View source for CBC Music

{{short description|Canadian radio station and streaming music website}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox radio network
| name = CBC Music
| logo = Logo CBC Music 2016.svg
| country = Canada
| format = [[Adult album alternative]]/[[Adult contemporary]]/[[Classical music]]/[[Jazz]]/[[World music]]/[[Folk music]]
| network_type = Radio network
| available = National, through regional FM stations
| owner = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| launch_date = [[1946 in radio|1946]] (official)<br>[[1960 in radio~1960]] (independently)
| past_names = CBC FM (1960–1962, 1964–1975)<br>CBC Stereo (1975–1997)<br>CBC Radio 2 (1997–2018)
| website = [https://www.cbc.ca/music CBC Music]
}}
'''CBC Music''' (formerly known as '''CBC FM''', '''CBC Stereo''' and '''CBC Radio 2''') is a Canadian [[FM radio]] network operated by the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]. It used to concentrate on [[classical music|classical]] and [[jazz music|jazz]]. In 2007 and 2008, the network transitioned towards a new "[[Adult contemporary|adult music]]" format with a variety of genres, with the classical genre generally restricted to midday hours. In 2009, Radio 2 averaged 2.1&nbsp;million listeners weekly; it was the second-largest radio network in Canada.<ref>[http://www.friends.ca/news-item/9660 "Millions of people tune into CBC Radio"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306041658/http://www.friends.ca/news-item/9660 |date=March 6, 2012 }} ''Friends of Canadian Broadcasting''. August 2010.</ref>

==History==
The CBC's FM network was launched in 1946, but was strictly a simulcast of the [[AM broadcasting|AM radio]] network until 1960. In that year, distinct programming on the FM network began. It was discontinued in 1962, but resumed again in 1964.{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

In November 1971, the CBC filed license applications for new FM stations in English in St. John's, Halifax, and Calgary; and in French in Quebec City, Ottawa, and Chicoutimi, telling the [[Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission|CRTC]] that it intended to start a second "more extended and more leisurely" program service on its FM stations, tentatively to be called "Radio Two".<ref>{{cite journal | title = Two program services on CBC Radio? | journal = [[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] | page = 46 | date = December 6, 1971 | volume = 81 | number = 23 | place = Washington, D.C.}}</ref>

On November 3, 1975, the FM network was renamed CBC Stereo; this was to distinguish it from the AM network, known as CBC Radio.

In the early 1990s, the CBC began offering selected programs on the Internet, most notably CBC Stereo's ''[[RealTime (radio show)|RealTime]]''.<ref name="liveinternet">"CBC radio networks going live on Internet". ''[[Kingston Whig-Standard]]'', September 26, 1996.</ref> In September 1996, the corporation formally launched live [[Streaming media|audio streaming]] of both CBC Radio and CBC Stereo.<ref name=liveinternet/>

Since the 1980s, many of the AM CBC Radio stations [[List of defunct CBC radio transmitters in Canada|moved to FM]] due to the limitations of AM broadcasting; as such, in 1997 the CBC renamed the networks [[CBC Radio One]] and CBC Radio Two. As of 2018, there are a number of CBC Radio One low-power transmitters with only a few high-powered ones left still operating on the AM band in some areas across Canada.

For much of its history, its programming focused on arts and culture, and primarily consisted of programs devoted to opera, [[european classical music|classical music]], [[jazz]] and theatre. Some programming devoted to Canadian pop and [[indie rock]] music was also aired, via the Saturday night [[CBC Radio 3]] simulcast and predecessors such as ''[[RadioSonic]]'', ''[[Night Lines]]'', and the late-night programme ''[[Brave New Waves]]''.

=== 2007 format change===
In 2006, speculation arose that Radio Two programming would undergo a format and name change, similar to that which its French counterpart [[Ici Musique|Espace musique]] undertook in 2004; however, no plans were announced until January 2007.<ref>CBC Arts, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/cbc-radio-to-broaden-radio-two-add-arts-magazine-1.668998 "CBC Radio to broaden Radio Two, add arts magazine"]., January 17, 2007.</ref> These changes, which took effect March 19, resulted in a tighter focus on music – still primarily classical but also including [[jazz]], [[world music]], and live music of all types. The length and frequency of newscasts, which had essentially duplicated those heard on Radio One, was reduced dramatically. The 2007 revamp also resulted in a subtle name change from Radio Two to Radio 2.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

In March 2008, the CBC announced plans to complete the transformation of Radio 2, significantly altering its daytime programming lineup.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/cbc-radio-2-to-revamp-daytime-programming-1.720872 CBC Radio Two to revamp daytime programming], CBC news article</ref> These plans resulted in the "New Radio 2", starting September 2, 2008. In essence, the morning and afternoon drive programs, which had focused almost exclusively on classical music, were replaced with new shows featuring a wider range of genres. The goal, according to the CBC, was to increase exposure of musicians and genres, other than classical and jazz, which received little airtime on private radio. {{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Concomitantly, four [[web radio]] streams – all-classical, jazz, singer-songwriter, and "Canadian composer" –  were introduced.

