Freestyle is the most boring show CBC has ever broadcast. I can't believe how lame the music selection has been so far! I don't think they've played anything current yet...they're stuck in the 1990s!!! It horrible. This afternoon I've heard country, terrible pop music, and pathetic banter. Give us back quality programming on the CBC, please!!!

Are you mad? There has not been any good music since 1997. I must admit I listened to <i>String Fever</i> this afternoon and it was grand. <i>Freestyle</i> should adopt a 68% bluegrass policy. As should we all.

Wow what weak radio "Freestyle" is. Bleached-white limp Can-pop we've all heard too many times with mundane banter and shallow interviews. Surely it could be better than this while still treading the middle ground.

Do you remember what <i>Richardson's Roundup</i> was when it started!?!? Repeated clips of other shows with letters being read from listeners - that is what it was. You can't expect a mid-afternoon music show with no funding to be, what, Vicki Gabereau.

The Roundup may have sucked when it began, but it didn't anymore. And if we're lucky enough that the outcome is the same and "freestyle" eventually gets good, why repeat the process? - if it ain't broke don't fix it - besides that seems like a pretty unlikely scenario to me anyway, considering where they started: repeating good stuff (that I may not have heard otherwise) vs. horrible music (that I've heard too many times already and would have rather never having heard again).

dear alan.
if you change the frequency to fm or even leave it on am, then slowly fiddle with the tuning knob you will probably find 1 or 2 or 3 or 100 other channels doing the same thing as freestyle. we don't need more. we meed more of the one or two channels that do intelligent things.

(need)

I think you were right the first time. <p>It's like when they fired Tony Van Damm, <i>The Maritime Gardener</i>, all over again. Is CBC radio so well loved only because it is a common flashpoint for eagerly shared disappointment?

CBC used to be my soundtrack for work and play but it has been so disappointing
over the last couple of years that I have had to turn it off more and more. Freestyle is the bottom of the barrel. From the old, bad music of the 70's - 80's and yes some 90's to the horrible banter(?) and interviews(?), this stuff is not even trivia -- way too fluffy! When will it end?? PLease.

Rare afternoon that I am at home, and I am listening to CBC's freestyle. So I thought I have to go to the internet and complain. Although it has been awhile since I listened to an weekday afternoon show. I have to question whether the strike is still on. I just caught this blog and saw my exact thoughts. I recall Vicki Gabereau's interviews- or SAD goat. But I guess these are further in the past than I realized.
This was my first time hearing Freestyle (Nov 14th) and I am disappointed.

Glad to find someone talking about Freestyle. I've been googling all over the place looking for a place to vent (lol). Here in Toronto we lost not only the Round-up but our provincial phone-in show from 1 to 2 p.m. so that we can be bored silly for two hours of mindless Freestyle banter (well ... 40% banter according to the news releases and 60% mostly inane (insane) music). I'm glad our "drive home" show starts at 3 but why can't they just give me an hour of Freestyle and give me back my phone in show. I've emailed CBC for the first time in my life but figure that it falls on deaf ears. What I really wanna know now is: who are the lucky dogs who get released from Freestyle after the first hour?

The above said, and knowing that the host here, Alan, likes the show, I'm sure I'll get used to the change and surely they will up the intelligence factor eventually on Freestyle ... here's hoping.

No, you guys go. This is quite entertaining. I am actually so far away from the CBC myself that I had no idea the Ontario phone-in was really gone. I went to check out the new schedule on the CBC website last week and it was showing an error. I never went back. This conversation has made it quite clear what an NCPR listener I have become. I do think they have a great host in Kelly Ryan whose interviews should become more and more of the show. I suspect Buddy Maleman or whatever his name is will be a first lesson learned.

Thank you for posting this site,I can't believe CBC got rid of the roundup to put on a music show that is like any other music show on any other station but this show is worse than the rest. I hope this show doesn't last long

Sorry, naysayers, I'm VERY pleased with the new CBC Freestyle programming. Love it, love it, love it! Finally, a breath of fresh air! Good music for a change (where else can you get that, commercial-free?), and LOTS of it Canadian. Plus an eclectic mix of interesting information (none of which drones on and on) and two hosts who have an easy, witty way with one another and are only getting better as time goes on. It's a great show for that time slot, and far more entertaining than the Roundup.
Has anyone actually contacted Freestyle with comments/suggestions? They are far more likely to respond and be able to address your concerns than the CBC in general!

See...I knew there was another side.

