Let’s talk about radio | Uncertain return for Pierre-Yves McSween at 98.5

With three weeks to go before 98.5 returns, discussions are in full swing between management and Pierre-Yves McSween to try to clarify the role he will have to play in the return home.

Let us recall that the latter, following the changes made in the morning show (departure of Paul Arcand and arrival of Patrick Lagacé), was offered a position as co-host in the new format of Quebec now which will be piloted by Philippe Cantin.

When I met Philippe Cantin last March about this new show, it was clear that he was the main host and that Pierre-Yves McSween would occupy an “important place”.

A perfectly balanced co-animation is possible in several slots, but it seems to me very difficult, if not impossible, in a morning show or a return home. There is too much switching to do. A captain is needed.

However, I am told that the discussions are mainly about the role that Pierre-Yves McSween will have to play in this new show. The star columnist would like to cast his net wider. I was told of a “complicated” situation at the moment. A dialogue was started a few days ago, and management would like to reach an agreement.

The management of 98.5 is remaining cautious. “The programming team is currently in discussions with Pierre-Yves,” Christine Dicaire, head of communications for the popular Cogeco radio station, wrote to me Sunday afternoon. “It’s too early to draw conclusions. We’ll let the parties discuss among themselves.”

Christine Dicaire did not want to confirm that Pierre-Yves McSween “would have been excluded from the new team of Quebec now ” as mentioned last Friday The sun. I tried to contact Pierre-Yves McSween on Sunday, but without success.

Pierre-Yves McSween has been the personal finance and economics columnist for 98.5 since 2015. He has been heard regularly on the shows Since we have to get up And Quebec now.

In the event of a separation with Cogeco, what will the columnist and best-selling author do? Will he knock on Quebecor’s door or will he return to Radio-Canada, where he made a name for himself before going to 98.5? Anything is possible. A decision should be made regarding his future at 98.5 in the coming days.

Serge Lama’s Farewell

Jean-Sébastien Girard takes great pleasure in presenting JS Tenderness on ICI Première on Sundays at 5 p.m. You can hear it. The host told me about an interview he recorded with the great Serge Lama, of which he is quite proud. During the interview, the singer of I’m sick told him that he was probably saying goodbye to the Quebecers. This exchange will be broadcast on August 4. After Marjo, Michel Fugain and Diane Juster (certainly one of the highlights of the season), Jean-Sébastien will welcome Marc Lavoine, Michel Gatignol (from the group Madame) and the flamboyant Michèle Richard in the coming weeks. It shouldn’t be boring.

End of The French-speaking bookstore

Emmanuel Khérad hosted the show The French-speaking bookstore for 19 years on the airwaves of France Inter. This event was a must for literature lovers. On May 5, the presenter learned that his show was going to disappear to make way for a new concept. The decision comes from the current director, Adèle Van Reeth. This choice is all the more surprising since the show was very popular. The French-speaking bookstore was followed by an average of 3 million listeners throughout the French-speaking world (on ICI Première, Saturday evenings at 9 p.m.). As expected, a vast mobilization, extending as far as Quebec, was created to keep the show on. The management of France Inter has made other controversial decisions in recent months. Let us recall the disciplinary measures imposed on Guillaume Meurice before his dismissal for “serious misconduct” (the comedian called the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, a “Nazi without a foreskin”). This was perceived by some as an attack on freedom of expression.

Back to school radio

The usual radio teams are preparing to return to the airwaves. At 98.5, where the schedule has been completely transformed, this will happen on August 12. We can’t wait to discover all these changes. For other radio stations, including ICI Première, the return will take place a week later, on August 19.

The quality of French is taking a vacation

It seems that the proper use of French has gone on vacation to Old Orchard Beach. Every day, I hear inexcusable mistakes on ICI Première. A well-known actress, on the microphone of Evelyne Charuest, served us a nice “the whole team was admiring”. Still on the same show, a sexologist offered us “we have to think about it differently”. On Maxime Coutié’s show, a spokesperson for the SPCA spoke of “one hundred and fifty-z-animals”. And since we’re talking about language, can someone tell me when the words “j’aimerais” left the phrase “j’aimerais vous dire que…”? Have you noticed the number of hosts and columnists who use the formula “vous dire que” to start a sentence? We’ll think about it for a moment and then we’ll talk about it again!

Guy Bertrand

Speaking of the French language, I would like to come back to the departure of Guy Bertrand, linguistic advisor at Radio-Canada. True to his image, he retired discreetly and elegantly at the beginning of the summer. His warm voice and his way of correcting everyday language errors without giving the knuckles a ruler will be greatly missed. I wish you a wonderful retirement, dear sir! I will think of you every time I hear “ça l’a” and “bon matin”, which is to say very often!

Quebecers’ favorite audiobooks

Since last April, Spotify has been offering Premium subscribers 15 hours of audiobooks to use freely. This now gives us a list of what’s popular in the country. The five most listened to titles in Quebec are Alissby Patrick Senécal, I’m Glad My Mom Diedby Jennette McCurdy, Hell.comby Patrick Senécal, A Court of Thorns and Rosesby Sarah J. Maas, and The parlorby Éric Thibault and Félix Séguin. It is obvious that Quebecers greatly appreciate science fiction and crime stories.