CFQM-FM

Island Radio Broadcasting Co. received approval to operate a new FM station at Moncton, using a frequency of 103.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 24,600 watts. Island had requested the 95.7 MHz frequency but the CBC wanted that channel reserved for its future use. Island Radio was a division of Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd., owner of CKCW-AM in Moncton.

CFQM-FM 103.9 signed on the air on March 1. It had an easy listening format. The station used an AEL 10 kw transmitter and five-bay Shively antenna. Programming was fed to the transmitter via STL.

On November 17, President Jack W. Schoone, on behalf of three companies to be incorporated, was given approval to reorganize the Eastern Broadcasting Co. group of stations – CFCY Charlottetown, CKCW and CFQM-FM Moncton, CJCW Sussex and CFAN Newcastle. The Charlottetown, Moncton and Sussex stations had operated under the name, Island Radio Broadcasting Ltd. CFAN was transferred from Eastern to CFAN Broadcasting Co. Ltd.

In January, CFQM switched formats from Middle Of The Road to Country, calling itself  “CFQM-FM 10-4” (representing it’s FM 104 dial position and tying in with the CB radio craze – big with country listeners).

On July 11, CKCW and CFQM moved in to a brand new studio and office complex at 1000 St. George Boulevard in suburban Moncton. The new building also housed the corporate offices for Eastern Broadcasting. Eastern was faced with expiring leases at three separate locations in the downtown core; there was a desire to consolidate under one roof; and much of the equipment needed replacing. It was for those reasons that a brand new facility was the route that was taken. Owner Jack Schoone, along with Inducon Consultants of Toronto, came up with the design for the new three-level, 15,000 square foot facility. Construction began in November of 1980.

The ground floor of the new building contained chiefly administration and sales. The upper level housed all on-air and studio/production facilities, as well as news operations for both AM and FM. The lower level contained the music libraries, cafeteria, storage and engineering. AM and FM studio operations are totally separate with only the newsroom in common. Each station has a master control room, two production control rooms and two production/talk/news studios. All were equipped for stereo. Eastern chose to go with Ward-Beck consoles, Technics turntables, Studer reel to reels and ITC cart machines. Both CKCW and CFQM use Moseley microwave STL’s.

One of the old buildings that Eastern had occupied in downtown Moncton was Assumption Place. Moncton’s new station – CHLR – began broadcasting from that building when it signed on the air in October.

On August 20, CFQM-FM Broadcasting Ltd. received approval to acquire CFQM from CKCW Broadcasting Ltd. Control would continue to be held by Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. 

On January 11, the CRTC renewed CFQM’s licence until September 30, 1985.

On December 3, the CRTC approved the sale of 90% of Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (nine stations, including CFQM and CKCW) through the transfer of 84% of its issued shares to Maritime Broadcasting Co. Ltd., (wholly owned by Maclean-Hunter Ltd.). The managers of the individual stations would hold a 6% interest in their respective operations and Jack Schoone would hold 10%. Eastern had been equally owned by J. Irving Zucker and Jack Schoone. Schoone would become president of Maritime, as well as of Eastern.

Gary Crowell was CFQM’s general manager.

Assistant program director Brad Donnelly became program director, succeeding John Richard, who moved to the sales department. 

Sandy Gillis was general manager of CFQM and CKCW-AM.

On June 7, CFQM was granted an increase in power from 24,300 to 70,000 watts. 

Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd. and Maritime Broadcasting Co. Ltd. merged to form Maritime Broadcasting System Ltd. 

Kent Matheson became music director at CFQM. He had been assistant program director. Morning man Robb Cusack took over the assistant PD position.

On December 19, the transfer effective control of Maritime Broadcasting System Limited through the transfer of all the issued and outstanding shares from Maclean Hunter was approved. The new owner was made up of an investor group, including Maritime Broadcasting President Mervyn Russell, along with Robert Pace and J. Gerald Godsoe. They retained the Maritime Broadcasting system name. This transfer followed the purchase of Maclean Hunter Ltd. by Rogers Communications. 

Automated programming resulted in the loss of six jobs at CFQM and CKCW.

A.D. Sandy Gillis announced he would retire from CFQM / CKCW as of July 1. He started at CHER Sydney and later worked for CJON Radio-TV in St. John’s. Gillis joined CKCW when it was bought by Jack Schoone in 1972. 

Geoffrey Campbell joined the CFQM-CKCW news department. He had worked at the stations in the past.

Steve Jones left as CKCW/CFQM-FM program director to take up the same post at CKRA-FM in Edmonton.

Gair Maxwell was news director at Magic 104/CKCW.

Geoffrey Campbell left the CFQM-CKCW news department.

In the summer adult contemporary CFQM “Magic 104” became classic hits “Max FM 103.9”. Most of the Magic on-air personalities remained in place, and were joined by Matt Rideout from sister station CKCW-FM. Moncton’s New Maximum Rock And Pop Classics Radio Station plays the music you know and love, from the 60’s to today.

Kevin Bottaro was hired to be 103.9 MAX FM’s new afternoon drive announcer, effective September 7.

JC Coutts left CKNX-FM Wingham ON to become the new morning show host at 103.9 MAX FM. “The MAX Morning Wake Up Call with J.C. & Erika” signed on October 20.

JC Coutts resigned as morning host at MAX FM Moncton to return to his previous home, CKNX-FM in Wingham, ON. 

Jody Tedford joined 103.9 MAX FM as morning host, from Grand Falls, N.B. where he was hosting the afternoon drive on K 93 FM. Jody joined Jody & Erika, weekday mornings from 5:30 to 10:00. New Weekend announcer! Kurt Donald, 20 year radio vet from the Moncton Market also moved to the Radio Moncton family, to be heard live Saturday on K 94.5 and then Live on 103.9 MAX FM on 
Sundays.

Maggie Daley was the new director of promotions for 103.9 MAX FM/K94-5/Choix 99.9 Moncton. She succeeded Matthew Cacchione who was promoted to operations manager for the cluster.

On August 8, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CFQM-FM until August 31, 2013.