I have been looking for a forum for venting my opinion on this show. I am a loyal CBC listener almost entirely due to its absence of advertising. I enjoy the range of programming that I get through the course of a standard week day, news, politics, phone ins, letters and emails, literature, music, you name it, all with distinctly Canadian slant. Although I enjoy the programming range, I must say that I am only interested in about [wild guess] 70% of an average broadcast day. This seems like a reasonable percentage to me, I don't believe the CBC owes me any more, in fact I have no reasonable expectation of being provided with even that high a percentage, from taxpayer supported public radio.

I firmly beieve that the CBC's goal should be to provide content that will appeal to a very broad section of Canadian society. It is the taxpayer who supports the CBC and it should provide something back for most of them, not merely to the intellectual, politically obsessed, classical music lovers that can't get enough recipes for pickles. I am rather disgusted with the attitude one hears from many CBC listeners who believe that the CBC exists for the sole reason to appeal to them alone.

I liked the old Roundup show, particularly with Richardson, and to a slightly lesser extent, Bill's replacement which I will not attempt to spell. Since Freestyle is as different as programming can be from the Roundup, it seems obvious to me that many of the Roundup fans will likely dislike Freestyle for the same reason they liked the Roundup. They had a long running show that was strongly influenced by listener submissions. Usually intelligent, sometimes serious, sometims bizarre, mostly light hearted, and I frequently found it interesting. This has been replaced by a show where the hosts banter back and forth with shallow small talk that is, put bluntly, stupid by CBC standards. I enjoy enough of the music (again that magical 70% comes to mind) to tolerate the banter, and as always the lack of advertising is what keeps me from wandering along the frequency band. But the most jarring departure from what I think of as traditional CBC programming, is the complete lack of depth to this show. With some exceptions (50 tracks, vinyl cafe, between the covers, mystery project, there are probably more), programming on CBC radio educates first and entertains to a greater or lesser degree in the process. I could be wrong, but I believe that it is this, more then anything else, that keeps the CBC fan glued to the dial. We have come to expect this from CBC, and Freestyle is not providing. Nor can I name a single other source that provides programming in a simelar vein. I do not belive that listeners should be gained by providing programming that is (or is nearly) indistinguishable from what is currently available from a plethora of commercial sources.

Any programming change will, by design, alienate a certain share of the audience that liked the old, but with the obvious potential of picking up new listeners. Time will tell whether this move actually pans out for the CBC and increases listenership, but I am hoping it does not. I am not sure that I can stand any more "dumbing down".

To "Tee" re: Freestyle:

You think one cannot find similar programming on innumerable radio stations? I agree - that its only redeeming feature is the absence of commercials, but the inane blather that passes for "wit" isn't much better; and if you think they are "interesting", well, I would prefer intelligent. That you are so impatient with "droning" rather fits with the lack of attention span this show caters to... My parrot talks, and he is very interesting, however I would't want to hear him host a radio program, on our beloved CBC, anyway.

I'd be happy if they just played some decent music. (which, by the way, is still being created to this very day, bluegrass included). The CBC really should be supporting & promoting new Canadian talent - we all know the old stuff, and besides, if we liked it enough we already own it. Hearing new music and supporting them via live shows or recordings is what keeps musicians going, and allows them to pursue music as a means of supporting themselves. (Nothing personal, Patsy Gallant.)

It sounds like the powers that be have decided to put what is essentially (from a format perspective) a college radio show on the air at CBC. I don't object to college radio shows, I used to work at a campus community radio station, but I do think they belong elsewhere than on the CBC. To say that the CBC must do this is a bit like insisting that a flower vase be used as a plate despite the fact that there are actual plates already out there. Not only is it not possible to use the vase for flowers anymore, but as a plate it's not as good. For some of you people who want to hear specific pop music and are unhappy when the CBC plays the wrong cut, I'd like to point out that there's this invention called a CD player (I won't even get into the ipod). On a CD player you can play any music you want and you don't have to worry about commercials or smart people boring you with their ideas and stuff.

I don't want to hear any music on cbc radio one at all.

My complaint with Freestyle isn't about the vapid banter - I'm not particularly opposed to ananity at that time of the day. I do think it's a bit of a waste harnessing Kelly Ryan to that kind of vegetable cart, but hey, she's done her time in News, and maybe she should be allowed to do something more important for a change (which tips my opinion of the relative importance of news).

I think the CBC IS missing an opportunity here, though. For years, they have faithfully adhered to the CRTC dictum that 50% of music programmed should be Canadian content. My question is: why so little? Why not shoot for 95 - 100%?

When I tuned in to Freestyle the other day, I heard some crap from Depeche Mode, followed by "Born to Run" from Springsteen and at that point I wandered away. If Producers at CBC are unable to find the finest quality music in any genre you care to name being played by Canadian artists, they should be fired and replaced with producers who HAVE seen the Grammies or the CMA's or the Junos or any other music awards show.

