Paul Evanov, president and CEO of Toronto’s Evanov Communications Inc. (ECI), which owns 14 radio stations across Canada, has maintained his late father Bill’s principled adherence to independence, in a sector of the industry where many indie stations have been swallowed up by corporations. Part of that vision is to play emerging Canadian artists.
Paul’s dad was given his break in radio in 1967 from the late radio pioneer Johnny Lombardi at then-fledgling multicultural station CHIN radio. After 18 months, he was made vice-president of sales. In 1983, he bought his first station and by 2020, when he passed away on Feb. 28, at 77, he owned 19 stations.
Paul assumed the role as president and CEO of the family business. He had worked in it since his teens.
He had started in high school, squeezing in hours any chance he could, then studied communications at the University of Windsor. He later graduated from the media studies program at Humber College. He started at the bottom of ECI, working in almost every conceivable position — overnight operator, in the promotions department and part of street teams, station events and live broadcasts.
He was soon appointed program director for the CHR/top 40 stations, including Z103 (CIDC-FM), the flagship station in Etobicoke where ECI is headquartered. According to ECI, under Paul’s tenure as program director, “The annals of ECI first radio play include Michael Bublè, Shawn Desman, Danny Fernandes, Massari, Joee, Feist, Love Inc., BKS, Alessia Cara, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd.”
After his father’s passing, ECI sold HFX Broadcasting Inc. (Halifax stations) and closed some AMs, focusing today on 14 stations: four Hot Country Hot Country 88.5, Hot Country 106.7/, Hot Country 92.5, Hot Country 93.9); three multicultural (CKJS, CHLO, CFMB), four Hot Adult Contemporary (Lite 92.1, Lite 99.3, Lite 98.5, Lite 106.7), two Rhythmic CHR / Top 40 (Z103.5, Energy 106) and one Classic Hits (Hot 100.5).
There has long been talk that “radio is dead,” replaced by music streaming services and satellite radio, but how true is this?
Last year, Edison Research delivered the surprising stat that in the U.S. adults (18+) spend 71% of their time listening to AM/FM radio, compared to 29% on streaming services. Statistics released last month reveal 68% of Canadians listen to commercial radio at least every week, and 39% do so every day, compared to 39% who listen to a streaming service every week.
Evanov spoke to Making Noise about the state of terrestrial radio, taking chances on new Canadian acts, Shazam’s influence, if on-air talent matters, and which demographic holds the buying power.
