Being Canadian, I am a big fan of CANCON and Canadian music, so go ahead and ask away :)


Here's a random fact you might not have known about:  Remember Tycoon?  They were an American rock band from New York City.  In 1979, they had a Top 40 hit (US #26 / CAN #40) called 'Such A Woman', a song that would become their only hit in the US Hot 100.  A follow-up single titled 'Slow Down Boy' was written by band members Michael Fonfara (who also co-wrote 'Such A Woman') and Mark Kreider, both of whom are Canadian born.  This in turn qualified 'Slow Down Boy' for CANCON and it spent 5 weeks in the Canadian Chart, only peaking at CAN #97

In an unrelated story, Tycoon's lead singer, American born Norman Mershon passed away on November 8, 2007 :(

is CANCON still a requirement for the CBC?

Requirement as in only Canadian Content on the CBC?  I don't know much about CBC Radio, but on CBC Television, they currently only air Canadian shows during their prime-time slots (7pm - 11pm) which they've been doing for many years now.  I believe it was sometime in the early 90s when they stopped airing US Network shows.  I know in the 80s, CBC aired many popular US shows in prime time .. I used to watch 'Dallas' and 'Newhart' on CBC



Another random fact:  All shows filmed in Canada must employ a certain percentage of Canadians both on and off-air in order to qualify for Canadian Content and to recieve government funding.  A prime example is the short-lived FOX series "Dark Angel", which was filmed entirely in Vancouver.  The show was co-created by Canadian-born director James Cameron and featured Canadian-born actor J.C. Mackenzie (who played "Normal") in a supporting role

Requirement as in only Canadian Content on the CBC?  I don't know much about CBC Radio, but on CBC Television, they currently only air Canadian shows during their prime-time slots (7pm - 11pm) which they've been doing for many years now.  I believe it was sometime in the early 90s when they stopped airing US Network shows.  I know in the 80s, CBC aired many popular US shows in prime time .. I used to watch 'Dallas' and 'Newhart' on CBC



Another random fact:  All shows filmed in Canada must employ a certain percentage of Canadians both on and off-air in order to qualify for Canadian Content and to recieve government funding.  A prime example is the short-lived FOX series "Dark Angel", which was filmed entirely in Vancouver.  The show was co-created by Canadian-born director James Cameron and featured Canadian-born actor J.C. Mackenzie (who played "Normal") in a supporting role


well, I know for radio they used to mandate percentage of airplay devoted to CANCON...

The X-files filmed in Vancouver for several seasons... did that qualify before they moved it in the later years?

well, I know for radio they used to mandate percentage of airplay devoted to CANCON...


Across Canada, it's 30% Cancon, though some radio programmers want it bumped down to 25%, which probably could happen.  Cancon over the years has had to change it's rules so many times to accomodate artists that didn't fit into the existing rules.  The first big change occured in 1991 when Bryan Adams' smash album 'Waking Up the Neighbours' was not recognized by CANCON because Adams co-wrote and recorded all the songs in England wth British record producer Mutt Lange. 

There are some radio stations who are reluctant to play alot of Canadian artists, so they work around the CANCON rule by playing songs written by Canadians, but not recorded by Canadians.  Such songs like 'Hold On' by Santana, 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot' by Pat Benatar or 'This Flight Tonight' by Nazareth can be heard on many classic hits stations atleast once a day LOL


The X-files filmed in Vancouver for several seasons... did that qualify before they moved it in the later years?


The X-Files is highly regarded as a Canadian show, but officially it didn't qualify for full CANCON because the producers and production company of the show were American based, a same fate which fell on other shows filmed in Canada like other FOX series such as Millenium and Dark Angel (the latter being somewhat excluded).  However, because these shows were filmed in Canada and used Canadian actors as background cast (sometimes principle cast members as well), the Canadian networks that broadcast them could use them to help fulfill CANCON requirements for prime time television. 