I love Springsteen's music, and "Born to Run" is an anthem. But last time I looked, Bruce Springsteen hadn't paid a penny of taxes in Canada (taxes which, by the way, would support the CBC). He has not contributed in any way to Canada or Canadian advancement. And he certainly doesn't suffer from underexposure in his own country, or on private radio in this country. So why on EARTH would they toss a Bruce Springsteen song onto that show? If you want to invoke that common man/top 40 rock anthem feel - if that was your goal - could they not have selected something from ten or twenty Canadian artists who do it just as well?

The CBC has an entire frigging network devoted to music written by dead German guys ... can they not devote two or three hours a day to Canadian artists? Are they afraid they would run out of interesting music to play? God.

Want bluegrass? Dozens of great Canadian bluegrass players. Country? Oh, please, would you ever run out? Singer/songwriters? A plethora. Rock? Folk? New Age (does "New Age" even exist anymore?)? Jazz? Blues? Name me any category of relatively popular music where Canada hasn't produced a score world-class performers and dozens more waiting for an opportunity to be discovered.

Why should CBC Radio not be required by law to program Canadian music and ONLY Canadian music in those shows where it does play music?

If someone could answer that question for me, I'd be deeply grateful. It's not enough to say "Well, if I can't hear my (insert rightfully-obscure British punk band) on CBC, I'll turn it off." Well, fine. Run along, listen to college radio or some commercial station or some bootleg station broadcasting off the coast of frigging Wales or over the Internet. Your punkers don't contribute to my understanding of Canada, they don't pay taxes here, they don't need exposure in their own country, and they shouldn't be taking up airspace on MY public radio station that a Canadian performer has worked hard and sacrificed much to deserve.

I'm not saying music from other countries shouldn't be played in Canada - and in fact, you can go up and down the dial and hear music from anywhere BUT Canada. There is no limit to the opportunities for Canadians to hear music from the US, Britain, Australia, wherever, providing there is enough demand.

But on a publicly-funded institution? Give me a rationale for playing anything less than 100% Canadian music.

I think that is a very good point. I also think that the interviewing could be expanded a bit and handed to Kelly. Buddy needs only to be handed his hat.

I'll tell you why the CBC doesn't play 100% Canadian music - it would become the Guess Who network.

It's extremely narrow-minded to exclude all music that isn't Canadian from the CBC. Since CBC represents Canadians, and we all listen to music from around the world, why shouldn't CBC reflect that? Next you'll be saying we should only hear news stories from within Canada.

Besides, R3 has a podcast that is all Canadian, so it *is* out there.

But what if you think that podcasts are for geeks and want Canadian music on the car radio?

CBC delivers plenty of Canadian music on the radio. If you want more, you get it yourself via other means. It's not my fault you have a personal bias against podcasts.

Can you prove it is not your fault? I just have nothing to support your assertion that it is not, especially as I do not know you...and it is starting to strike me as a somewhat Web 2.0 pose you have there. I will have to consult the texts further on this.

<small><font size="1" color="grey"><strike>RthritstsyyrnprnalbasagnstpdcstssnbdysfltbtyrnTlkbtbnggk.</font></strike></small>

The contention that CBC would become the Guess Who network if it were to program all Canadian music is so 1970 it's laughable. I could - and have - programmed all Canadian music for HOURS, DAYS, WEEKS upon end without running out of world class talent and without getting mired in any particular genre.

The implied "because it is Canadian, it must suck" is not only offensive, it's just, well, ignorant. The impact of Canadian artists on the international music scene - an all genres - has been breathtaking. Five Canadian women have together accounted for over a billion dollars in sales in the last five years (points for naming them). So much for your "All Guess Who" network.

CBC News proudly trumpets that it presents news from around the world "from a uniquely Canadian perspective". So, sure. Have the same policy with your music. Play Springsteen, if you want ... as long as you can justify it as providing a uniquely Canadian perspective. Kinda hard, I'd think. Much easier to select any of THOUSANDS of Canadian artists whose music is just as valid.

And parenthetically, I'm from Winnipeg. You can't scare me with the threat of an "all Guess Who" network. Just saying.

I agree with much of what has been said.
CBC is our public broadcaster, and they should be listening to what we have to say on this.
Have a look at http://stopcbcpop.ca/, and write a letter to your MP, the CBC board, and the putzes who made the decision to bring Nickelback to public radio.

