As expected Stingray launched pop based Variety Hits “93.5 Today Radio” on CFXJ-FM Toronto at midnight utilizing the personality-heavy conservation topic based format utilized by stations in Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.
The station will be programmed by Crosby McWilliam, who has served as Program Director of “Z95.3” CKZZ Vancouver since May 2017 after previously serving as Promotions Director and Music Director. The station will feature multiple teams in the on-air lineup starting with Paul Harper and Nikki Balch in mornings. Harper spent the majority of his career in his native Scotland, but has recently been hosting Saturday nights on sister Classic Hits “Boom 97.3” CHBM. Balch most recently hosted mornings at “The Beat 92.5” CKBE-FM Montreal. Tyler Farr joins for middays from “95.9 Virgin Radio” CJFM Montreal. Afternoons will feature CKZZ afternoon host Vanessa Newman and Paul McGuire. McGuire will continue to anchor the national midday show heard on all of Stingray’s Country stations. Following a two hour replay of the morning show, Stingray’s national CHR and Hot AC evening show Katie & Ed will run from 9pm-12am. Katie Summers & ‘Special Ed’ also host mornings at CHR “90.3 Amp Radio” CKMP Calgary.
The “Today Radio” trademark is owned by Vancouver based Momentum Media Marketing and is utilized by Pattison Media Hot AC “101.5 Today Radio” CKCE-FM Calgary. The format places the station between Rogers AC 98.1 CHFI and Bell Media Hot AC 104.5 CHUM-FM. CHFI currently ranks fifth in the Toronto market with a 7.8 share in the Fall 2021 Numeris Ratings, while CHUM is sixth with a 7.4. The new format would create a flanker to protect Stingray Classic Hits “Boom 97.3” CHBM-FM against those two in demo. Boom is currently second in the Toronto market with a 10.5 share.
The first hour on “93.5 Today Radio” consisted of:
- Mary J Blige – Family Affair
- Banners – Someone To You
- Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World
- Sloan – Money City Maniacs
- Shaggy – Mr. Boombastic
- The Kid LAROI / Justin Bieber – Stay
- Meredith Brooks – Bitch
- The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
- Coldplay – Viva La Vida
- Snow – Informer
- Glass Animals – Heat Waves
- Johnny Cash – Hurt
- Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
- Sam Hunt – Body Like A Back Road
After two years spent living very much apart, a new radio station has launched in Toronto that is all about bringing people together.
93.5 Today Radio a radio station built around conversations, stories, and experiences. The station invites listeners to “drop in anytime” to join the conversation by phone, text, or social media, sharing their lives and stories with engaging on-air hosts. While music is important, and the station plays all kinds of it, the real draw is the sense of community and connection.
“We are reflecting what life is like, in Toronto, at this very moment,” says Steve Parsons, General Manager of 93.5 Today Radio. “The radio station is like a dinner party, with friends sharing laughs and stories. We’re doing what a playlist can’t do and connecting with people through real-life experiences and emotions.”
Morning show co-host Nikki Balch says she was drawn to 93.5 Today Radio for that very reason. “Being on the radio used to be about being larger-than-life,” she says. “But 93.5 Today Radio isn’t like that. We’re just a bunch of normal goofy friends hanging out together.”
Between the conversations, 93.5 Today Radio will present an eclectic mix of music, unlike traditional radio stations that focus on a specific era or genre of music. According to Program Director Crosby McWilliam, the station will play pretty much anything. “We really do play it all,” says McWilliam. “You could hear Ed Sheeran followed by Queen, Keith Urban, The Weeknd, Gordon Lightfoot, Doja Cat. You just don’t know what will come next.”
The concept behind 93.5 Today Radio has already proven extremely popular elsewhere, with similar stations launching in Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg. In both Alberta cities, the format is consistently among the top-ranked in the market.
93.5 Today Radio can be heard on 93.5 FM across the GTA and is streaming 24/7 at www.935todayradio.com or via the Stingray Music app and the RadioPlayer Canada app. The station maintains a social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok at @935todayradio.
93.5 Today Radio is owned by Stingray Radio, owners of boom 97.3 and over 100 radio stations across Canada.
Original Report 2/13: As first reported in our 2/11 Domain Insight report, Stingray will launch “93.5 Today Radio” on the former Hip Hop “Flow 93.5” CFXJ-FM Toronto on Monday, February 14.
CFXJ-FM began stunting this morning with a broad pop playlist with imagining announcing that “Today Arrives Tomorrow” and redirecting the former station’s listeners to its new home on 98.7 CKFG. Among the sweepers heard state, “If there’s one thing you’re looking for to tomorrow, it’s today. While that makes no sense today it’ll make a lot more sense tomorrow. Here’s a random selection of songs today” and “You’ve been waiting your whole life for today, and it arrives tomorrow. Ponder that while listening to this random selection of songs.”
Among the songs heard in the 11am hour were U2 “Where The Streets Have No Name”, Mackenzie Porter “These Days”, 50 Cent “In Da Club”, Default “Wasting My Time”, Gwen Stefani / Eve “Rich Girl”, Adele “Easy On Me”, Milky Chance “Stolen Dance”, Virginia To Vegas “Betterman”, Shawn Mendes “Stitches”, Elton John ft. Dua Lipa “Cold Heart”, The Cure “In Between Days”, Justin Bieber “Peaches”, and Tragically Hip “Wheat Kings”.
