TORONTO – CHUM Radio launched the Emerging Indie Artist Initiative today, a program designed to bring new Canadian talent to audiences across Canada.
Each month, beginning May 1, 2007, CHUM Radio programmers across Canada will vote for the best emerging Canadian artist. The winning artist’s song will be added to playlists at all participating CHUM stations, reaching over two million Canadians, says the company.
The initiative will provide independent artists with mass exposure through airplay, advertising time and promotion and Suzie McNeil’s Believe is the program’s inaugural selection.
The Emerging Indie Artist Initiative is developed as part of the launch of CHUM’s newest radio station, Calgary’s ENERGY 101.5 FM. During the term of its license, the station will invest $640,000 annually to the development and promotion of Canadian talent.
"CHUM has a long history of supporting Canada’s new and emerging talent," said Paul Ski, President, CHUM Radio. "The launch of our Emerging Indie Artist Initiative will help to encourage and develop new Canadian artists."
The company also added that the new program was created in part to address declining record sales and marketing budgets in the music industry (Blaming piracy and file-sharing, he Canadian Recording Industry Association said today that music sales in Canada fell 35% in the first quarter.)
"It’s harder than ever for new talent to break through in Canada," said Rob Farina, vice-president of program development, CHUM Radio. "CHUM Radio is proud to take our support of Canadian talent one step further with this ongoing program. The Emerging Indie Artist Initiative will kickstart the careers of young artists with tremendous marketing and airplay exposure."
The CHUM Emerging Indie Artist Initiative will further highlight new Canadian talent through the release and marketing of an annual compilation CD featuring the best independent music in Canada.
To be eligible, artists must:
* Be self-released or signed to an independent record label
* Have not reached the Top 40 chart in the overall airplay chart in Mediabase or Neilson BDS
* Have not reached sales of 50,000 units on any music release.
Interested artists and independent labels can participate by sending a CD or emailing an MP3 of their single to any CHUM Radio station across Canada.
