GATINEAU — Having already approved Leclerc Communication’s acquisition of classical music radio station CJPX-FM Montreal from Media ClassiQ in a decision earlier this month, the CRTC released its detailed rationale for the approval on Tuesday.
Recently, the Commission has been expediting some of its decisions and following up with releases of its rationales at later dates.
In November, Leclerc announced its intention to purchase CJPX-FM Montreal (Radio Classique 99.5) from Media ClassiQ, which is owned and controlled by performing artist and radio broadcaster Gregory Charles, in a transaction that has been valued as $4.89 million, according to the CRTC’s Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2020-137, issued today.
As part of its application to the Commission for approval of the acquisition, Leclerc said it wanted to change the specialty radio station to a mainstream music format, which would broadcast adult album alternative (triple-A) and adult contemporary music. In addition, Leclerc committed to devoting 25% of the station’s French-language vocal music (FVM) selection rotations to emerging French-language artists.
In its approval of Leclerc’s acquisition of CJPX-FM and the station’s change to a mainstream music format, the Commission said certain modifications were required to Leclerc’s proposed licence application for the radio station. Namely, Leclerc applied for a new seven-year broadcasting licence for the station, which the Commission denied today.
Instead, the Commission is granting a two-year licence for CJPX-FM which expires August 31, 2022. This licence term will coincide with that of CJEC-FM Quebec (known as WKND), another radio station owned by Media ClassiQ/Gregory Charles which operates in Quebec City, and is now a sister station to CJPX-FM and will share programming.
As part of the acquisition approval, the Commission has agreed to Leclerc’s proposed tangible benefits payment of $293,350, representing 6% of the value of the transaction, which is the standard percentage for commercial radio stations, set out in the tangible benefits policy. The Commission also expects Leclerc to assume payment of the remaining amount of tangible benefits of $219,514 pertaining to Media ClassiQ/Charles’s purchase of CJPX-FM Montreal in 2015.
Finally, the Commission says as a condition of licence it expects Leclerc to devote 25% of the FVM musical selections broadcast on CJPX-FM Montreal to French-language emerging artists and to file an annual report with ADISQ (Association Québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo).
