Radiodays North America brings the programming and pro-radio attitude of Radiodays Europe to Toronto on June 2-4, in conjunction with the successful and world-focused Canadian Music Week conference. In the weeks leading to RDNA, we’ll spotlight the topics and people headlining RDNA.
Last week, we featured BBC Director of Music Lorna Clarke and three of her radio stations. We’ve also interviewed RDNA show-runner and veteran Canadian programmer Ross Davies about his goals for the conference. Here are a few of the other highlights announced so far, with more to come:
Promotions: Veteran promotions guru Paige Nienaber wraps up Monday’s sessions with “20 Electrifying No/Low Budget Promotions That Will Grab People’s Attention.” Earlier that afternoon, talent consultant Craig Bruce offers “The Inside Story on the #1 Viral Radio Moment of 2023,” specifically “Girl Maths” on New Zealand’s Top 40 ZM Radio.
On Tuesday afternoon, TikTok Talks brings together four content creators, including Lauren Hunter, the CHDI (Sonic 102.9) Edmonton p.m. driver responsible for one of the greatest stunts of recent years: getting City Hall renamed the Nathan Fillion Civilian Pavillion, at least temporarily.
AI: Sessions on AI begin with “Harmonizing AI and Gen Z: Reshaping the Future of Radio, Music, and Streaming,” a keynote featuring Suzy founder/CEO Matt Britton. On Tuesday, co-founder/CEO Zack Zalon, whose Super HiFi won several awards for 2024 Product of the Year at the NAB convention this week, will lead attendees through “An AI Workshop: Let’s Build a Radio Station.”
Britton and Zalon will also take part in a Monday roundtable discussion, the presciently named “The Award Goes to AI,” moderated by CHUM Toronto p.m. driver Josie Dye.
Podcasting: Sunday’s Podcast Power-Up Summit brings together Podnews editor James Cridland, Magnificent Noise’s Eric Nuzum, ABC News’s Laura Mayer, Gumball’s Dane Cardeil for an “Ask the Experts” panel. Nuzum will also address “Why Podcasts Fail,” while Jumpers Jump co-hosts Carlos Juico & Gavin Ruta will be interviewed in “The Next Generation of Podcasting.”
During Monday’s general sessions, Nuzum, Mayer, and Cardeil will be joined by CBC Podcasts’ Arif Noorani, Pacific Content’s Matt Mise, Signal Hill’s Paul Riismandel, and Triton Digital’s Sharon Taylor to discuss “The Future of Podcasting.” On Tuesday, Amplifi Media’s Steve Goldstein moderates a discussion on “Podcast Pivots: From Broadcast to Podcast,” also featuring Hubbard Radio’s Jeremy Sinon.
Other talent-related sessions include “Building a Benchmark,” featuring Bruce, CHUM-FM Toronto morning host Jamar “JNiice” McNeil, and Stingray Media National Talent Development Director Josie Fenech; “The Art of the Interview,” and “Balanced Journalism in an Unbalanced World.”
Other highlights include Cridland’s “Cool Tools for Radio Stations,” “What You Should be Telling Everyone About Radio,” featuring Edison Research’s Gabriel Soto and Signal Hill Insights’ Matt Hird, and “Lessons from Down Under: Why the Radio Industry Is Thriving in Australia,” featuring John Musgrove from Australia’s CRA and Australian-turned-Canadian-PD Ronnie Stanton, now Chief Content Officer of Virgin Radio International.
“Keeping Throwback Radio Moving Forward” features Audacy VP/Rhythmic AC & Throwbacks/WXBK (The Block) PD Skip Dillard, CJOT (Boom 99.7) Ottawa PD Stephanie Hunter, and the author in a discussion on the State of Classic Hits radio. Included in the presentation will be a look at “What Classic Hits Radio Added,” always a popular Ross on Radio column each year.
Look for more announcements on panels and panelists. A full schedule rundown is available here.