On June 10, the CBC announced that hosts associated with the new programming would include [[Julie Nesrallah]], [[Molly Johnson]] and [[Buck 65|Rich Terfry]].

==== Reception ====
[[Image:Cbcradio2.svg|thumb|left|Logo as CBC Radio 2 (2007–2016)]]
There was a vocal, negative response to these changes from a variety of sources connected with the community ranging from Facebook to blogs<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://collaborativepiano.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-bloggers-sound-off-on-cbc-radio-2.html |title=More Bloggers' Views on the CBC Radio 2 Redesign |last=Foley |first=Chris |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> to newspaper columnists.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ledger |first=Brent |url=https://www.thestar.com/living/article/412573 |title=CBC Radio's classic mistake |date=April 13, 2008 |work=Toronto Star |access-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref><ref>Russell Smith, [http://www.friends.ca/News/Friends_News/archives/articles03130801.asp "No classical? Then kill Radio 2 and get it over with"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120804051734/http://www.friends.ca/News/Friends_News/archives/articles03130801.asp|date=August 4, 2012}}. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', March 13, 2008.</ref> National protests were also held at CBC facilities across the country. However, the move drew support from other corners of the cultural community, noting in many cases the low ratings of the existing service. Among the supporters were several critically acclaimed artists who would benefit from the changes.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/407096 A CBC without an orchestra can be sound step for Radio 2], John Terauds, ''[[Toronto Star]]'', March 29, 2008</ref><ref>John Doyle, "Note to classical music fans: Get over yourselves". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 7, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.insidethecbc.com/this-weekends-globe-and-mail-ad-about-cbc-radio-2 CBC ad] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722134201/http://www.insidethecbc.com/this-weekends-globe-and-mail-ad-about-cbc-radio-2/|date=July 22, 2012}} published in ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', March 29, 2008 (via InsideTheCBC.com)</ref>

While critics, particularly ''[[The Globe and Mail|Globe and Mail]]'' columnist [[Russell Smith (novelist)|Russell Smith]], raised the spectre of the network airing mainstream pop artists such as [[Nelly Furtado]] and [[The Black Eyed Peas]],<ref>Russell Smith, [http://www.friends.ca/news-item/7563 "Pop made your numbers go down"]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', December 18, 2008.</ref> the network's popular music component consists almost exclusively of artists who would be classified as [[adult album alternative]], [[folk music|folk]], [[world music]] or singer-songwriter pop – and very few of whom receive any airplay whatsoever on commercial radio. For instance, on one representative day in 2009, ''[[Radio 2 Morning]]'''s "pop" playlist included [[Leslie Feist|Feist]], [[John Mayer]], [[Blue Rodeo]], [[Sloan (band)|Sloan]], [[Neil Young]], [[Whiskeytown]], [[Spirit of the West]], [[Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings]], [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Matthew Barber (singer-songwriter)|Matthew Barber]], [[Eleni Mandell]], [[Skydiggers]], [[Billy Bragg]], [[Jeremy Fisher]], [[Jim Bryson (musician)|Jim Bryson]], [[The Be Good Tanyas]], [[The Duhks]], [[Sarah Slean]], [[Stephen Fearing]], [[Melissa McClelland]], [[Cowboy Junkies]], [[Howie Beck]] and [[the Band]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/playlists.html?/radio2/includes/playlists/daily/daily-20090625.html CBC Radio 2 Playlists], June 25, 2009.</ref>

On May 2, 2008, the president of the CBC and the director of programming attended a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Canadian Heritage. There appeared to be opposition to the movement away from classical music on Radio 2 from MPs of all three main parties represented on the committee. Committee members [[Bill Siksay]] and [[Ed Fast]] were particularly opposed to the programming changes. The committee voted unanimously to hold further hearings specifically on the CBC Radio 2 changes in September 2008.{{citation needed|date=January 2020|reason=the whole paragraph is without a source}}

Despite the controversy, the format change was successful for the network, which maintained a consistent overall audience while lowering the average age of its listenership from 65 to 52 in January 2010.<ref>"Genre change a winning switch for CBC Radio 2". ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', January 17, 2010.</ref>

=== 2010s ===

On February 6, 2018, the CBC announced that Radio 2 would be rebranded as CBC Music, aligning with the branding of the corporation's music website and digital audio service (discussed [[#Website|below]]).<ref>[https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-ca/articles/360000745054-Radio-2-is-changing-names-What-you-need-to-know- "Radio 2 is changing names. What you need to know."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813175624/https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-ca/articles/360000745054-Radio-2-is-changing-names-What-you-need-to-know- |date=August 13, 2020 }}. [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]], February 6, 2018.</ref>