Nils,

I'm very happy for you that you've programmed WEEKS of purely Canadian content. That could be done for ONE program, but not the countless number of programs that the CBC produces, locally and nationally. But if you still think it's possible, why not join the CBC and save us all?

As for the five Canadian women who have earned billions, who are they? Probably Shania, Sarah, Avril, Alanis and Celine, right? Those are the very same "commercial" and "pop"-orientated artists that everyone is complaining about hearing about.

Nickelback are also doing very well for Canada, but you don't want to hear them either (see Lotte's comment below your last post). Your argument for all Canadian music is not possible, according to the very listeners on this board who don't want to hear those artists. Because it is NOT possible to program all Canadian music and NOT use those artists. I'm just saying.

And as for Springsteen, what was the context for playing it? Do you even know?

Yeesh.

Try to stay on point, Steve. This is not a board.

I do know the context for Freestyle playing the Springsteen song, such as it was - it was one of those "This Day In Music History" notes that could essentially be re-titled "This Day When You're Sucking For Music To Choose, Here's a Lame Rationalization". That aside ...

Paul Simon was once asked "Does it offend you to be called a "pop musician"?" His (paraphrased) response: "The term "pop" is short for "popular", meaning a lot of people are listening to my music and what I have to say. If you're writing music and releasing it on records, you're hoping a lot of people will enjoy it. Otherwise, you're just doing it for your own pleasure, and that's called "masturbation". So in that sense, how is "pop" a bad thing, and why should I be offended?"

I don't know that Freestyle - or any CBC program - should steer away from "pop" music (although our definitions might vary wildly; the five women you so correctly listed would be found in four different sections of any record store, so the only real musical connection among them is that a lot of people love their music. Which, again - this is bad ... how?). But even if these programs steered away from "pop" music, they would NEVER run out of world-class, amazing CANADIAN music.

When I attend showcase conferences across this country, I am regularly astonished by the depth and breadth of talent this country continues to produce EVERY YEAR. I'm not saying, by the way, that this is unique to Canada; I suspect I'd be just as impressed by the new talent in ANY country. But my argument is, why would we not focus the resources of our national, pubilicly owned radio station on our own people?

The last conference I was at included performances by Carrie Catherine; The Polyjesters; Este Mundo; Madviolet; Charlie A'Court; Matt Anderson; The Chucky Danger Band; Two Hours Traffic; Ryan Leblanc; Nathan Wiley; Nikki Gallant; Kris Taylor; Shannygannock; Mike Cowie; and Borg and Vella. That's just off the top of my head; there were many others, virtually ALL of them Canadian, spanning every conceivable musical genre ... and every single one of them was breathtakingly talented.

You may have heard of one or two or even more of those performers - but if someone is going to say to me "Oh, sure, I knew all of those names", I'm gonna call bullshit. But they're all out there, and they're all doing AMAZING music, and they all deserve to be heard. And we have the vehicle for that, sitting there, bought and continually being paid for with our own money ... and we allow a producer in Vancouver to play music from Bruce Springsteen because on this day in history, his first album was released IN THE U.S.? Come on. Seriously.

I'm still waiting for that compelling argument against 100% Canadian musical content on the CBC I asked for earlier. Arguments like "I don't like Canadian music" or "the only Canadian crap worth playing is too much like pop music" aren't doing much to sway me. They just show an ignorance of the Canadian music scene that reinforces my main contention: that we would be best served by a national, publicly owned broadcaster that is committed to giving fine people like Steve the opportunity to expand their horizons. And if they choose not to - well, there's always plenty of American music around the dial. This is, after all, Canada.

Oh, and Steve: I DID join the CBC - it's where I first learned how much great Canadian music was out there. The show I did regularly programmed 100% Canadian music. The other shows on CBC were grateful for this: because our show was keeping the CanCon totals high, they could play all the American crap they wanted.

I was kinda going to mention that last bit, too, Nils. The trouble when people are used to boards as opposed to blogs is that they do not realize they are talking with a group that knows a lot about each other already.<p>

HEnce the need for Nils to do a "Reader's profile" post one day.

All very well and good to post here, but make sure you copy your comments to input@cbc.ca where they might get read by the programmers.

Hey - hands off my blog, nameless CBC person! "All very well and good..." my arse. I'll have Nils on to you if you keep that up and you <i>don't</i> want that to happen, believe me.

Hehehe no worries, Al. I've reached my limit on F.O.A.D. letters from CBC.

The nameless CBC person is quite accurate - your comments "might" get read by the programmers. And, if read, they will be "noted" or even "noted with interest". But that's about it.

