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FYI

Media Beat: May 04, 2018

The Sowny Board tells that long-time NHL GM and executive Brian Burke has joined the Rogers Sportsnet family as a broadcaster, contributing occa

Media Beat: May 04, 2018

By David Farrell

The Sowny Board tells that long-time NHL GM and executive Brian Burke has joined the Rogers Sportsnet family as a broadcaster, contributing occasional analysis during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The chat board also notes a rumour circulating on Twitter suggesting that Burke would be the perfect successor for Don Cherry's gig, if and when Grapes steps away from HNIC – “but for now, Brian Burke, the man who puts the T in truculence, is as entertaining as any hockey talking head around.”


– Gary Russell of Vista Radio has announced his retirement after a 35-year career in Prince George, BC. His last day will be June 29, according to Broadcast Dialogue.

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– Newcap Radio COO Ian S. Lurie will now head Stingray Digital’s radio operations, as CEO Rob Steele steps down to focus on the family’s suite of hotels.

– RTDNA has announced Kym Geddes is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Service Award; meantime, Bernard St-Laurent, James Stewart and Brian Thomas are to be honoured with Lifetime Achievement awards.

– BCE Inc. raised its profit guidance Thursday after reporting strong performance by its Bell Canada telecom networks and stable results from its media division. – Canadian Press

– Sunday, Aug. 26 is the show date for this year’s iHeartRadio’s MMVAs. The show is to be broadcast live and streamed on various platforms. Headliners TBA.

– ‘Radio Rob’ Hopkins started his first radio station in Tagish, Yukon in 1997. He has now applied to the CRTC to add stations in Atlin, B.C., Carcross, Yukon, and Inuvik, N.W.T. – CBC

– On May 10, CISN 103.9 Edmonton and Country 105 Calgary are taking off with two plane-loads of fans for the 5th annual Tennessee Takeover in Nashville. The package includes a private performance by Dierks Bentley. The two Corus brands have been dubbed the Canadian Country Music Awards' Radio Station of the Year (Large Market) for four of the last five years. Country 105 was also awarded Best Country Station at the 2016 Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards.

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Val Blavatnik
Courtesy WMG

Val Blavatnik

Business News

Val Blavatnik to Oversee Warner Music Canada in New Role at Warner Music Group

Blavatnik will oversee Warner Music Canada as managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at WMG. As part of a slew of executive announcements, Simon Robson will be leaving the company, while Alejandro Duque takes the top international role.

Val Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, has been named managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at the Warner Music Group, the company announced Friday (Sept. 25). In his new role the younger Blavatnik, who has held several roles at the company in recent years, and has been a board member since 2023, expects to “unify and drive business and operational strategy across these markets while guiding the company’s investment strategy to support growth,” according to a press release.

The Blavatnik announcement is part of a flurry of new executive announcements that CEO Robert Kyncl made this morning. In addition, Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO Elliot Grainge will take on ADA in the U.S. as its new chairman, while Alejandro Duque, who has held the dual roles of president of Warner Latin and president of ADA since last July, has been named president of Warner Music International, adding Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa under his oversight. (Duque will continue to oversee ADA outside the U.S.) Zach Friedman, currently COO at Atlantic Music Group, will add the title of vice chair of ADA U.S. to his resume.

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