=== 2020s ===

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada]], the service temporarily shifted to a playlist of exclusively Canadian music, to help support Canadian musicians impacted by the cancellations of their concert tours.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

==Distribution==
The network is not as widely available across Canada as Radio One. While Radio One is available in most communities across Canada regardless of size, CBC Music for the most part is available only in larger cities. Only 14 transmitters across Canada are licensed as originating stations within the network, compared to over 30 for Radio One, although some additional cities are also served by rebroadcasters of one of the originating stations. The service is provided in some form to virtually all of Canada's major cities and all provincial capitals. CBC Music also has a more consistent national schedule than Radio One; currently the originating stations produce only limited regional programming, such as weather updates. In the past these stations would also air local news summaries or a daily calendar of local arts and culture events; this was dropped in 2007. [[CBH-FM]] in [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]] produces an additional regional music program for the [[Atlantic Canada]] region, due to a scheduling hole caused by the [[time zone]] difference.

In some smaller communities, especially in rural northern [[British Columbia]], community groups have been licensed to rebroadcast a CBC Music station on a local [[low-power broadcasting|low-power]] radio transmitter. These transmitters are owned by the community group rather than the network; the station so not have any original programming at all.

On satellite, the network's programming can also be heard on [[Bell Satellite TV]] and [[Shaw Direct]]. Unlike Radio One and Radio 3, CBC Music is not carried by [[Sirius XM Holdings|SiriusXM Satellite Radio]]; the CRTC requires that a "Canadian" channel (for the purposes of [[Sirius Canada]], which carried CBC programming prior to its merger with [[XM Radio Canada]]) must carry 85% Canadian musical content, a requirement that has not been imposed on (or met by) the terrestrial network. Even so, a handful of programs that did meet this criterion, such as ''Deep Roots'', have aired on Radio One's Sirius XM feed (channel 169); for a period in the mid-2010s, CBC Music also programmed a separate service for SiriusXM, '''CBC Music Sonica''', which was devoted exclusively to Canadian music. This channel was later discontinued.

CBC Music is also available via the internet in [[webradio]] and [[podcast]] form. Between October 2013 and September 2016, access to the network's domestic internet streams was blocked for listeners outside Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/contact/announcements/ |title=Announcements – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.ca |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref> The CBC stated that they were not allowed to broadcast advertising outside of Canada. Two ad-free streams – Eastern International and Pacific International – were made available for international users. On these streams, commercials were replaced with CBC promos and other filler content. After the CRTC ordered the CBC to stop broadcasting ads on the network in 2016, international users have regained access to all five domestic streams.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/cbc-to-stop-playing-ads-on-radio-2-and-ici-musique-after-crtc-decision/article31638271/ |title=CBC cannot play paid ads on two radio networks, CRTC rules |work=The Globe and Mail |access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref>

===Stations===
Only stations which are licensed as "originating stations" within the network are listed here. Some stations also have [[rebroadcaster]]s in smaller outlying markets; these are listed in each station's separate article.

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Calgary]], Alberta – [[CBR-FM]]
* [[Edmonton]], Alberta – [[CBX-FM]]
* [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]], Nova Scotia – [[CBH-FM]]
* [[Montreal]], Quebec – [[CBM-FM]]
* [[Ottawa]], Ontario – [[CBOQ-FM]]
* [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]], Saskatchewan – [[CBK-FM]]
* [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]], Newfoundland and Labrador – [[CBN-FM]]
* [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]], Ontario – [[CBBS-FM]]
* [[Sydney, Nova Scotia|Sydney]], Nova Scotia – [[CBI-FM]]
* [[Thunder Bay]], Ontario – [[CBQ-FM]]
* [[Toronto]], Ontario – [[CBL-FM]]
* [[Vancouver]], British Columbia – [[CBU-FM]]
* [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], Ontario – [[CBE-FM]]
* [[Winnipeg]], Manitoba – [[CBW-FM]]
}}

===Former affiliates===
* [[Kentville]], [[Nova Scotia]] - [[CKWM-FM]] - disaffiliated in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/ckwm-fm|title=CKWM-FM &#124; History of Canadian Broadcasting|website=www.broadcasting-history.ca|access-date=September 12, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927131733/https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/ckwm-fm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[London, Ontario]] - [[CFPL-FM]] - disaffiliated in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/cfpl-fm|title=CFPL-FM &#124; History of Canadian Broadcasting|website=www.broadcasting-history.ca|access-date=September 12, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807202827/http://broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/cfpl-fm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Red Deer]], [[Alberta]] - [[CIZZ-FM|CKRD-FM]] - disaffiliated in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/cizz-fm|title=CIZZ-FM &#124; History of Canadian Broadcasting|website=www.broadcasting-history.ca|access-date=September 12, 2020|archive-date=May 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515044827/https://broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/radio/cizz-fm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Website===
On February 13, 2012, the CBC launched CBC Music as an [[internet radio]] platform, featuring the existing CBC Radio services and 47 dedicated channels devoted to particular genres of music. The service is distributed via the CBC Music website, and accompanying [[mobile app]]s, initially launched for [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], and [[BlackBerry OS]].<ref name="citizen">[https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/launches+free+digital+music+service/6145770/story.html "CBC launches free digital music service"]. ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', February 13, 2012. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218022422/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/launches%20free%20digital%20music%20service/6145770/story.html |date=February 18, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="CBC1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/cbc-digital-music-service-launched-1.1171645 |title=CBC digital music service launched |date=February 13, 2012 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=June 26, 2013 |location=Toronto}}</ref> Some of the genre webstreams were already provided by Radio 2 or Radio 3, while others were new offerings at the 2012 launch; over time, however, the names and formats of the genre streams have evolved significantly, with some of the original streams having been discontinued in favour of new ones, reformatted to alter their genre focus, or renamed to align their branding with the network's programming.