I actually tried e-mailing the producer of DNTO once, after they had spent X amount of dollars presenting a live concert by The Pretenders. I was, of course, outraged and made all the points above, to no avail. I had told a friend of mine (a CBC Producer) that I was intending to write this letter, and he smiled condescendingly and said "Ah, well ... you'll get the standard F.O.A.D. response."

"F.O.A.D.?"

"Yeah, the last two letters stand for " ... And Die."

He was right. That's pretty much what I got. Cordial, but unapologetic and with the general message that we'd have to " ... agree to disagree". (So maybe the last two letters could also stand for "... And Disagree." The first two letters remain the same. All said with a smile, of course.)

Every CBC producer believes he or she is doing right by Canadian performers, because they stringently adhere to the 50% Canadian content that is called for in their license. They simply can't understand it when someone suggests that is a bare minimum, like shooting for a C minus in University.

Look at the National Playlist. Astonishing coincidence, that it should feature 5 Canadian artists, two Americans, and three Brits. Why, 50% of the National Playlist is Canadian! I guess that 50% CanCon regulation must be right on the money, then.

(Know what's sad about that? Jian Ghomeshi, the host, was part of Moxie Fruvous. Moxie Fruvous was discovered and developed by CBC, and Jian should know just how important that was to his career. Of all people, you'd think he would push that 50% envelope. But ... I guess once you're on board, you don't look back to see what's happening to the gangplank.)

So, nameless CBC Person ... sorry, but we're not fooled into thinking our opinions have any impact or weight with producers in the Corp. They don't. Not one ounce, not one jot nor tittle. The illusion of concern that is created by establishing an e-mail address called "input@cbc.ca" is a sham, and a fairly transparent one at that.

I'll do my bitching here. Alan is far better at pretending he cares.

I share your pain, Nils.

Nils, the implied "because it is American, it must suck" or "because it is Canadian Top 40 it must suck" are equally offensive. I am vehemently, proudly Canadian and I love it that I can hear tons of Canadian music on CBC (AT LEAST 20% more than commercial stations, and often more). BUT I also appreciate hearing music from around the world INCLUDING the States. I love it that Freestyle plays a mix of music I have never heard (both Canadian and foreign), plus recent Top 40, plus hits that remind me of my younger years. (It is not like Freestyle plays Springsteen all the time. If you were listening, you would know that the context the other day was a 30 year anniversary of that song). Since everyone's definition of what constitutes great music is vastly different, I think a mix is good. I dislike the snobbery that says Nickelback must be kept off of public radio. WHY must Nickelback be kept off? Because they are commercially successful? Because a large number of Canadians (and others) actually like them? HEAVEN FORBID the CBC plays music people actually like!! Yeesh! Should the CBC only play obscure Canadian music? Why can't we celebrate and be proud of the fact that we have Canadian bands who ARE successful? Does this mean we also can't hear The Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo, Spirit of the West, Sarah McLachlan, Shania, Avrila, Alanis, etc. on CBC, unless of course it is one of their songs that really sucked?
P.S. Alan, I agree with you that the interviewing could be expanded a bit, but I think both hosts are needed. They mesh well with each other and keep the flow going, and it is the chat between them that makes the show interesting.

Such a civilized comment, Tee. You know, Ontario Morning played Nickleback the other day. The nation appeared to survive. Now if they would only play DOA's version of "Taking Care of Business" I might know that my national broadcaster is speaking to me. That is why I know I miss Le Brent on the CBC Ottawa drive home show. He is the one who ought to program all music for the Mother Corp.

For any of you who wish to voice your opinion about recent CBCone programming changes to government officials and CBC senior management, please visit:
www.stopcbcpop.ca

Hey! Hands off my blog freelancing naysayer! People can voice their opinion here quite nicely. Jeesh. Have you met CBC Input Person above?

I'm glad to see so much backlash against Freestyle around the web - I couldn't agree more! I think the CBC has been looking for a way to produce a show with basically no money needed for music or story research, and has found this. I challenge you to find CBC on the dial blindfolded during Freestyle's slot - it has the quick, surface-level banter of commercial radio.

If any of you wish to take your gripes at CBC to a higher level, keep in mind that their license is up for review within a year or so. Concise, specific letters about how our national public broadcaster is not living up to its mandate can be sent to the CRTC and the Heritage ministry with great effect. I personally consider the introduction of Freestyle to be part of a larger trend of CBC's fall from responsibility and intelligence, and worth raising a fuss about.

Thank you CBC for your new freestyle program,I LOVE the music, the guests, (I usually know one or two of them personally!) and it makes me feel very Canadian to boot. I live in northern B.C. where my choice of stations are CBC or a 20 something head banging station and I will choose the former every time!

