CBC Radio 3 Listeners Vote Overwhelmingly for 100% Canadian Music

For the last four days CBC Radio 3 Voters have been casting online ballots in a poll over whether or not to begin including international artists in CBC Radio 3 playlists.

Until now there have been two different versions of Radio 3 going. The Sirius Satellite channel played 85% Canadian and 15% International music and the web radio version played 100% Canadian. Due to budget cuts at the CBC Radio 3 is forced to go to one stream and listeners were asked whether they wanted the 85% or 100% Canadian version.

After four days of voting and discussions that became heated at times the results are in and Radio 3 listeners have voted 77% to 23% in favor of a 100% all Canadian CBC Radio 3. That's great news for Canadian recording artists who would have seen their time in the playlists cut by 15% had the international option been chosen. It also could have meant some artists not being played at all anymore.

This isn't a final decision, merely something Radio 3's management will take into account in their decision. But with such a lopsided result it will be very difficult for Radio 3 to choose the international option. It is also clear if you read all - three - posts on the topic that those who wanted an all Canadian list (myself included) were much more adamant in their position than those who wanted international music. This means that Radio 3's hope of appealing to a wider audience with international music is unlikely. Instead it would result in diminishing their current audience.

It is wonderful to see Canadians finally taking a justifiable pride in their own and saying, without reservation, that a 100% Canadian music channel is worthwhile and wanted.