The service was launched shortly after the CBC reached a music licensing deal with the [[Audio-Video Licensing Agency]] in January 2012.<ref name=citizen/> The site was one of the first large-scale ventures into online broadcasting to be available in Canada since the launch of [[Iceberg Radio]] in 1997; at the time of CBC Music's launch, popular international ventures such as [[Pandora (music service)|Pandora]] or [[Spotify]] remained unavailable to Canadian consumers.<ref name="exclaim">{{Cite web |url=http://exclaim.ca/News/cbc_launches_new_music_streaming_service |title=CBC Launches New Music Streaming Service |last=Adams |first=Gregory |date=February 13, 2012 |website=Exclaim! |publisher=Ian Danzig |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008004032/http://exclaim.ca/News/cbc_launches_new_music_streaming_service |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |access-date=June 26, 2013 }}</ref>

A similar site, '''IciMusique.ca''' (formerly '''espace.mu''', in reference to former radio branding Espace Musique), is also offered by CBC Music's French-language counterpart [[Ici Musique]].

Shortly after the service's launch, [[Stingray Digital]] filed a complaint with the [[Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission]], alleging that the CBC's access to government funding gave it an unfair competitive advantage over private for-profit services.<ref name="rejected">{{Cite web |url=http://exclaim.ca/News/challenges_to_cbc_music_streaming_service_rejected_by_crtc |title=Challenges to CBC Music Streaming Service Rejected by CRTC |last=Hudson |first=Alex |date=August 15, 2012 |website=Exclaim! |publisher=Ian Danzig |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115102503/http://exclaim.ca/News/challenges_to_cbc_music_streaming_service_rejected_by_crtc |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2013}}</ref> Noting that the CBC pays the same [[copyright]] royalties to [[SOCAN]] as the competing services and that it places a much greater emphasis on [[Canadian content]] than the commercial services, the CRTC dismissed the complaint in August 2012.<ref name=rejected />

In December 2013, the site also launched the first issue of '''CBC Music Magazine''', an [[e-magazine]] distributed in both [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] formats.<ref>[http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2013/12/Introducing-the-CBC-Music-Magazine "Introducing the CBC Music Magazine"]. CBC Music, December 23, 2013.</ref> The magazine is no longer published.

With the rebranding of Radio 2 in 2018, the website is considered to be part of the radio network's operations rather than a distinct division of the CBC, although the individual genre streams and Radio 3 are still provided. The CBC Music streaming platform was replaced by CBC Listen in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/cbc-listen-rolls-public-broadcasters-radio-podcast-and-music-into-single-app/ |title=CBC Listen rolls public broadcaster's radio, podcast and music into single app |last=Thiessen |first=Connie |date=October 7, 2019 |website=Broadcast Dialogue  |access-date=March 5, 2020}}</ref>

==Programming==
Although most programming on CBC Music is exclusive to the network, some specialty programs, including ''[[The Vinyl Cafe]]'' (until 2015), ''[[Vinyl Tap]]'', ''[[C'est formidable!]]'', ''[[Backstage with Ben Heppner]]'' and ''[[Canada Live]]'', have also aired on Radio One in different time slots.

Until 2007, Radio 2 simulcast the majority of Radio One's newscasts, including ''[[The World at Six]]'' and ''World Report'', resulting in several lengthy breaks from music throughout the day. This ended in March 2007, when Radio 2 began to carry a separate news service, with news updates of 90 seconds in length a handful of times each day. The length was soon changed to 4 ½ minutes, the usual length of the CBC's non-major newscasts, with the frequency increased slightly. However, newscasts on Radio 2 remain distinct from those on Radio One.