See - there is an audience.

I don't think taste really enters into it here. I also don't think that there is a shortage of willing listeners for pop music. That's why it's called pop, because it's popular. The issue is whether it is part of the CBC's mandate to duplicate services that are already widely available on commercial radio or even on campus radio.I think Nils also made a strong point that it is part of the CBC's role to support and encourage not only educational programming and news, but also indigenous programming e.g. Canadian music, arts, etc.

Anyway, the question that needs to be asked is, why have a public broadcaster at all if it is identical to campus radio (which clearly has a different mandate) or even identical to commercial radio (which also has a different mandate)? Things like commercial radio serve a purpose which is separate and distinct from the functions covered by public radio. What I mean is, the CBC was designed to serve the public interest (which is an objective category that is distinct from our subjective desires tastes etc. and our individual interests).

I got to listen to Freestyle for 2.5 hours today (odd given it is a two hour show) but as I travelled from the CBC 99.1 FM Toronto Zone to CBC 98.7 Peterborough zone as I motored on the 401 I listened again to hear Shatner and Joe Jackson on "Common People" as well as Tom Waites. It is improving even if Buddy McMan is learning a little too publicly: a little too many mistakes and a little too much about the allergies, thanks very much. Kelly is starting to work it and could become a Gabereau. So if you want to go back to RSVP from 2 to 4 p weekdays, it ain't happening. And if you want Vicki - well, maybe the Gzowski retirement year might have been handled differently. <p>Kelly needs locking in a cage with Le Brent for a holiday weekend and a little Vulcan mind meld. That's all.

I find the hosts of Freestyle inoffensive and acceptably CBC in nature. I don't know who spent the money for Kelly to be in New York for Friday - hope to Hell it wasn't you and me, because the addition to the show's content didn't justify any expense at all.

Still haven't heard a compelling argument against (near) 100% CanCon on CBC ...

Kelly made references on Thursday and Friday that it was her ticket and that she had planned the trip before the job was offered. I did think that the 100% CanCon potential is there for the show given they played well over 50% including Shatner and The Odds as well as others.

Lots to read here, and very little support for the new format.

I will add (perhaps feebly) to the arguement against 100% can con. Since this is Radio One's sole music vehicle for weekday programming, I think it would be too constrictive to eliminate music recorded from the remaining 99.5% of the planet's population (do the math, I did and I was shocked!). I want to hear everything, all formats, all languages, all genres, everything. Public airwaves that are not beholden to ratings are the only way for me to hear it. That said, I do belive that CBC should strongly support Canadian talant and so a 50% or higher ratio is acceptable to me. I suspect that I fall within a small set of listeners that are happy to hear White Stripes, Inuit throat singing, The vienna Boys Choir, African tribal chanting... all on the same day.

To the individual above that doesn't want to hear music on Radio One, you now have a precise interval that you can turn off the box, and thereby avoid 80% or more of the music day. What could be simpler. Do you believe the CBC owes you a music free broadcast day? There are no doubt others that want to hear no talk on CBC radio, should they create Radio 4, Radio 5, Radio 6 and Radio 7 to chase down every demographic and further blur the line between commercial and public radio?

I commented above about how stupid the banter is. I think I was a bit harsh, either it has grown on me, or the hosts comfort level with the material has changed. Either way I am less offended now then when the show was new. I still think it is a little too "light" for Radio 1, but I can live with it.

My opinion, still unchanged after what has been said here, is that the CBC should not be cloning commercial radio formats. Despite the (supposed) popularity of the change, this is winning listeners at too great a cost.

I do not mind Freestyle one little bit except that it would be nice if they played music I couldn't sing along with.

I am 54. If you want to attract a new audience to CBC, you do not want to be playing music that I know. How about if they only played music that was recirded in this century?

Even Bill Richardson couldn't make The Roundup interesting; really who the heck cares who taught me to knit for crying out loud. Tetsuro Shigematsu was beyond awful. Welcome Kelly Ryan and the great music. I love it. In fact, I wish the CBC would replace Sounds Like Canada with Freestyle. I don't know one person who actually likes Shelagh Rogers and yet she's a Canadian institution. Commercialization of the CBC? Bring it on.

Cheeky girl.

Freestyle.... I turn it off and would rather listen to silence. Bring back the good talk shows with maybe a very little bit of music. Get rid of CBC classical music station and the French station, and throw the money into a good CBC 1 station, Sheila Rogers is fantastic, so is the Current, Roundup... great. Most are good but Freestyle stinks.

Please have a look at www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopcbcpop and sign this petition against what CBC Radio is up to.

