Pure Country (radio network) explained

Pure Country
Country:Canada
Headquarters:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type:Radio network
Format:Country
Owner:Bell Media Radio
(Bell Media)
Foundation:by Bell Media
Launch Date:May 28, 2019
Website:(see each station's articles)

Pure Country is a Canadian radio network, that airs on stations owned by Bell Media.[1] Launched in 2019 as a unifying branding for all of the company's country-formatted stations across Canada,[2] the network broadcasts on 16 stations nationwide, as well as on selected digital subchannels of radio stations in markets where the company offers digital radio service but does not have a country-formatted primary station.

Programming

Weekday programming on the network consists of local hosts at each station in morning and afternoon drive, a national midday program hosted by Roo Phelps, and the syndicated The Bobby Bones Show in the evening. CIMX-FM in Windsor also clears Bobby Bones in its standard morning timeslot in lieu of a local morning show (it has not been cleared by any other country station in the neighbouring Detroit market).[1] On weekends, The Ottawa station's morning hosts Sophie Moroz and Jeff Hopper host the iHeartRadio Pure Country Countdown on weekends, while the stations also air the syndicated Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones.[1]

In January 2020, the network's station in Kingston committed to playing a 50/50 balance of male and female country artists for one week, to draw attention to continued gender inequity in the music business.[3]

Stations

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Saskatchewan

Notes and References

  1. Connie Thiessen, "Bell Media rolls out national Pure Country rebrand". Broadcast Dialogue, May 28, 2019.
  2. Web site: Pure Country: Nationwide rebrand gives new name to Big Dog 92.7. CTV News Regina. May 28, 2019.
  3. Ted Raymond, "50/50 vision: Kingston’s Pure Country 99 playing equal split of female and male artists". CFRA, January 23, 2020.
  4. Web site: Bell Media Launches Pure Country 89 & Virgin Radio 93.9 In Windsor/Detroit. 19 November 2020. radioINSIGHT.