When Pride Radio Executive Director Jay Mack was shopping around his idea for a radio station to amplify and celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ voices and stories across Canada, he was met with a lot of resistance from mainstream Canadian outlets.
“They were getting by meeting their Canadian content guidelines by playing the big hits, and they were not giving the opportunities to up-and-coming Canadian artists – especially those who are marginalised,” Mr. Mack remembers.
“They say they’re all about equity and inclusion, but then when it really came down to it, they weren’t really doing it.”
While looking into solutions for foregrounding the marginalized and queer arts community in Canada, Mr. Mack realized he’d have to do what many changemakers must do: start something independently, and find a way to bring it directly to consumers. Just shy of three years later, his efforts have culminated into Pride Radio Canada, an internet radio station with over 100,000 listeners from across the country, and around the world.
Pride Radio Canada can be accessed via the Pride World Media app, which also pulls in similar programming from the United Kingdom. The station makes space for new musical artists with programs like Queer Music Countdown with host Kenny Fitz, which takes musical submissions directly from the community. Divas with Stuart Hatton Jr. has become a daily favourite and features some of the biggest icons for the queer community. Beginning in January, listeners can look forward to other standout programs, like Bee Takes His Shot, which feature live-to-air, unfiltered conversations between host Bee Bertrand and Canadian music stars like Biff Naked.
“It just goes to show there’s an appetite after all,” Mr. Mack says.
“We have listeners all over—Toronto, North Bay, and some in the Yukon territories. Even if you’re hitting that single queer person in the middle of Iqaluit, now they have some representation that they can see and hear themselves in. That’s what radio and community media is all about.”
Mr. Mack continues to centre community in Pride Radio Canada’s advertising strategy. In-kind promotional exchanges with community organizations has helped expand the station’s reach, and also serves as a tool for continuing to build ties and trust with different players in the 2SLGBTQ+ arts space.
“We’re always looking for collaborators and to work with different community organizations, especially queer businesses and organizations,” Mr. Mack says, inviting anyone interested to reach out.
“Ask us how we can help. All we’ve ever asked in return is to share the station.”
Visit https://prideradiocanada.com/ for more information, and to tune into Canada’s biggest independent 2SLGBTQ+ radio station.