Red Around Town, September 2012

Big news from Astral Radio with Shore FM, AM650 and Virgin Radio General Manager Brad Phillips moving this fall to become GM of rival Corus Radio which includes CKNW, 730 AM, The Fox and Rock 101. Brad is a fantastic people person and has a history of success with things such as the creation and launch of Z95 years ago. We wish him much success and the Corus group needs him. CRTC hearings are on now, and with many interventions the look of the Astral properties and the local radio landscape is up in the air. He has agreed to be present for the switchover… lots of action in radio around town with the former morning team at Shore FM moving to JACK FM. Larry and Willy will not be heard in this market until November 2013 as their contract specifies they cannot perform for a competitive outlet until the contract period is over… will Kid Carson revive SONIC? He is a great talent but it takes great marketing to make things happen. We will wait and see… new BBM summer ratings shows QM-FM now in first place in the market with a 11.8 share. CBC Radio 1 dips to second with a 10.4 share and CKNW retains third place with 9.0… old friend Jennifer Thomson is the new morning traffic anchor on AM 730 and middays on CKNW AM 98. I am glad for Jennifer who has bounced around since she left NW’s Frosty Forst show a few years back… sad news that singer/songwriter Joe South (Games People Play, Walk A Mile In My Shoes) has died at age 72. He also wrote Birds of a Feather and Rose Garden for Lynn Anderson… well, it is now confirmed. Paul McCartney is coming to Vancouver after an absence of 48 years. He last appeared here with the Beatles in August 1964. Many people thought he didn’t come here because of the near-riot at Empire Stadium that saw the band fleeing to waiting limos and immediately heading for the airport. They cancelled their reservation at the Hotel Georgia and never set foot in the place. That is not the reason Paul hasn’t returned to Vancouver. He insists on good sound and lighting and the former B.C. Place Stadium did not provide this so he skipped our town over the years. Now that the stadium has been improved to the tune of a half billion dollars, promoters have convinced him to return. Original plans had him coming to open the new facility but there was reluctance until the sound and lighting were perfected. What a weekend this is going to be. Bruce Springsteen plays the venue on November 24 and it is also Grey Cup Sunday (although the game will be played in Toronto). My phones keep ringing asking me to get tickets. I have no special connection here and will have to take my chances along with everyone else. Some news people have asked if I will MC the show. I don’t think so. Big productions such as this do not use MC’s anymore. The production begins and the star appears. I know this show is on many folks’ Bucket List. The Vancouver connection in all of this is Diana Krall. She is featured on his latest CD. I am sure she had something to do with his appearance here even if it was just to suggest it…

I was asked to appear at the annual West Fine Art Show held annually at the ranch of Gerry St. Germain in Surrey. Brian Croft and Murray Philips have become friends over the past year. Both are excellent artists. One  day while in my office I told them that I loved art and loved illustrations. I showed them some of my early efforts and they thought them worthy enough to display.  I haven’t really dabbled in many years but I was so flattered I think this will prompt me to get back to the drawing board. A great show each year…