During the 2005 [[Canadian Media Guild]] [[lockout (industry)|lockout]], the normal schedule was temporarily replaced by continuous music from [[Galaxie (radio)|Galaxie]] (then owned by the CBC), except for short news updates at the top of each hour from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

After the 2012 federal budget, the CBC applied to the CRTC for permission to introduce commercial advertisements on CBC Radio 2 and sister network Espace Musique.<ref>[http://www.canada.com/news/Cuts+will+mean+very+different+public+broadcaster+boss/6417036/story.html "Cuts will mean a 'very different public broadcaster': CBC boss"]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. [[Postmedia News]], April 5, 2012.</ref> In October 2013, the network began broadcasting a limited amount of advertising, up to four minutes an hour,<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2013/10/01/cbc_wades_gently_into_onair_commercials.html "CBC wades gently into on-air commercials"]. [[Toronto Star]], October 1, 2013.</ref> with a goal of broadcasting up to nine minutes per hour in 2016.<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/2013-263.htm "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-263 and Broadcasting Orders CRTC 2013-264 and 2013-265"]. [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]], May 28, 2013.</ref> Ad-free streams of the Toronto and Vancouver feeds were introduced online for international listeners. On August 31, 2016, the CRTC denied CBC's request to continue airing commercial advertisements until August 31, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/2016-353.htm |title=Radio 2 and ICI Musique – Licence amendments |publisher=Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission |website=crtc.gc.ca |access-date=April 30, 2018|date=August 31, 2016 }}</ref> Consequently, advertising ceased on September 1, 2016.

CBC Music also produces the television series ''[[CBC Music Backstage Pass]]'', featuring live performances by musicians, for CBC Television.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2013/05/24/cbc_music_expands_reach_with_festival_at_echo_beach.html "CBC music expands reach with festival at Echo Beach"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 24, 2013.</ref>

===Weekday programming===
The network's weekday programming does not vary significantly from day to day; except in the 6–7 p.m. hour, when a different one-hour weekly program normally airs each day, the schedule is otherwise consistent from Mondays to Fridays. ''[[Mornings (CBC Music)|Mornings]]'', hosted by [[Damhnait Doyle]], airs in the morning drive slot, and is followed at 9 a.m. by the classical music show ''[[Tempo (radio show)|Tempo]]'', hosted by [[Julie Nesrallah]]. ''About Time'', hosted by [[Tom Allen (broadcaster)|Tom Allen]], airs in the early afternoons, followed by ''[[Drive (CBC Music)|Drive]]'', hosted by [[Buck 65|Rich Terfry]].

The 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. block includes ''[[Canada Live|CBC Music Live]]'', a program that presents recordings of live concerts by Canadian musicians, on Mondays; ''Frequencies'', a [[world music]] program hosted by Errol Nazareth, on Tuesdays; ''[[Reclaimed (radio show)|Reclaimed]]'', hosted by Jarrett Martineau and devoted to [[indigenous music]], on Wednesdays; ''[[CBC Music Top 20]]'', a countdown show currently hosted by [[Grant Lawrence]], on Thursdays; and ''[[Marvin's Room (radio show)|Marvin's Room]]'', hosted by [[A. Harmony]] and devoted to [[rhythm and blues]], on Fridays. This block aired from 7 to 8 p.m. until February 2021, when it was moved to 6 p.m.

[[Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe]] hosts ''The Block'', a program devoted to [[black music]] genres such as hip hop, soul and rhythm and blues, at 7 p.m. [[Odario Williams]] hosts ''After Dark'' in the evenings, while ''Nightstream'', a hostless stream of continuous music, airs overnights.

At various times during the day, Grant Lawrence is also heard voicing short segments presenting music news, such as a short profile of a musician who has just released a new album.

===Weekend programming===
On Saturday and Sunday, ''Mornings'' airs with host [[Saroja Coelho]]. For the remainder of the day, however, the network airs a variety of specialty programs, mainly devoted to particular genres of music, rather than replicating the weekday schedule.

Saturday programming includes ''[[My Playlist]]'', ''Centre Stage'', ''[[Saturday Afternoon at the Opera]]'', ''[[Backstage with Ben Heppner]]'', ''[[Saturday Night Blues]]'' with [[Holger Petersen (Canadian businessman)|Holger Petersen]] and ''Saturday Night Jazz'' with [[Laila Biali]].

Sunday programming includes ''Choral Concert'', ''In Concert'' with [[Paolo Pietropaolo]], ''[[Inside the Music]]'', ''[[C'est formidable!]]'' with [[Florence K (singer)|Florence K]], and ''Afterdark Sunday'' with [[Tariq Hussain (musician)|Tariq Hussain]]. On both Saturdays and Sundays, ''Nightstream'' again airs after midnight.

