Not all supposed backmasking was in praise of the devil or telling people to go do something like kill others. Queen’s hit “Another One Bites the Dust” was said to contain a message encouraging listeners to “Decide to smoke marijuana.”
New Morning Co-Host Jamar McNeil Joins Roger and Marilyn Today on CHUM 104.5
The popification of Toronto is now in full swing as CHUM 104.5 welcomes new co-host Jamar McNeil to the Roger and Marilyn morning team, following a successful 10-year run with Chicago’s B96 FM. Additionally, the station rolls out its multi-faceted “Make Toronto Pop”campaign across the GTA today, following last month’s live on-air station transformation from 104.5 CHUM FM to CHUM 104.5. The station’s new morning show trio and bold visual identity will take over Toronto block-by-block, energizing listeners through the broadcast, digital, and out-of-home campaign.
“Toronto is both a hotbed for music and one of my favourite cities in the world, so I’m thrilled to head north of the border to join the great team at CHUM 104.5,” said McNeil. “I’m particularly excited to spend each morning alongside two radio legends, Roger and Marilyn. Together we’ll wake up the 6ix with the summer’s hottest hits every day.”
“Jamar brings years of broadcasting experience, a fun brand of enthusiasm, and a genuinely informed and unique perspective to Toronto morning radio as we enter a new era for CHUM 104.5,” said Sarah Cummings, Program Director, CHUM 104.5. “We couldn’t be more excited to launch Toronto’s newest morning show, ROGER & MARILYN WITH JAMAR!”
Born in New York, McNeil most recently spent 10 years as host of The J Show on Chicago’s B96 FM. Previously, he hosted daily shows on several of America’s biggest Top 40 radio stations, including Hot995 DC, 965 Kiss Cleveland, Y100 Miami, where he established deep connections with each local community.
As a board member for Chicago’s Respiratory Health Association, McNeil has participated in fundraising events for young people affected by asthma and has advocated for clean air initiatives. McNeil is also a founding member and secretary for Midwest Jamaica Corp (MIJAC), a group serving as a resource for Jamaicans in both Chicago and Jamaica.
In conjunction with the addition of Jamar McNeil to the station’s morning show, CHUM 104.5 also unveiled its new multi-platform “Make Toronto Pop”advertising campaign across the GTA today. Created by Leo Burnett in partnership with the Bell Media Agency, the campaign offers listeners and viewers a burst of excitement through extensive television, radio, digital, and out-of-home activations.
“The vibrant look and feel of this campaign is built around bold colours and eye-popping designs that capture CHUM 104.5’s energetic new brand identity,” said Jon Arklay, Senior Vice-President, Bell Media Agency: Brand, Creative, and Marketing. “We were very excited to partner with the talented team at Leo Burnett to create an engaging campaign sure to grab the attention of listeners across the city.”
“We’re ecstatic to roll out a dynamic new campaign that perfectly matches the upbeat, chart-topping music played every day on CHUM 104.5,” said Rob Farina, Head of Radio Content, Strategy, and iHeartRadio at Bell Media. “These kinetic designs are grounded in the city to connect Toronto listeners with the exciting evolution of this iconic radio station and make CHUM 104.5stand out in a very competitive market.”
CHUM 104.5 is available across Canada via live stream on the iHeartRadio Canada app.
The LEGO Version Of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine Is Now Available
Take a surreal trip under the seas in the LEGO version of the Yellow Submarine from the iconic 1968 animated musical fantasy film inspired by The Beatles. Ideal for display or role-play fun, the Yellow Submarine features loads of cool, authentic details including a cockpit for the included mini figures of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Contains 553 parts in total before assembly, and it’s available right now at the Abbey Road Store.
Photo Gallery: Eagles at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Led Zeppelin Releases Their Official Book…Cover
Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin is the first and only official illustrated book to be produced in collaboration with the members of the band. Celebrating 50 years since their formation, it covers the group’s unparalleled musical career and features photographs of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham on and offstage, in candid moments and in the recording studio. This definitive 400-page volume includes previously unpublished photos, artwork from the Led Zeppelin archives and contributions from photographers around the world.
The book is released in October 2018, and available to pre-order now.
Scott Bradlee Performs A Ragtime Version Of Super Mario Bros. Theme
Scott Bradlee performs what the Super Mario Bros. theme song from the Nintendo Entertainment System would sound like if it came out in the 1920s instead of 33 years ago this week.
Photo Gallery: Weezer with Pixies at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage
All photos taken by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
The Hidden Social Theory That Explains Music Taste
Speaker TV contributor Ed Ledsham discusses the social theories behind music taste in this video essay.
Former Record Label Exec Laments The Decline Of Risk-Taking In Rock
Tim Sommer is a great music journalist (he joined Trouser Press Mag when he was just 16), musician, record producer and former Atlantic Records A&R rep, and later became the bass player for the slowcore/dreampop band Hugo Largo. In his latest essay, he laments the decline of risk-taking in rock.
If you don’t start the revolution, it’s going to be started for you, and it will be started from the other side. It has already started. Someone is already building the gallows your freedoms of speech, movement, desire, and worship will hang from. See, the revolution, the one happening right now, was not just televised; it was everywhere, all at once, it became wallpaper, it became easy to ignore.
There will come a time, soon, after the neo-oligarchs take away your elections and stand under a cross while doing it, that you will wish that rock’n’roll had actually told the truth; you will desperately wish that the revolution you have been crowing about for fifty years hadn’t just been a painted backdrop at a high school production of Hair.
So many of us have been so lucky and known nothing but freedom.
But that is changing. And as we fight for our freedoms, if we fight for our freedoms, it will teach us to empathize with those who have always had to fight; and we will fight for them, too.
But we will need singers who sing the truth, and that truth can be full of melody and joy, that truth can even be sexy, but it can no longer be made of bandanas and slogans and held together by willful blindness. We will be at war, we will be fighting for real freedoms, not just for the freedom to piss off our parents.
Rakim: How I MC
Rakim, the greatest MC ever talks to Toure on how to write songs, the influence of John Coltrane on his MCing, the influence of his mother on his music, the real reason why his album with Dr. Dre never came out, and the story of Rakim slapboxing with LL Cool J in 1987. Rakim and Toure have been working on a book about his life and his work for three years. Tons of gems in this one. Let me know what you think.