VANCOUVER – Rogers Sports and Media announced today it is launching SONiC RADiO, described as The New Alternative, on 104.9 Vancouver, 107.5 Chilliwack and 92.5 Abbotsford.
“The popular alternative brand delivers an electric playlist featuring Florence & The Machine, Foo Fighters, 21 Pilots, The Lumineers, Green Day, The White Stripes, and more, along with a new lineup of local shows, hosted by some of Canada’s most sought-after on-air media personalities,” a press release explains.
This represents an expansion of the SONiC brand, which is already available in Edmonton.
“We’ve seen a huge success with our SONiC brand in Edmonton, serving listeners who are looking for an alternative to pop music,” said Christian Hall, content director, SONiC RADiO and JACK 96.9, in the release.
“We know there’s an appetite here in the GVA and Fraser Valley to launch this exciting format, with a stellar lineup of new local shows. We can’t wait for listeners to meet this fantastic group of entertaining personalities who are unapologetically themselves, and all share a passion for alternative music.”
The SONiC brand is replacing KiSS RADiO in Vancouver, Chilliwack and Abbotsford (although the KiSS brand is still alive in Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto, according to kissradio.ca).
This news comes a day after multiple people posted on Twitter about the song Killing in the Name, by Rage Against the Machine, playing on a loop on the Vancouver station. Publications from near and far including Rolling Stone and The Guardian, picked up the story (including speculation it was a protest by staff or a marketing stunt).
A day before that (June 28), several layoffs were announced including KiSS RADiO morning show hosts Kevin Lim and Sonia Sidhu, who had been with the station for five years. They posted a statement on Twitter announcing the news and thanking their management team at Rogers.
Today, on the newly launched station, The Angela Valiant Show is debuting as the first solo female-fronted morning show in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, according to today’s press release. It will air weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. PT. This will be followed by Alex Carr from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT, Carly Meyers and Jay Brody from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. PT and Marc Michaels and Katlynn Millions from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT.
Graham Clark, Garner Andrews, Millions, Darren Worts, and Andrew Berridge have been announced at weekend hosts.
“SONiC RADiO joins its companion stations CityNews 1130, JACK 96.9, and Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver, plus Star 98.3 and Country 1071.1 in the Valley, offering advertisers several brands to reach listeners,” the press release says.
Audiences can listen to SONiC RADiO on air on 104.9 Vancouver, 107.5 in Chilliwack and 92.5 in Abbotsford, as well as online at sonicradio.ca, on smart speakers and on the Radioplayer Canada app.