===Past programming===
*''[[After Hours (radio show)|After Hours]]'' with Andy Sheppard (previously [[Ross Porter (Canadian broadcaster)|Ross Porter]]) – jazz; weeknights
*''[[Brave New Waves]]'' (1984–2007) – alternative music, weekdays at midnight. Hosts [[Augusta La Paix]], [[Brent Bambury]] and [[Patti Schmidt]].
*''[[DiscDrive]]'' with [[Jurgen Gothe]] – classical, with some jazz and bluegrass; weekday afternoon drive (1985–2008)
*''Here's to You'' with Catherine Belyea (previously Shelley Solmes) – by-request classical music; weekday mid-mornings, Based on the earlier program ''Take Five'', hosted by Solmes and earlier by [[Shelagh Rogers]]
*''[[In Performance]]'' with Andrew Craig (previously Eric Friesen) – live-to-tape classical performances; weeknights
*''[[Music and Company]]'' with Tom Allen – classical music; weekday mornings
*''[[Music for a While]]'' with [[Danielle Charbonneau]] – classical music; weekday evenings
*''[[Night Lines]]'' (1982–1997) – alternative music, Saturday overnight. Hosts Ron Robinson, [[Ralph Benmergui]], [[David Wisdom]].
*''[[Northern Lights (radio show)|Northern Lights]]'' with [[Andrea Ratuski]] (and predecessor ''That Time of the Night'') – soft classical music; early morning (also aired late evenings on Radio One)
*''RSVP'' – classical music requests by listeners, hosted by [[David Lennick]] and later by [[Leon Cole]]; after Cole's retirement the program was taken over by [[Bill Richardson (radio)|Bill Richardson]] and retitled ''As You Like It''
*''[[Off the Record (radio program)|Off the Record]]'' with Bob Kerr – various classical music; weekday afternoons
*''[[RadioSonic]]''/[[CBC Radio 3]] (1997–2007) – alternative music on Saturday nights. Hosts [[Leora Kornfeld]], [[David Wisdom]], [[Grant Lawrence]] and [[Alexis Mazurin]].
*''Shift'' with Tom Allen - mixed genres; weekday afternoons
*''[[The Strombo Show]]'' - contemporary music across multiple genres, hosted by [[George Stroumboulopoulos]] from 2009 to 2023
*''[[Studio Sparks]]'' with Eric Friesen – classical, with some jazz and world music; early weekday afternoons
*''[[Two New Hours]]'' with [[Larry Lake (musician)|Larry Lake]] – contemporary classical and new music

==Searchlight==
Prior to the launch of CBC Music, CBC Radio 3 broadcast an annual "Searchlight" contest, soliciting listener votes in a process to determine the "best" of various aspects of the Canadian music industry. The topic of Searchlight was different each year, with contests focusing on such themes as Canada's best live music club, best music festival and best music website.

Following the launch of CBC Music, Searchlight was relaunched as a platform-wide contest to determine Canada's best unsigned musical artist. Incorporating participation from both CBC Music and [[CBC Radio One]],<ref name="thehunt">[http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/searchlight-the-hunt-for-canada-s-best-artist-starts-today-1.2993989 "Searchlight: The hunt for Canada's best artist starts today"]. [[CBC News]], March 16, 2015.</ref> the process begins with a series of local competitions produced by Radio One's [[CBC Radio One local programming|local afternoon shows]].<ref name=thehunt/> Listener feedback and online voting determines the artists who advance to the next round,<ref name=thehunt/> until the national stage of the competition begins on ''[[Q (radio show)|Q]]''.<ref name=thehunt/>

When the list has been narrowed to ten artists, three established musicians step in as judges, who each pick their own favourite act.<ref name=thehunt/> Those three artists and an audience selection as determined by online voting advance to the final round as the four finalists,<ref name=thehunt/> following which the judges debate and discuss the choices before voting on the ultimate winner.<ref name=thehunt/> In 2018, the process was revised, with the judges selecting five artists and a public vote selecting five artists, for a list of ten finalists rather than four.

The winner of the competition wins $20,000 in musical gear from [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha Music]], as well as a slot on the bill at the CBC Music Festival.<ref name=thehunt/>

Beginning in 2022, the competition also instituted a Fan Choice Award, presented to the three top vote-getters in the first stage of the competition regardless of how they fared through the later stages.

