Steve Jordan on Founding Polaris, Why Genres No Longer Create Barriers, Quitting A&R & More
Description
Jonathan sits down with longtime former CBC Director of Music Steve Jordan to dive into his full journey.
Steve tells never-before-shared stories about:
• His early days running incorrect weather forecasts on radio
• Being the first person to play The Tragically Hip on radio • Launching local Kingston bands and building a true DIY music scene
• Crossing paths with Sarah Harmer, The Inbreds, Mahones & more
• Everything wrong he saw with award shows that inspired Polaris
• What label life was really like in the 90s and 2000s and why his dream was not reality
• Why most A&R scouting was painful ("90% of bands you check out aren't good")
• The truth about discovering commercial acts vs. music you love
• How the industry has completely changed — and why nobody knows what it is anymore
You'll hear a ton of behind-the-scenes music industry history, wild anecdotes from the early days of Canadian rock, and honest insight about signing artists, surviving label politics, and building long-term careers.
The full episode is available on Youtube if you prefer video. If you enjoy the podcast please rate/review us it helps us a lot!
If you care about Canadian music, A&R stories, or the evolution of the industry — this episode is a must-watch/listen. New episodes of I Hate Simkin every second week. Hosted by Jonathan Simkin. Powered by 604 Records.
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