MuchMusic

For other uses of "MuchMusic", see MuchMusic (disambiguation).

MuchMusic
MuchMusic logo
Launched	September 1, 1984
Owned by	Bell Canada (Bell Media Inc.)
Picture format	1080i (HDTV) (2011-present) 480i (SDTV) (1984-present)
Slogan	That Much Closer
Country	Canada
Broadcast area	National
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario
Sister channel(s)	MuchMore MuchVibe MuchLOUD MuchMoreRetro Juicebox
Website	MuchMusic
Availability
Satellite
Bell TV	Channel 570 (SD) Channel 1670 (HD)
Shaw Direct	Channel 580 (SD)
Cable
Available on most Canadian cable systems	Check local listings, channels may vary
IPTV
Bell Aliant TV	Channel 220 (SD)
Bell Fibe TV	Channel 570 (SD) Channel 1570 (HD)
MTS	Channel 23 (SD)
Optik TV	Channel 255 (SD) Channel 652 (HD)
SaskTel	Channel 12 (SD)

MuchMusic (often referred to simply as Much) is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media, subsidiary of BCE, Inc.. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.

History

MuchMusic was licensed on April 2, 1984 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to CHUM Limited. Shortly thereafter, MuchMusic was launched on August 31, 1984 as one of the first Canadian cable specialty channels on the air. It was headed by John Martin and Moses Znaimer, the channel's founders. In July 2006, Bell Globemedia (later renamed CTVglobemedia) announced that it would purchase CHUM for an estimated $1.7 billion CAD, including MuchMusic. The sale was subject to CRTC approval and was approved in June 2007, with the transaction completed on June 22, 2007 while the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers Media that same year.

The first video played on MuchMusic was "an early music-to-film synchronization short from the 1920s which featured Eubie Blake performing Snappy Songs." The first video made specifically for television air play was Rush's "The Enemy Within".

Bell Canada gained control of MuchMusic through its takeover of CTVglobemedia on April 1, 2011, thus renaming the company's name to Bell Media and giving the channel a new look and a new logo, as well as airing television shows, mainly dramas and reality shows.

Logo

Logo used from 1993 to 1997

Logo from 1997 to 2011

The first logo for MuchMusic when it first began was a big M with Muchmusic boxed in the centre of the M. The logo was slightly redesigned as a big M with a small m inside the outline, with the word Muchmusic below the logo. In 1997, a new logo was designed with a black-and-white Much superimposed on a planet with longitude/latitude lines on the surface. In 2010, MuchMusic began to use the new simplistic and multi-colored logo on the station's promos, however the older logo used on-air did not change until April 1, 2011, when MuchMusic was officially relaunched with a new look consisting of a new simpler multi-coloured logo; this change coincided with the completion of Bell Canada's acquisition of CTVglobemedia with the company being renamed Bell Media. In May 2011 MuchVibe was re-launched with a similar new simplistic and multi-coloured logo. PunchMuch was rebranded as Juicebox as of November 2011. MuchLoud was the last MuchMusic-branded channel that continues to use the logo with Much superimposed on a planet with longitude/latitude lines on the surface and 'Loud' below it until late 2012

Programming

Making use of CHUM's facilities and production teams, the channel has produced many specialty musical and variety programs, including the long-running dance program Electric Circus and the late-1980s game show Test Pattern, and it adopted some programs originally created for CHUM such as City Limits, which featured alternative videos.

MuchMusic is well known for its annual music awards show every Father's Day called the MuchMusic Video Awards or MMVA's for short. It is anticipated and promoted for weeks before the night of the MMVAs.

The MuchMusic World Headquarters is located on 299 Queen Street West in Downtown Toronto, as seen in April 2005.

Much has been credited with helping to foster a vibrant Canadian music scene because of the Canadian content broadcast rules which mandated native musical acts had a secure and prominent place on the channel's play schedule.^{[citation needed]} As well, MuchMusic funds the creation of new Canadian music videos through MuchFACT and produces the popular album series Big Shiny Tunes and MuchDance.

Ever since 2007, MuchMusic has aired a vast number of non-music related programs such as The O.C., One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, The L.A. Complex, Secret Life, The Vampire Diaries, and Viva La Bam. These programs often air repeatedly to gain interest from viewers. Before those programs aired, Much Mega Hits was a prominent program that played various music videos based on singles.

MuchMusic broadcasts films every Friday night under its MuchMovie banner. The films span across various genres but aiming its youth demographic. However, much of the scenes are edited or cut due to broadcasting reasons. An example would be 8 Mile, which muted the profanity and removed the sexual and violent content.^{[citation needed]}

Controversy

In recent years, the popularity of MuchMusic has waned and the channel faces constant criticism that it focuses too much on "top 40" acts, reality shows and movies (the latter two usually having nothing to do with music). A main point of criticism is not giving nearly enough time to smaller, independent, and Canadian performers. This is what the station was built on and why it was successful for so many years as, "The Nation's Music Station". The minimal programming that is given to Canada's thriving Indie/Alternative music scene is usually subjected to late night scheduling, while during prime-time hours the station is saturated with television shows.