===Winners and finalists===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Winner
! Finalists
! Judges
! Ref
|-
| 2013
| Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case
| Good Ol' Goats
| 
| <ref>[http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2013/4/Searchlight-2013-winner-Canadas-best-new-artist-is-SHERMAN-DOWNEY-AND-THE-AMBIGUOUS-CASE "Searchlight 2013 winner: Canada’s best new artist is... SHERMAN DOWNEY AND THE AMBIGUOUS CASE!"]. CBC Music, April 12, 2013.</ref>
|-
| 2014
| Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk
| Jofo, Erin Saoirse Adair, Fitness Club Fiasco
| [[Torquil Campbell]], [[Sarah Slean]], [[Kardinal Offishall]]
| <ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/lauren-mann-and-the-fairly-odd-folk-win-cbc-s-searchlight-contest-1.2636632 "Lauren Mann and The Fairly Odd Folk win CBC's Searchlight contest"]. [[CBC News]], May 8, 2014.</ref>
|-
| 2015
| [[Hey Major|Orange O'Clock]] 
| Scary Bear Soundtrack, The Fall Line, [[Ivory Hours]]
| [[Dan Boeckner]], [[Jenn Grant]], [[Saukrates]]
| <ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-friday-may-15-2015-1.3074786/searchlight-orange-o-clock-crowned-canada-s-best-new-act-1.3074791 Searchlight – Orange O'Clock crowned Canada's best new act]. ''[[Q (radio show)|Q]]'', May 15, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2015.</ref>
|-
| 2016
| [[Desirée Dawson]]
| Andi, [[Dylan Menzie]], [[Teo Milea]]
| [[Maestro Fresh Wes]], [[Sarah Blackwood (Canadian singer)|Sarah Blackwood]], [[Dallas Smith (singer)|Dallas Smith]]
| <ref>[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/05/27/meet-cbc-music-searchlight-winner-desire-dawson.html "Meet CBC Music Searchlight winner Desirée Dawson"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 27, 2016.</ref> 
|-
| 2017
| The Long War
| Will, The Wolfe, Jaryd Stanley
| [[Jarvis Church]], [[Ruth B]], [[Dan Kanter]]
| <ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/monday-april-10-2017-john-waters-fab-filippo-and-more-1.4058047/the-long-war-takes-home-searchlight-2017-title-1.4059239 "The Long War takes home Searchlight 2017 title"]. ''[[Q (radio show)|Q]]'', April 10, 2017.</ref> 
|-
| 2018
| [[Aquakultre]]
| Sara Diamond, Fallbrigade, Sinzere, Jordana Talsky, Amanda Jackson Band, C.C. Trubiak, Chloe Hataley, The Kwerks, Scarlet Sway
| Kristen Burke, [[A Tribe Called Red|Ian Campeau]], Allan Reid
| <ref>[https://www.thecoast.ca/TheScene/archives/2018/03/19/aquakultre-wins-cbc-searchlight "Aquakultre wins CBC Searchlight"]. ''[[The Coast (newspaper)|The Coast]]'', March 19, 2018.</ref> 
|-
| 2019
| Shopé
| Benita, Madison Olds, Quincy Morales, Reeny Smith, The Royal Foundry, Titus Calderbank, Brenna Parker, Rani Chatoorgoon, Taken by Sanity
| [[Zaki Ibrahim]], Allan Reid, Vanessa Adora, Jess Knights, Kai Black
|-
| 2020 
| [[Shawnee Kish]]
| Autumn Kings, [[Capri Everitt]], [[Josh Sahunta]], Kendra Kay, Ludic, [[Naya Ali]], Little Destroyer, Cory Gallant, Maci Wood & Rich Roach
| Zubin Thakkar, Vivian Barclay, Allan Reid, Julijana Capone, Kai Black
| <ref>[https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2020/03/09/shawnee-cbc-musics-searchlight-winner "Shawnee Is CBC Music's Searchlight Winner"]. ''FYI Music News'', March 9, 2020.</ref><ref>[[Grant Lawrence]], [https://www.cbc.ca/music/events/searchlight/searchlight-2020-meet-our-national-top-10-finalists-1.5469225 "Searchlight 2020: meet our national top 10 finalists"]. CBC Music, February 27, 2020.</ref>
|-
| 2021
| [[Jhyve]]
| Anna B, BLK, Rachel Cousins, Treh Lamonte, Argel Monte de Ramos, Riell, The Royal Foundry, Elyse Saunders, Michaela Slinger
| 
| 
|-
| 2022
| [[Chad Price (Canadian musician)|Chad Price]]
| Angel "Siibii" Baribeau, [[Capri Everitt]], Justin Fancy, Fionn, Kresnt, Meltt, Mindflip, Riell, Roveena
|
| <ref>[[Grant Lawrence]], [https://www.cbc.ca/music/events/searchlight/cbc-music-s-toyota-searchlight-2022-the-winners-1.6498049 "CBC Music's Toyota Searchlight 2022: the winners"]. CBC Music, June 23, 2022.</ref>
|-
| 2023
| Mattmac
| Amanda Jordan, Aviv, B00sted, Cam Kahin, Eric Punzo, Group Project, Liyah Katana, Maggie Andrew, [[TheHonestGuy]]
| Andrés Mendoza, [[Amanda Rheaume]], Justin Gray, Karla Moy
| <ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/music/events/searchlight/searchlight-2023-top-10-artists-1.6927095 "CBC Music's Searchlight 2023: the Top 10 finalists"]. CBC Music, August 15, 2023.</ref>
|-
| 2024
| Maggie Andrew
| Calling All Captains, Chloé Caroline, Housewife, Jaguar Sun, Kam Prada, Madisyn Gifford, Maurice Moore, [[Nobro]], Omega Mighty
| [[Charlie Wall-Andrews]], Alan Greyeyes, Andrés Mendoza, Keziah Myers
| 
|}

==CBC Music Festival==
In May 2013, the service sponsored the first CBC Music Festival,<ref name="festival">{{Cite web |url=http://www.toromagazine.com/music/interviews/9b492075-ec8a-23f4-5586-56c4b8363df8/CBC-at-Echo-Beach-2013/ |title=CBC at Echo Beach 2013 |last=Skinner |first=Jesse |date=May 23, 2013 |website=Toro Magazine: Interviews |publisher=TORO |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609223223/http://www.toromagazine.com/music/interviews/9b492075-ec8a-23f4-5586-56c4b8363df8/CBC-at-Echo-Beach-2013 |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2013 }}</ref> which was staged every spring at [[Ontario Place]]'s Echo Beach.