35% of programming aired on Canadian networks between 6pm-12pm must be (somehow) Canadian, which is why alot of Canadian networks like CTV and Global often have news updates in between shows.  CBC doesn't need to do that because they only air Canadian shows during that time slot, so they can meet the CANCON requirements without using loopholes ;D



Another random fact:  Gillian Anderson married one of the Canadian-born producers of The X-Files while filming the series, and eventually gave birth a daughter while in Vancouver

What does CANCON stand for? ???

What does CANCON stand for? ???


Canadian Content.  It's a rule in Canada that helps get Canadian TV shows/actors on the air and helps get Canadian Artists heard on the radio

What ever happened to the group April Wine? Are they still around and when did they record their last album?

What ever happened to the group April Wine? Are they still around and when did they record their last album?


They are definately still around, and they still tour across Canada.  They've had alot of live albums and compilations in recently years, but their last studio album was 'Roughly Speaking' in 2006.  However, their last studio album to have hits was 'Attitude' in 1993. 

During the 70s, April Wine had 21 hits in Canada, making them the 2nd Canadian band with most hits during that decade.  The Guess Who beat them, scoring 22 hits between 1970 and 1976


Year 1971 1972 1972 1972 1973 1973 1974 1974 1974 1975 197519751976197619761977197719781978197919791980 1980 1981 1981 1982 1982 1984 1985 1986 1993 1993 1993 1993

Song Title Fast Train You Could Have Been A Lady Bad Side of the Moon Drop Your Guns Lady Run, Lady Hide Weeping Widow Electric Jewels I'm on Fire For You Baby I Wouldn't Want to Lose Your Love Tonight is A Wonderful Time to Fall in Love Cum Hear the Band Oowatanite The Whole World's Goin' Crazy Gimme Love Like A Lover, Like A Song Forever For Now You Won't Dance With Me Rock and Roll is A Vicious Game Comin' Right Down on Top of Me Roller Get Ready For Love Say Hello I Like to Rock Just Between You and Me Sign of the Gypsy Queen Enough is Enough Tell Me Why This Could Be the Right One Rock Myself to Sleep Love Has Remembered Me If You Believe in Me Here's Looking at You Kid That's Love Voice in My Heart

CAN #40 #5 #16 #34 #19 #40 #84 #64 #17 #5 #29#11#5#33#49#45#6#27#46#24#79#34 #75 #6 #40 #8 #46 -- -- #89 #19 #80 #73 #35

US -- #32 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- ------------#34----#86#21#57 #50 -- #58 -- -- -- -- -- --

UK -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ------------------------ #41 #52 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Thanks for the info on April Wine,

Now i want to know about "Trooper"

Thanks for the info on April Wine,

Now i want to know about "Trooper"


Trooper originally called it quits in 1982 after less than spectacular sales of their 'Money Talks' album', but reformed in the late 80s.  Their last chart hit was 'American Dream' in 1991, but they still continue to tour.

All their hits for Canada and the USA ...



Trooper (1975)
1975 - Baby Woncha Please Come Home
1976 - General Hand Grenade

Two For the Show (1976)
1976 - Two For the Show
1977 - Santa Maria

Knock 'em Dead Kid (1977)
1977 - We're Here For A Good Time (Not A Long Time)
1978 - Oh, Pretty Lady

Thick as Thieves (1978)
1978 - Raise A Little Hell
1978 - Round Round We Go / Raise A Little Hell
1979 - The Moment That it Takes

Hot Shots (1979)
1979 - The Boys in the Bright White Sportscar

Flying Colours (1979)
1979 - 3 Dressed Up as 9
1980 - Janine
1980 - Good Clean Fun

Money Talks (1982)
1982 - Only A Fool

The Last of the Gypsies (1989)
1989 - Boy With A Beat
1989 - The Best Way (to Hold A Man)

Ten (1991)
1991 - American Dream