Canadian radio format reclassifications:

[william]

I have just received word from an un-named source that BDS Canada has changed format classifications for 2 monitored Urban stations. This news apparently comes after an analysis of airplay trends for the last 6 months.

94.5 The Beat Vancouver from Urban to CHR/Rhythmic.
Vibe 98.5 Calgary from Urban to CHR/Rhythmic.

Flow 93.5 Toronto remains Urban.
HOT 89.9 Ottawa remains CHR/Rhythmic.

Wild 101 Niagara Falls remains CHR/Rhythmic but will continue to only report to US chart. BDS policy regarding border stations is that the higher audience side of the two countries reports to that nation's chart. Both lite 93.9 and 89X Windsor will continue to report to US chart as Detroit stations.

After all this, the source notes it still does not appear that the CHR/Rhythmics/Urban stations will get their own chart, and their airplay will continue to count towards the Canadian CHR chart.

Calgary and Vancouver listeners: do you agree that these stations are CHR/Rhythmic or should they be classified as Urban?

Board: will someone please explain the differences in both formats to me because I personally can't tell after 2 hours of listening to the Beat, Vibe and Flow each. The R&R charts don't look that different either.

[Leafstorm]

I think the difference between CHR/Rhythmic and Urban is that Urban stations actually devote a fraction of the time broadcasting Gospel materials, while CHR/Rhythmic station don't do that?

[iceman]

I just thought that CHR/Rhythmic would actually play some dance music as well. I don't think I've ever heard any on Vibe.

[william]

I've listened to many CHR/Rhythmics who haven't played dance music. I find it amusing too that there is a huge discrepancy between Mediabase and BDS Urban and CHR/Rhythmic pannels. Should the term CHR/Rhythmic be abandoned and all these stations just be classified as Urban?

[Leafstorm]

william said:

I've listened to many CHR/Rhythmics who haven't played dance music. I find it amusing too that there is a huge discrepancy between Mediabase and BDS Urban and CHR/Rhythmic pannels. Should the term CHR/Rhythmic be abandoned and all these stations just be classified as Urban?

I also think that CHR/Rhythmic stations gear towards a younger audience since they rarely play Urban AC hits, but an Urban station would actually play those Urban AC hits... and also the gospel issue that I talked about in my previous post (Gospel stuff usually air Sunday mornings on Urban stations)... so yeah, CHR/Rhythmic should not just be classified as Urban... Just because a CHR/Rhythmic station plays hip-hop and R&B does not necessary mean it's urban. Hopefully this helps...

[af18c]

william said:

Wild 101 Niagara Falls remains CHR/Rhythmic but will continue to only report to US chart. BDS policy regarding border stations is that the higher audience side of the two countries reports to that nation's chart. Both lite 93.9 and 89X Windsor will continue to report to US chart as Detroit stations.

So basically almost all stations on the border reports to the US Charts, right?

[lessthanscott]

The difference between an urban and CHR/R: an urban is run by black people, for black people, with black DJ's. They are in the black community and people of all ages know them.
A CHR/R is a bunch of white guys in their 20's trying to act like thugs talking to a bunch of rich suburban white teens.

It's not hard.

[william]

So basically almost all stations on the border reports to the US Charts, right?

I only know of the 3 stations I pointed out. I find most BDS policies stupid.


Thanks everyone for helping me out with this topic.