Peak Local Performance

What happens when a radio station commits $315,000 in development cash awards for local music?

Click here to see and hear the answer to that question.

The Top 20 are performing in the PEAK Performance Concert Series this Fall. The final three artists will be announced on Monday, November 1 followed by the final showcase and the crowning of the ultimate PEAK performer on November 18 at the Commodore Ballroom.

The 1st place artist will receive $100,500, 2nd is $75,000, 3rd is $50,000, 4th is $10,000, 5th is $5,000 and all 20 finalists will receive $3,500 each in initial artists development funding.

In addition to this, all of this year’s 20 finalists will receive a showcase spot at The Kelowna 2010 BreakOut West Festival presented by the Western Canadian Music Alliance October 21 – 24.

Last year the PEAK Performance Project awarded We Are The City with a grand prize of $150,000. The Left and Bend Sinister received second and third place, respectively.

The $5.29 million PEAK Performance Project is designed to educate, promote, develop and hopefully launch the careers of some of British Columbia’s top emerging artists. It also hopes to foster the province’s music industry and create a sense of community amongst music professionals. In addition to the rigorous six month artist development program and the $315,000 in artist development funding, The Pattison Group of Companies will also contribute an annual media credit of $1,000,000 in support of the PEAK Performance Project by marketing, promoting and advertising the PEAK Performance Project and the participating artists making it the largest individual radio station project in Canada.

The PEAK Performance Project is an initiative of 100.5 The PEAK and Music BC.

What could happen if your station committed a meaningful sum to help grow your local music community?

Hats off to Jim Pattison Broadcast Group/Vancouver for having the courage to go BIG.

More Than A Job (#1)

Medicine Hat and Area came out and showed their overwhelming support for individuals whose lives were affected by the recent flooding throughout Cypress County in Southern Alberta.

In a mind boggling 20 days Jim Pattison Broadcasting and the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede put together a Flood Relief Concert featuring Corb Lund, Kalan Porter, The Straight Jackets and Mahoney. When all the monies were counted an amazing $70,000 will have been given to the Red Cross 2010 Flood Relief Fund for Southern Alberta. We understand that this is now a provincial record and possibly the largest single donation to the Red Cross in Canada. It couldn’t have happened without the special bond that is shared around Southern Alberta. There is a certain synergy that exists from city to country that unites us all.

On the Monday morning following the Father’s Day weekend flood Medicine Hat born and raised CHAT-FM Music Director Mike Doll was the first to say let’s put on a concert to raise funds for flood relief and took on the roll of lead organizer for this event. By that morning he had secured a partnership with The Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede.

Taber boy Corb Lund volunteered his services for the concert as did Kalan Porter whose family ranch is just outside of Irvine, one of the hardest hit areas in Southern Alberta. Additionally Medicine Hat talent The Straight Jackets and Mahoney all volunteered their time. CHAT-FM and CFMY-FM took care of all performances expenses allowing 100% of the door to go to Flood Relief 2010.

-- Jay Hitchen, OM, Jim Pattison Radio Group, Medicine Hat

A Lesson In Social Networking In A Local Emergency From CHAT, Medicine Hat

Kudos to the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group country team in "The Hat" for showing how it's done when flooding threatens a community (click to see their very active Facebook fan page).

And, thanks to Mike Doll for tipping me to it.