman
Afternoon co-host
Z95.3 Vancouver and 93.5 Today Radio Toronto
In this session, engage in a conversation about your brand’s identity within the competitive landscape. James’ approach to this important discovery will be a simple, but compelling exercise into how you want your target markets to feel about your brand. He’ll discuss the vital filtration process to help identify your overarching brand strategy. After this, you’ll never think about your own brand in quite the same way!
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James Howard
Regional Senior VP & Program Director
iHeart Media and 103.5 KISS FM/ROCK 95.5 FM
Moderator: Sean Ross – RossonRadio Newsletter
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Andrew Forsyth
Radio Consultant
Luminate -
Karen Steele
Programming Director
Virgin Radio -
Louie Diaz
VP Top 40/Rhythmic Top 40
Cumulus Media -
Marie Steinbock
Director of Music Programming
SiriusXM: TikTok Radio -
Rebecca Frank
KISS Content Director
Bauer Media Audio -
Sean Ross
VP Music and Programming
Edison Research
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Caroline Gianias
President
Radio Connects -
Fred Jacobs
Owner
Jacobs Media -
Jeff Vidler
President & Founder
Signal Hill Insights
Eyeora: A turnkey, Virtual Reality creative studio that empowers businesses and individuals to become VR content creators. Content can be shared, viewed, and monetized all on one socially connected VR platform – quickly, easily and cost-efficiently. Both the social and content aspects make up the eyeora VR experience allowing you to easily connect with your existing audiences as well as creating new ones.
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Daniel Corazzi
Founder/CEO
Eyeora VR -
Nik Goodman
Director
Bounce
Moderator: Rick Lee – Program Manager, Corus Radio Toronto
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Anita Li
Founder, CEO and Editor-In-Chief
The Green Line -
Ara Andonian
Morning Show Host, 103.1 Beach Radio
Pattison Media -
Drex Wilcomes
‘Drex on Jack’ Morning Show Host
Jack 96.9 -
Jamar McNeil
Morning Host
CHUM FM -
Jeunesse Montgomery-Spencer
Afternoon Drive – Energy 95.3 Corus Entertainment
Energy 95.3 Corus Entertainment -
Rick Lee
Program Manager
Corus Radio Toronto
Host/Moderator: Kristopher Ramsammy – Trebas Institute Graduate
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Julie Adam
President, News & Entertainment
Rogers Sports & Media -
Kristopher Ramsammy
Trebas Institute Graduate
This world-class panel will explore the relationship between radio and podcasting from all angles and will share real-world best practices, case studies, and strategies.
Moderator: Steve Pratt
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Arif Noorani
Director of Podcasts
CBC -
Sharon Taylor
SVP Podcast Strategy & Product Operations
Triton Digital -
Steve Goldstein
CEO/Founder
Amplifi Media -
Steve Pratt
Co-Founder
Pacific Content -
Will Pearson
Chief Operating Officer
iHeartPodcast Network
To make matters worse we are now surrounded by a myriad of alternative digitally delivered news services providing their version of news, whether it is fact based or not.
In the search for unbiased reporting, can Canada’s over the air radio properties have a real opportunity to fill a vital role in each of our communities as the voice of truth and reason? Find out the answers to these and other questions from a distinguished panel of experts who are living this world every day.
Moderator: John Oakley – AM640 Toronto
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Alexandra Henderson
VP News
Global News -
John Oakley
Radio Host
640 Toronto -
Jonathon Kay
Editor/Podcast
Quilette -
Larry Gifford
National AM Radio Director
Corus Entertainment -
Paul Cross
Humber College
Dave Charles and Lee Abrams are legends in radio worldwide. In this world exclusive, these two dynamos team up to offer sound advice to broadcasters in all formats about putting some unique zip in their imaging and stingers to pique listener interest and stand out in a sea of sameness online, on FM and in promo spots streamed on YouTube.
Moderator: Alan Cross
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Alan Cross
President
Brain Dead Dog Productions -
Azeem Haq
Founder
TheVoiceLand.com & Crevo -
Dave Charles
President
Media Results Inc. -
Dave Foxx
Former Creative Services Director
Z100 New York -
Dom Nero
Creative Services Director
Hot 97 New York -
Kelly Doherty
Founder
The Imaging House -
Lee Abrams
Commander
MediaVisions -
Trevor Shand
Imaging Director
KROQ FM Los Angeles
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Dan Misener
Director, Audience Development
Pacific Content
Produced and presented by Jacobs Media, Detroit, USA
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Joe D’Angelo
Snr VP Broadcast & Radio & Digital Audio
Xperi, Inc. -
Lesley Rohrbaugh
Director of Market Research
Consumer Technology Association, producer of CES® -
Paul Jacobs
Vice President/General Manager
Jacobs Media -
Steve Newberry
CEO
Quu, Inc.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: LUMINATE

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Andrew Forsyth
Radio Consultant
Luminate -
Paul Tuch
Customer Support
Luminate
During this exclusive presentation at the CMW RadioActive 22, Coleman Insights President Warren Kurtzman will share the study’s major findings as released in April, along with new Canadian consumer-specific findings Coleman Insights will share for the first time.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY: COLEMAN INSIGHTS

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Warren Kurtzman
President
Coleman Insights
