CHDI-FM is the callsign of a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 102.9 FM in Edmonton, Alberta. The station broadcasts a modern rock format under the brand name SONiC 102.9.
General information and history
The OK Radio Group Ltd. was granted this license in 2005 as one of three new FM stations in Edmonton.
The station spent its first year broadcasting from a run down oil-field trailer on the property of the Airways Country Inn in Nisku, Alberta. The station founders wanted to get the station on the air as quickly as possible so it was decided they would broadcast from the trailer until their Gateway Boulevard studios were complete. Local media latched on to their "pirate" story, giving them a huge shot in the arm in their first year.
CHDI FM is now owned and operated by Rogers Radio. Many listeners have voiced concerns over the takeover from the independently owned OK Radio Group, however many feel the change will ensure the station survives.
On September 17, 2007, Sonic 102.9 began the "Own Your Own Home Edition", a contest where one Edmontonian will win a $50,000 down payment on a Rohit Infusion condo or townhouse. On November 3, Sonic announced that James Prince was the winner.
Since the station was launched in 2005, ratings have been steady around a 6.0 share, peaking at an 8.0 share, 4th place station in spring 2007, however CHDI dropped to a 4.8 share in fall 2008, making it the 10th most listened to station in Edmonton.
Upon inception of the new BBM Canada radio ratings devices, the PPM (Personal People Meter), Sonic has held a steady 8.0 market share and a top 4 or 5 radio station in the Edmonton market. A fact many in the Edmonton market knew to be more accurate with the audience, based on Sonic's prevalence with the listeners.
CHDI-FM is the only Edmonton radio station launched in 2005 to have not changed its format, while CHBN-FM moved from rhythmic top 40 to top 40 later that year, and regarding CHMC-FM dropping smooth jazz for adult contemporary in 2010.
On-air personalities
Garner Andrews - Host of the Garner Andrews Show weekday mornings, from 6:00 am until 10:00 am. Garner has become known for his rants/discussions on various subjects, from using debit at the Tim Hortons drive-thru, to man crushes and the ever-popular nap index, and is always pushing some sort of agenda, or idea. Features the Sonic Modern Rock Door, daily at 8:20 am where listeners try to guess a song from a very short (usually less than 1 or 2 seconds) clip from the song. Garner also posts a daily Podcast of the program. Available on iTunes or on Garner's Blog .
Bryce Kelley - morning show newscaster, taking over at the end of June 2008 after Kory Read left the station a couple months before. Liann Cameron filled in during the gap between Kory and Bryce.
Teddy Peterson - Garner Andrews Show studio usher.
Rick Lee - Host of the midday portion of the station, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm on weekdays.
Rick is also host of the Sonic Modern Rock Countdown, a countdown show airing on weekends that takes a look back at events that happened over the past week, while counting down the top songs. As well, a yearly edition called the Rewind in Review does the same thing for the previous year.
Layne Mitchell - Afternoon drive host, on the air from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, also has his own Podcast, updated weekly that appears on his blog.
Liann Cameron - The evening host at Sonic, on the air from 7:00 pm until midnight.
Graham Scott - The weekend host on the station. In August 2007, he moved to Sonic's sister station, CKER-FM (World FM) to take over the morning show. However, after a short-stint in mornings, Graham returned to weekend hosting on Sonic.
Adam Thompson - Left the station in December 2006 in order to travel around Asia. Following his trip, he returned to Sonic in September 2007. When Jason Manning left to start a Modern Rock station in Medicine Hat, Alberta - Rock 105.3 - Adam became the new Music Director. He now is also Assistant Program Director.
Al Ford - Sonic's Program Director, who also hosts weekend mornings before the Modern Rock Countdown & The Ongoing History of New Music.
Adam and Al host Farm Fresh - the New Music Show Sundays at 8:00 pm. This is a show devoted to new music that they just received, or up-and-coming artists.
Former on-air personalities
Sherry Ryan - Returned to school in the summer of 2006.
Kory Read - Kory won his job as the SONiC Newcaster in the Fall of 2005. Ultimately, the SONiC listeners voted to have Kory as the Newscaster. Kory left SONiC in 2008 to return to his career as a teacher in Berlin.
Craig "Young Craig" Lawrence - Left SONiC for Fort McMurray Rogers radio properties, now works for 95.7 The Sound in Edmonton*'
Jason Manning' - former SONiC Music Director who moved to Medicine Hat to launch and program the Rogers station Rock 105.3, now PD in Victoria for Rogers radio properties there.
Shaun Bogner - former weekend/overnight host.
Matty Bezanson - former fill-in/weekend guy and Intern Army member, left to report helicopter traffic for CHQT.
Band of the Month
Sonic has a feature called "Band of the Month", which features a local band or artist from the Edmonton region and gives them airtime.[6] Some previous bands of the month have received more national attention, such as Ten Second Epic, Tupelo Honey, and My Sister Ocean.
Former bands of the month include: Drive By Punch, Screwtape Lewis, Murder City Sparrows, Jets to Theory, Red Shag Carpet, Our Mercury, Whitey Houston, Mark Birtles Project, Casanova Playboys, Calico Drive, Rake, Ellis, The Surgents, Tim Gilbertson, Hot Panda, Radioforhelp, Greater Than Giants, Portal, Michael Rault and the Mixed Signals, Christian Hansen and the Autistics, and Parachute Penguin.
The first "Sonic BOTM" was in July 2005.
In addition to airtime, bands perform live at the Pawn Shop in Edmonton, Alberta, after a month of promotion on the station. Generally, these shows are sold out.
Sonic Boom Festival
On September 5, 2009, the first Sonic Boom Festival, was held at Northlands in Edmonton.[7] The line-up was The Wet Secrets, Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker, illScarlett, Girl Talk, Metric, Franz Ferdinand, Alexisonfire, and headliners, Billy Talent. Taking Back Sunday experienced a flight delay the morning of the festival in Kansas City, and were unable to perform. The event was hosted by Jason Mewes, of Jay and Silent Bob fame. The festival drew a crowd of over 11,000. The festival also featured a pro wrestling match between each band, and culminated in a battle royale prior to Billy Talent's set. The inaugural festival was a huge success and thus promoter, The Union, announced that the festival would return on September 4, 2010.[8]
Competition
Their main competition, as both stations share a Rock radio format, is 100.3 The Bear (CFBR-FM). Other non-commercial radio competitors are CJSR-FM (88.5 FM) and CKUA-FM (94.9 FM).