In 2010, CTV (parent company of MuchMusic) was denied a request by the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to reduce the percentage of music video programming that the station shows from 50 to 25 per cent. CTV's second request to the CRTC to reduce and reposition its Canadian programming was also denied. For the reasoning behind these requests, CTV tried to justify, "music videos no longer distinguish the service as they are readily available through other sources." This is met with mixed reaction by music fans, as they believe it is MuchMusic's severe lack of quality music programming or demographic diversity that makes these, 'other sources' preferable.

Exclusive music programming such as "BackTrax", "Power Hour", "RSVP" and "X-Tendamix" have long since been replaced, and teenage "reality" shows like, "Pretty Little Liars", "America's Next Top Model", "Gossip Girl" and "Clueless" is what MuchMusic calls quality programming today. These changes to further abandon the station's music format in favour of a glamorized, "reality" show-based demographic has drew the ire of notable music atists and fans of all ages and backgrounds. It leaves Canadians frustrated and disappointed, wondering what happened to, "The Nation's Music Station".

Much has also been the centre of controversy because of its leniency in censorship, sometimes leaving expletives uncensored from videos played on the network, in contrast to MTV, which goes to great lengths in censoring music. However, some programs, due to their wider audience, do remain censored for content. As with MTV, the network also generated controversy by occasionally "banning" videos it deemed too racy or violent for broadcast. Unlike MTV however, MuchMusic broadcasts the controversial videos in a series of late-night specials dubbed Too Much 4 Much, along with panel discussions on their content and arguments on if it should be banned or not. However, recently, many of the videos are censored, and even airs the MTV censored version.

List of programming

Further information: List of programs broadcast by MuchMusic

Relationship with MTV

MuchMusic was launched in part to capitalize on the success of MTV, the American cable music channel that had premiered a few years earlier. Although never an affiliate, Much over the years would often broadcast MTV-produced programming such as awards shows, concerts, reality TV series and more. MTV itself was not permitted in Canada because of Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) restrictions on format protection. However, no such restrictions existed in the United States, where CHUM attempted to compete with MTV through MuchUSA (now the unaffiliated Fuse).

Perhaps owing to this, MTV was unwilling to extend its relationship with MuchMusic longer than necessary, and has made two attempts to launch a competing MTV channel in Canada. The first attempt began in 2001 when MTV Canada was launched by Craig Media and Viacom. MTV Canada had an edge over MuchMusic in that it was licensed by the CRTC as a broadly based teen channel and could air programming from various categories and not just music related programming. In 2004, MTV Canada's owners were bought by CHUM, allowing Viacom to exit its contract with Craig, and stripped MTV programming and branding from the channel forcing Viacom to find another partner to bring MTV to Canada.

The next attempt began in 2006 when Viacom partnered with CTV to rebrand its low rated specialty channel talktv as MTV. With the new launch of MTV in March 2006, MuchMusic lost all rights to MTV programming from that point forward.

Since the acquisition of CHUM Limited (which includes MuchMusic and MuchMore) by CTVglobemedia, MTV and MuchMusic have technically been under the same ownership since June 2007. CTVglobemedia has announced that they plan on maintaining all CHUM's specialty channels including both MuchMusic and MTV. Currently both CTVglobemedia and Viacom have no plans on disaffiliating either channel from its programming and/or branding. In fact, MuchMusic and MTV have even begun airing each other's promo ads (e.g., MuchMusic airing a promo for MTV's The Hills).

Guinness World Record

MuchMusic holds the only Canadian Television record in the Guinness Book. The world's shortest TV commercial is half a frame (one field) and lasts for 1/60 of a second. Twelve different versions of the commercial were produced, all advertising MuchMusic and the first was aired on 2 January 2002. The creator, producer and editor was Tharanga Ramanayake.

Affiliated channels

With the success of MuchMusic, several spinoff channels have been launched within Canada and around the world, including:

• MuchMore: Primarily focusing on adult contemporary, classic rock, and generally lighter music. Launched in 1998 as a sister station to MuchMusic, MuchMore has developed into its own brand, respectively, spawning its own spinoff channels separate from MuchMusic. The channel was previously known as MuchMoreMusic until March 31, 2009.
• MuchMoreRetro: Focuses on music videos from the 1980s to 1990s.
• MuchLOUD: Rock, modern rock, alternative, punk and metal.
• MuchVibe: Urban music such as rap, hip hop, R&B and reggae.

Former

• MusiquePlus: The first spinoff channel of MuchMusic. Launched in 1986, it was developed as a Canadian French language version of MuchMusic. In September 2008, new owner Astral Media dropped the MuchMusic style branding and separated itself from the network.
• MuchMusic also formerly operated PunchMuch, an all-request music video service consisting of music videos from various genres within the scope of MuchMusic itself until November 17, 2011, when PunchMuch was replaced by a new music video channel aimed at pre-teens, known as Juicebox.