Thanks

I think the music on Freestyle is first class. Now please excuse me - -there's a Laverne & Shirley re-run on I just can't miss.

Um, have any of you listened to Freestyle lately?
Yes, in the first few days there was lots of 80's stuff, but they're now playing lots of modern (maybe too much so) Canadian music.
Today I heard Luke Doucet (their feature album) again and may have to go buy the album. There was also a bunch of other Canadian stuff of today that I was happy to be introduced to.
Befeore you continue to go on and on about the 80's stuff you can hear elsewhere you should tune in to the show again - they have adjusted likely due to complaints and because, let's face it, shows to grow and change. There is lots and lots of Canadian music which they're making an effort to introduce the audience to. and if you want classical...well, there's always Radio 2.

Luc Doucet? Feature album? It's like they are reading this thread and doing what we say!

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is currently broadcasting a significant quantity of mainstream popular music on Radio One, such as Madonna, Elton John, and other Top 40 music, with the intention of attracting listeners with background music "at work, dentist offices, and retail outlets” (Kelly Ryan, host of Freestyle as quoted in "CBC Radio revamp aimed at offices", The Globe and Mail, 1 November 2005). In doing so, our only national public broadcaster is significantly reducing the Canadian cultural content on our airwaves, thereby diminishing its integral role in expressing and supporting our unique Canadian identity and failing to provide the high level of program content of which it is capable. The talents of many dedicated and world-class Canadian writers, composers, producers, and artists are being further replaced by commercial content that can be found on any number of mass audience radio stations.

Sign the petition: http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopcbcpop
Visit the Web site: www.stopcbcpop.ca

...or don't. Stop the petitions. I need a petition to stop the petitions.

O joy o bliss. I've been away from CBC for a couple of weeks, but today I've tuned in and got a full two hours of Ontario Today and assume I'm about to hear only ONE hour of Freestyle. I can handle one hour ... Whoops ... it's started ... maybe if I put the volume down a bit ... yes, I can handle this ... only forty odd minutes to go. I hope this early Christmas scheduling gift from CBC is a permanent feature in Toronto and not just a computer glitch.

TO all disaffected toronto listeners who can't stand bland mindless blather. WRITE THE CBC:
(not email, use a pen, put it in an envelope, then in a mail box)
Audience Relations, CBC, P.O. Box 500 Station A, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5W 1E6

please! Do it now!

they just don't give a lot of weight to phone calls or emails.

Hi Kelly, Freeman Churchill from Halifax.
I ran the Highland Games 10,000 meters track race in Antigonish back in 1982. It was an incrediable cultural experience as whilst running on this gravel track other events took place at the same time. Highland dancers competed as bagpipes were being played, shot put, caber (sp) toss all happening together. There were many clans gathered with their varied colors, Camerons, MacKinnons, MacKays and so on and on on and on. I won the race and upon crossing the line was lead to a tent where a cold beer was offered...I carried it around while catching my breath and staggered to a table that ran from one end of the track to the other...you could get any snack or meal and I thought..."if I didn't lose my cookies running 32 minutes for a 10K on a hot summer night on the track I should be able to hold down some hagus (sp?)......SO I tried it and......it was great...I had more and really liked it." My advice...don't knock it if you haven't tried it.
Best regards to all my Scoottish friends across Canada
Hamish McChurchill aka Freeman Churchill

I like the new format and banter, the interviews are getting better, the music is better,. I enjoyed hte old show, but it was time for a breath of fresh air. I like the Candian content, it dosen't have to be too artsy, current and some rockin' and introspective stuff is agreat music fill. I like the way the hosts get along but are individual enough to not always agree on every topic. Canadian music is full of a variety of sound, keep investigating and playing new bands and solo artists. we don't have much access to the large landscape of Canadian talent. Thanks.

Sorry about the previous spelling errors..

Urgeny Suggestion. Let's find a way to send best wishes to all our Olympic Athletes instead of telling everyone about the W.G. scandel.
I feel someone is trying to make us loose big time at the Olmpics 1006. Please let us not stoop so low!!!!!!!!!
Love and prayers. Gladys

Jeese, I hope not Gladys. One does not want to be loose. Wayne is learning that these days.<p>But I am actually rooting a bit for the Czechs again on the mens side. Bitchin' jersey. Hasek! Go Hasek! Canucks all the way on the women's side.

I am very proud of Ron Maclean and how he stood up to your CBC host Sat.A.M. -when she suggested that Wayne G. stay home.(Who must never have had to call upon support from friends when the chips are down.) Is she a Canadian?

