Media Beat: January 27, 2020

By David Farrell

Bell Media taps Tyson Parker to head podcasting division

Parker joined Bell Media in 2015 as Head, Artist & Music Industry and prior to that was Vice President, Communications at Universal Music Canada 15 years. Effective immediately, his expanded role with the company carries the title Director, Podcasting and Artist & Music Industry Relations. In this expanded role supported by Mike Cosentino, President, Content and Programming, he will develop and lead a centralized podcasting strategy across Bell Media Studios, TSN, CTV News and iHeart Radio.

Gregg Stewart, Associate Director Music Marketing, will now be supported by Michelle Crespi and will continue to report to Parker where it relates directly to Artist & Music strategic initiatives. Additionally, the Bell Media Music Services team comprised of Bobby Anderson and Mitchell Cook will now be supported by Leah Borkwood. – Bell Media release

Steve Waxman launches podcast series

Former Warner Music national publicity Veep Steve Waxman has launched The Creationists, a podcast about people who create. Episodes feature an interview with a creator talking about the creative process and the road they travelled to get to where they are. Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy talks about songwriting and how he created the hit 5 Days In May in the series’ first episode.

“I’ve had the idea for a couple of years but my fascination with creativity goes back a long way,” says Waxman. “When I was a kid, I saw a documentary about Picasso and at one point they set up the camera behind his easel and we watch him create from the point of view of the canvas. It all seemed so random until the picture revealed itself. Ever since then, I’ve been fascinated by creativity. I have been fortunate to have spent my entire career around creative people and have been in awe of their talent.”

The Creationists' series is available on Apple, Spotify and other platforms. Link to The Creationists podcast here. Additionally, Waxman has set up I.M. Steve Waxman, an entertainment consultancy firm.

Contact info is as follows: imstevewaxman@gmail.com  P (416) 605-6278

If Ottawa wants to lower wireless bills, it should tackle smartphone prices

While the federal government is right to scrutinize the prices that carriers, such as Bell, Rogers and Telus, charge for talk, text and data plans, they should also consider how costly it’s become for consumers to purchase a new smartphone. That’s the view of Globe and Mail Sr. business writer and columnist Rita Trichur in the ROB who writes that “it’s time for our federal antitrust authorities to take another look at how handset manufacturers affect wireless competition and inflate the cost of devices and mobile services in Canada.”

Andrew Coyne argues its time to turn CBC TV into a pay-per-view channel

The former Postmedia scribbler and regular CBC commentator makes the argument from his new perch at the G&M that “a viewer-pay model would be as much in the CBC’s interests as anyone else’s, freeing its employees to focus on pleasing their intended audiences, rather than their private or public paymasters. It could still be a public broadcaster. But it wouldn’t, and shouldn’t, be a publicly funded broadcaster.”

John Doyle also weighs in with criticism of Canada’s network pubcaster

While speaking at an event in Toronto last week, Doyle ramps up, Catherine Tait, president and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada, was asked about what message she wanted to leave with the audience and with Canadians. Among her answers was this: “Keep communicating with us.”

“Fine,” he writes. “Here goes: It is increasingly difficult to take CBC TV and its management seriously. It offers a lot of mediocre content. It seems to pay no attention to ratings. The flagship national news program is a continuing shamble. And the CEO seems oblivious to the need for clarity on multiple issues. –– To read more, link here

For your viewing pleasure

American folkie Holly Nicole Combs writes songs with attitude. From her most recent album Narcissist with a Cause, the song-video #Hashtag (that shit).