92 CITI FM Makes Contribution to Manitoba Music

As a testament to the variety of great music in Winnipeg, artists have found a new home to showcase and share their music. In just over a month, 100 songs now populate the ’92 CITI FM Rock Exchange” (www.rockexchange.ca).

Those songs now comprise the city’s only “live & interactive” Top 100 chart that allows music fans to vote on and buy their favorite tracks. Through votes and purchases, a ‘score’ is established. Based on this score, the Local Music ‘Chart’ displays the songs in ranking order of popularity - in real time.

To support this new initiative, 92 CITI FM launched a weekly show solely dedicated to featuring songs from the 92 CITI FM Rock Exchange. More specifically, local music cheerleader and broadcast icon Howard Mandshein hosts, The 23rd Hour. Based on overwhelming support, the program, heard Wednesday nights at 11pm is being expanded to a full hour beginning Wed, Sept 7, 2011.

“We are thrilled to be able to work with local musicians to provide a stage for the amazing work that happens every day,” says Mandshein.

Familiar local artists such as The Benderenos, Silent Dissonance, Moon Tears and Black Jacket Armada are some of the strong performers on the “chart” to date.

In addition, 92 CITI FM has taken an additional step in supporting local music with a $5,000 donation to Manitoba Music, the member-based, not-for-profit industry association representing over 700 members in all facets of the music industry, including artists and bands, studios, agents, managers, songwriters, venues, promoters, producers, and beyond.

Manitoba Music, Executive Director Sara Stasiuk says, “We are thrilled to accept this generous donation. Some of our activities that this contribution will support include workshops and training for the music industry, our resource centre where artists can find information to assist them in building their careers, and promotional activities such as New Music Wednesdays that give new artists a chance to hone their stage show and develop a fan base.

92 CITI FM has been Winnipeg’s home to all things Rock for nearly 35 years. The station is owned and operated by Rogers Communications Inc.

For more information contact: Scott Armstrong, Program Director 204-788-3426