Ron gave a list of all the people Wayne has been there for in tough times. We must never forget him for that.
I am very proud of Wayne G. We must all be there for him and all the Olympic players that are in Italy for Canada.

I hope your host will be reprimanded for her smerk and her words.
GO CANADA GO1

Viva the light touch for the famous! Viva! Viva!

Freestyle is not "finding its voice". It is truly awful show and is not appropriate to CBC Radio. Last summer I had an eight week opportunity to review and reinforce my longstanding policy of avoiding commercial radio. Commercial Radio is a wasteland of non-talent. CBC does not have to provide additional service in this area of banality.

I heard Kelly Ryan as host of The Current last summer and she is a talented and intelligent interviewer. However, recast as a "giggling middle aged teenager" she is not contributing in accordance with her abilities. It is a shame to waste such talent.

I live in the GTA, so have organised my workday along the following lines. I listen to 99.1 until 11:00 when I take my lunch break and catch up on the Globe and Mail. Then at noon I tune in Ottawa on the internet and listen to all of Ontario Today. (Ontario Today has been badly disrupted to try and fit all the features, including part of the phone in in the first hour). At 2:00 it is 11:00 in Vancouver, so I listen to the end of SLC and The National Playlist. I think The National Playlist is still a little awkward - though I have always been a big fan of Jian. Once 50 Tracks was done, in both international and Canadian versions, the concept was used up. TNP seems to be an attempt to reinvent the concept. This is a programme that may indeed "find it's voice" and remain a long term success. In any case I am glad that Jian sees himself as a "CBC person" and will represent new generation at the Corporation. (I remember my horror. when the CBC in Toronto actually allowed the morning show to be hosted by a private broadcaster from CFRB. How wrong I was. Who better epitomises everything I love about CBC Radio than Andie Barrie. I do not ever expect to have the same realisation about Freestyle.

I gave up on the CBC a few years ago right around when Jian got access to a mike. I mainly listen to NPR now. Viva real public radio! VIVA! VIVA!!!

For those of us who live south of the 49th parallel (not too far, though -- just an hour-and-a-half jaunt south of Winnipeg), I would have to say that Freestyle is not nearly as awful as many contributors think. If I were to think up some other programming choices available on my ancient GM/Buick "Sonomatic" AM radio, or even anything on the FM dial, I would have precious few options. For a number of reasons not exactly relevant right here, radio in the U.S. has become monopolized by a syndicate known as "Clear Channel" and stations have become overprogrammed and overformatted with a limited number of mediocre artists and songs. Freestyle brings some refreshing variety into my afternoon listening and its time slot (just before I go to work evening shift) is one of the few truly peaceful moments of my day. Maybe I just have extremely low standards -- I don't know. I do know that a little college-radio-esque playful banter and some lighter segments will not bring an end to broadcasting as we know it. The great BBC across the pond has proven this and so the great CBC can follow suit in good conscience. People would probably be complaining if the Michael Enrights of broadcasting were on CBC 24/7. Think BALANCE, people, BALANCE! Freestyle 24/7 wouldn't be good, either, and I think the CBC's homework ought to be providing as much variety without compromising its mission. If only the CBC's listeners could be more forgiving.

Hi I just caught the beginning of the show today April 21 while in the car and heard Roxanne Potvin? (is that how you spell her name?) She sounded great and I am looking for more ,any albums out who is she and where is she from etc. Thanks

I can't believe I listen to CBC again. I remember growing up and groaning when my parents listened to that boring stuff. Then we moved to Maine for 6 years and got no Canadian radio stations and only got 2 Canadian tv programs, This Week in Canada and The Red Green Show (this is why American's think Canadians wear plaid and have a love affair with duct tape) When ever we would drive home, as soon as we got close to the Canadian border, the first thing we would do was tune into the CBC to get our fill of what was going on in Canada. Even though I prefer a music based format when it comes to radio, I still enjoy the obscure Canadian Music that they play throughout programs like Sounds Like Canada, Freestyle and what first got me hooked, Sunday's at Noon (11 am in Saskatchewan) the legendary Steward McLean and The Vinyl Cafe! Tune in! It's a hoot! especially when they tour live across canada! EH

Freestyle died today, April 13, 2007. I'm glad it's gone. Now it won't be around to wreck my afternoons.

Personally I loved Freestyle - a much-needed breath of fresh air and bit of smart fun in the afternoon, with great Canadian music. Leave it to CBC to cancel a show just when it has gotten really interesting and good. But in any case, out of the frying pan and into the fire, Lisa. Freestyle is being replaced by windbag too-cool-for-you Jian Gomeshi. I guess it's over to NPR for me now too, Alan.