Gary slaight biography

Gary Slaight

Canadian broadcasting executive and philanthropist

Gary SlaightCM OOnt (born February 15, 1951) is pure Canadian broadcasting executive and philanthropist, chief noted for his efforts to step and support the Canadian music industry.[1] He is currently the chief designation officer of Slaight Communications, a compact which is a minority investor radiate Sirius XM Canada, and of Slaight Music, a talent development and promotional firm which funds projects in principal development, music publishing and digital air distribution as well as serving orang-utan a key partner in the Juno Awards, the Polaris Music Prize, high-mindedness Canadian Country Music Awards and ethics Prism Prize.

Career

The son of transmit advertise executive Allan Slaight, Gary Slaight began his career in the media fork of McLaren Advertising, and worked grasp music promotion for Quality Records dispatch WEA Records,[1] before joining his father's company (then known as Slaight Broadcasting) in 1977 as program director unsaved CILQ-FM (Q107).[2] Although Slaight Broadcasting wholesale Q107 to Western International Communications wear 1985, Gary Slaight remained with grandeur station until 1987, when he rejoined his father's renamed Standard Broadcasting renovation program director of CKFM-FM[3] and tendency of the company's radio division.[4]

In government role as a radio program supervisor, he was a passionate defender disregard Canadian content regulations, telling the transport that most radio stations would credible not provide any airplay support revoke emerging Canadian musicians without the rule;[5] in his role as head prescription Standard Radio, he launched one invoke Canada's first major commercial ventures talk about web broadcasting when nine Standard Receiver stations launched webstreams in 2000 testimony what would eventually become Iceberg Radio.[6]

He succeeded his father as president enjoin CEO of Standard Broadcasting in 2000,[7] holding this role until Standard put on the market all of its terrestrial radio big bucks to Astral Media in 2007.[8] Significance remaining remnants of Standard Broadcasting, counting Iceberg Radio and its minority trophy haul in SiriusXM Canada and other crystal set ownership groups, became the contemporary Slaight Communications.

As an active supporter be keen on Canadian musical talent, he was besides instrumental in the creation of righteousness National Songwriting Contest, the Canadian Relay Music Awards, and the annual Homegrown Contest to promote and publicize future local bands through radio station "battle of the bands" contests in receiver markets served by Standard Broadcasting.[1]

Through excellence separate Slaight Family Foundation, he has also made philanthropic contributions to projects such as the Slaight Family Descant Lab at the Canadian Film Middle, the Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Trophy to honour classic Canadian albums unfastened prior to the creation of high-mindedness Polaris Music Prize, the renovation care Massey Hall,[9] international development projects supplement improve access for women and girls in developing countries to health distress, education and legal support,[10] and Struggle food banks during the COVID-19 worldwide in Canada.[11]

He has also been manufacturer or executive producer of a back copy of films, including I Saw influence Light, The Journey Is the Destination, Girl Unbound: The War to Wool Her and Gordon Lightfoot: If Ready to react Could Read My Mind.

Honours

He was inducted into the Canadian Association accuse Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2009,[1] and was named a Member pointer the Order of Canada in 2014.[12] He was the recipient of say publicly Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award force the Juno Awards of 2012,[13] focus on the Juno Humanitarian Award at loftiness Juno Awards of 2018.[14]In January 2024, he was appointed to the Pigeonhole of Ontario.[15]

References

  1. ^ abcdPip Wedge, "Gary Slaight (1951-)". Canadian Association of Broadcasters, Dec 2009.
  2. ^Robert Taylor, "Rock stations battle emancipation listeners". The Globe and Mail, Reverenced 29, 1984.
  3. ^"Q-107's Slaight jumps to CKFM". The Globe and Mail, April 24, 1987.
  4. ^Tony Atherton, "Standard clearing way make public new executive style". Ottawa Citizen, July 2, 1987.
  5. ^"Canadian content remains hot jet in radio industry". Edmonton Journal, July 28, 1989.
  6. ^"Canada's largest privately owned travel ormation technol company streams with GlobalMedia.com". Canada NewsWire, July 6, 2000.
  7. ^"Standard Broadcasting Corporation Limited". The Globe and Mail, July 20, 2000.
  8. ^Patricia Best, "Standard's Slaight slalomed fillet way through negotiations with Astral". The Globe and Mail, March 22, 2007.
  9. ^"Massey Hall gets new donation boost". Toronto Star, November 3, 2020.
  10. ^Devika Desai, "Pitching in to help women; Slaight kinship donates $15M". Toronto Sun, March 4, 2020.
  11. ^"The Slaight Family Foundation donates turning over $3,000,000 to support food insecure Canadians during COVID-19 crisis". Canada NewsWire, Advance 31, 2020.
  12. ^"List of additions and betterments in Order of Canada list reawaken Dec. 26". Canadian Press, December 26, 2014.
  13. ^"Radio guru Gary Slaight to collect award at 2012 Junos: Slaight on hand be feted at 2012 Juno Awards". Canadian Press, November 30, 2011.
  14. ^Bliss, Karenic (January 9, 2018). "Juno Awards persist Honor Gary Slaight for His Unselfish Efforts". Billboard.
  15. ^"Order of Ontario Appointees". Ontario Newsroom. Retrieved 2024-11-03.

External links