International

Current

• muchmusic Czech: Launched in 2006, available in the Czech Republic.
• MuchMusic Latin America: Launched in 1992, originally available in only Argentina, is now available in several Latin American countries.
• MuchMusic also has several programming contracts with various broadcasters internationally, where a MuchMusic programming block consists on existing channels including such countries as Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico and Singapore.
• A number of MuchMusic programs air on the Fuse TV in the United States in an agreement with the two networks, which share certain programs at times. This was the former 24/7 U.S. Feed of MuchMusic, which stopped airing MuchMusic Canada shows in 2002 and eventually lost the rights to use the MuchMusic name. As of 2011, MuchMusic Canada produced shows began airing on Fuse. These included The Wedge, Video On Trial (both Canadian, and an American version) as well as the MuchMusic Video Awards since 2010.

Past

• MuchMusic Malaysia
• Much Arabyeah!
• MuchMusic Brasil: Launched in 2000. Ceased broadcasting in 2001.
• MuchUSA: Launched in 1994. License to use MuchMusic name and content revoked, and renamed Fuse TV in 2003.
• MuchMusic also had a programming block on MTV3 in Finland called JYRKI.

Much HD

Much HD logo

On June 1, 2011 MuchMusic launched a high definition simulcast of the standard definition feed called Much HD. It is currently available on Bell Satellite TV, Bell Fibe TV, EastLink, Optik TV and Rogers Cable.

VJs

A wide range of individuals have served as MuchMusic's on-air hosts, or VJs. A number of notable Canadian and American television personalities either began their careers at MuchMusic or spent time there. Among these are J.D. Roberts who today (2012) under the name John Roberts is a national correspondent for Fox News; Christopher Ward, a noted songwriter and producer who collaborated musically with Mike Myers on the Austin Powers movies; Sook-Yin Lee, now a noted CBC Radio host and actress; Terry David Mulligan, a prolific film and TV character actor; actress Amanda Walsh; Erica Ehm, who became a noted songwriter after leaving Much; and George Stroumboulopoulos, now a Canadian television personality on CBC.

MuchMusic personalities/VJs

Current

• Chloe Wilde
• Liz Trinnear
• Lauren Toyota
• Phoebe Dykstra
• Tyrone "T-RexXx" Edwards
• Scott Willats
• Damian Abraham

Past

Steve Anthony Matte Babel Glen Baxter Jeanne Beker Paul Brothers Laurie Brown Mike Campbell Rick Campanelli Kim Clarke Champniss Lance Chilton Nadine Ramkisson Tim Deegan Monika Deol Angela Dohrmann Denise Donlon Ed the Sock Erica Ehm (Erica Miechowsky) Simon Evans Rainbow Sun Francks Diego Fuentes

Dan Gallagher Jesse Giddings Larissa Gulka Craig Halket Jennifer Hollett Bradford How Namugenyi Kiwanuka George Lagogianes Avi Lewis Sook-Yin Lee Ziggy Lorenc Catherine McClenahan (first female VJ) Kevin Merisanu Leah Miller Chris Mortimer Jennifer Morton Terry David Mulligan Nardwuar the Human Serviette Rachel Perry Juliette Powell

Rebecca Rankin Natalie Richard Daniel Richler J.D. Roberts Teresa Roncon Traci Melchor Hannah Simone Bonn Smith Devon Soltendieck Dennis Spencer Aaron Strate George Stroumboulopoulos Hannah Sung Sarah Taylor Amanda Walsh Christopher Ward Bill Welychka Michael Williams Byron Wong Tony "Master T" Young Matt Wells

VJ Search

Main article: Muchmusic VJ Search

Every few years, when new video jockeys are needed, Much runs a "VJ Search" to pick one new VJ to join the team of VJs. They will usually visit cities across Canada and pick people who appear to show potential through their audition. In earlier years, the VJ Search was usually a two-part show, but in 2006 it evolved into its own reality series called Muchmusic VJ Search. As a result of that series Tim Deegan was chosen as a VJ. It was followed in 2009 by VJ 2.0 where the winner Liz Trinnear was also engaged for the station. The most current, Much VJ Search, was in 2013 where Chloe Wilde won.

Despite the popularity of the VJ Search, most VJs are still hired by Much directly, without being VJ Search contestants.

See also

• Countdown (MuchMusic)
• MusiquePlus

Further reading

• Pegley, Kip (2009), Coming to you wherever you are: MuchMusic, MTV, and youth identities, Wesleyan Univ. Press, ISBN 0819568694 

External links

• MuchMusic
• MuchMusic Profiled on The Museum of Broadcast Communications
• Remembering MuchMusic's birth days
• MuchMusic shows its age
• Levack, Chandler (17 December 2008). "But the little girls understand". Eye Weekly. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 20 December 1962. 
• MuchNews Guinness World Record
• Guinness World Record