An absolutely unique radio return

Of all the back-to-school seasons happening right now, the radio one is one of the most exciting. New releases, sure values, surprise chair changes and layoffs mark the fall. Our columnist prepares your ears for this absolutely unique season!

Marie-France Bazzo

I am very happy to find Marie-France Bazzo on a regular basis on the show Draw me a morning. Every other Saturday, alternating with Jean-Luc Mongrain, she comes to tell us what she remembers from the news of the week. I like this woman, because she is often where we don’t expect her. During her first column, she pointed out that the radio stations that reported the death of Alain Delon talked about his “special” character without really telling us why. In fact, it was insinuated that the actor was politically right-wing with “old France” ideas. “In the recent legislative elections, 10 to 12 million French people voted like what Delon was. […] “When a left-wing comedian dies, do we mention his ideology? Have journalists become political commissars? Political correctness sorting through still-warm corpses, I find that a bit out of place,” said the producer-host-columnist. Her comments on ICI Première replace a second coffee.

Dutrizac vs. Valerie Plante

Those who listened to Benoît Dutrizac on QUB are used to his incisive style and colourful language. But those who discover him on 99.5 FM may be shocked by his use of certain words. On Thursday, he called Mayor Valérie Plante “the other tart at city hall”. The reason for this insult? The very poor management of mobility in Montreal. On Friday, he devoted a good part of his show to this subject. This allowed him to talk about “an administration of slobbering and incompetent people” and to say that the mayor should “be ashamed of giving interviews to Patrice Roy in a park while holding hands”. He is highly critical of her. “Life is not a comic strip, Valérie Plante! Turn it on, estie!” I think that 99.5 counts among its new listeners the members of the mayor’s communications team.

Catherine, Nathalie and Claude on ICI Musique

There has been much talk about the arrival of Marc Hervieux at the helm of It’s so good on the airwaves of ICI Musique. But we should also talk about the slot he left on Sunday morning. It is Catherine Pépin who will now be in this chair. Starting on 1^er September, from 10 a.m. to noon, Time for a stopover will take us on a journey through world music, film music and classical works. His show will be followed by The music channel (which I love), which offers celebrities the opportunity to tell their stories through their musical universe. The hosts of the fall schedule are Benoit McGinnis, Nathalie Simard, Daniel Lemire and Mr. Musical Encyclopedia himself, Claude Rajotte. I can’t wait for that moment!

40 years of radio for Denis Fortin

Denis Fortin is not just the testosterone-fueled voice of The Fury. He is the one who knows how to make the hits of the hour vibrate like no one else for 40 years now. The host of Weekend Hits will be celebrated throughout the long weekend that awaits us on the airwaves of Rouge. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., it will offer four decades (1980, 1990, 2000, 2010) of success. Each 46^e minute of the hour, you will hear his famous Top 6 plus some others that have been specially designed for this anniversary. It will hum in the cars!

King René

There is no doubt that at 84, René Homier-Roy is the oldest radio host in Quebec. The former director of the cultural pages of The Press begins his twelfth season at the helm of Culture Club (now reduced by one hour), on ICI Première (Saturdays at 2 p.m.). He will do so with his enormous wealth of knowledge and references. This is why he remains as relevant as ever.

A big one party at Cogeco Media

Cogeco Media radio stations have decided to join forces to launch their programming. CKOI, Rythme FM and 98.5 are jointly organizing a major party Thursday, September 5 starting at 5 p.m. This launch will be broadcast simultaneously on all three channels. Roxane Bruneau, Vincent Vallières, 2Frères, Bleu Jeans Bleu and Jay Scott will perform live. For those wondering, the name of the next president of Cogeco Media will not be announced on this occasion. That will happen in a few weeks. Let us recall that after Caroline Paquet was fired, the appointment of Martin Spalding was announced. It was probably the shortest reign in the history of radio. Two days later, we learned that this would not happen. His arrival reportedly sparked some discontent. Frédéric Perron, president of Cogeco Inc., made this decision because he places “great value” on employees, he said in a press release. Enigmatic, all of this…

The sound of 99.5

Montreal’s new 99.5 has had its first week. QUB’s broadcasts come from Quebecor’s new studios located in its building on Frontenac Street. Many of you have written to me to point out the poor sound quality. You find that the sound lacks “brilliance.” The management of 99.5 tells me that corrections have already been made on QUB’s side. Other adjustments will be made if necessary.

Controversial arrival of Maripier Morin

It is Tuesday that Maripier Morin, thanked by WKND at the end of the summer, will take the seat of Patricia Paquin, thanked by Rythme FM the day she was to resume her show. The Lunch Girls alongside Marie-Ève ​​Janvier. We know that Maripier has a lot of guts. But let’s just say that this arrival won’t be easy for her. On social media, many people are lamenting the departure of Patricia Paquin, who is popular with listeners. Knowing Maripier Morin, she will probably take the bull by the horns and tackle the subject head on when she starts the show. That’s what she did when she arrived at WKND in August 2023. When talking about this job that she never thought she would do again, she burst into tears. What will she say this time?

A stay in the “Zeuropes”

On that note, dear readers, I wish you a very nice start to the new school year. For my part, I am settling into the “Zeuropes” for a few months. I want to see more old stones and fewer orange cones. Maybe I will bring you news of what is happening there from time to time, who knows? We will meet up on a regular basis after the holidays. Until then, don’t be too good, I like you like that!