Each year's event featured a lineup of acts from several different genres, including the winner of that year's Searchlight competition, and sometimes included a live taping of a performance by a CBC Radio comedy show.

*2013 – [[Sam Roberts (singer-songwriter)|Sam Roberts]], [[Of Monsters and Men]], [[Kathleen Edwards]], [[Sloan (band)|Sloan]], [[Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans]], [[Half Moon Run]], [[Jarvis Church]], [[Elisapie Isaac]], [[Aidan Knight]], [[Kae Sun]], [[Shakura S'Aida]], Sherman Downey and the Ambiguous Case.
*2014 – [[Tegan and Sara]], [[Arkells]], [[Crystal Shawanda]], [[Chad VanGaalen]], [[Spoon (band)|Spoon]], [[Hannah Georgas]], [[Wake Owl]], [[The Belle Game]], [[Dan Mangan]], Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk, ''[[The Irrelevant Show]]''
*2015 – [[Patrick Watson (musician)|Patrick Watson]], [[Bahamas (musician)|Bahamas]], [[Cœur de pirate]], [[Joel Plaskett]], [[The Strumbellas]], [[Shad (rapper)|Shad]], [[Jenn Grant]], [[Lindi Ortega]], [[Tanika Charles]], [[Choir! Choir! Choir!]], ''[[The Debaters]]'', [[Fred Penner]], [[Mamma Yamma]], [[Hey Major|Orange O'Clock]].
*2016 – [[Maestro Fresh Wes]], [[Tanya Tagaq]], [[Whitehorse (band)|Whitehorse]], [[Tokyo Police Club]], [[Alvvays]], [[The New Pornographers]], [[Buck 65]], [[Hey Rosetta!]], [[Desirée Dawson]], [[Terra Lightfoot]], John River, [[Ria Mae]], [[Zaki Ibrahim]], [[The Franklin Electric]], [[Julian Taylor (singer)|Julian Taylor]], Laura Sauvage, [[Charlotte Cardin]], [[Emilie & Ogden]], [[Megan Bonnell]].
*2017 – [[Serena Ryder]], [[Walk Off the Earth]], [[Keys N Krates]], [[Ruth B]], [[Scott Helman]], [[Bobby Bazini]], [[Austra (band)|Austra]], [[The Sheepdogs|BROS]], [[William Prince (musician)|William Prince]], [[Sarah Slean]], [[Alx Veliz]], [[Iskwé]], [[Ralph (singer)|Ralph]], [[Valley (band)|Valley]], The Long War.
*2018 – [[July Talk]], [[A Tribe Called Red]], [[Charlotte Day Wilson]], [[The Rural Alberta Advantage]], [[Northern Touch|Northern Touch All-Stars]], [[Yukon Blonde]], [[Busty and the Bass]], [[The Jerry Cans]], [[Milk & Bone]], [[Fortunate Ones]], [[Boogat]], [[Logan Staats]], Johnny Balik, [[Ammoye]], [[Midnight Shine]], Caveboy, [[Aquakultre]].
*2019 – [[Alvvays]], [[Stars (Canadian band)|Stars]], [[Rhye]], [[Cœur de pirate]], [[Buffy Sainte-Marie]], [[Charlotte Cardin]], [[Peach Pit (band)|Peach Pit]], [[Hubert Lenoir]], [[Elisapie Isaac|Elisapie]], [[Exco Levi]], [[The Courtneys]], [[Nuela Charles]], [[Emmanuel Jal]], [[Laila Biali]], [[Gabrielle Shonk]], [[Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar]], Shopé.
*2020 – The 2020 festival was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada]]. Artists who had been scheduled to perform included [[Metric (band)|Metric]], [[Half Moon Run]], [[Lights (musician)|Lights]], [[Jeremy Dutcher]], [[Dizzy (band)|Dizzy]], [[Geoffroy (musician)|Geoffroy]], [[Haviah Mighty]], [[Snotty Nose Rez Kids]], [[Tanika Charles]] and Tedy.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://music.cbc.ca CBC Music]
{{Public broadcasting in Canada}}
{{CBC Radio}}
{{CBC Radio Programs (current and upcoming)}}
{{coord|43.64455|N|79.38804|W|source:placeopedia|display=title}}

[[Category:CBC Music| ]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1960]]
[[Category:SiriusXM Radio channels]]