Local radio station CKFM program director Cory Noel has received a Canadian Country Music Association award nomination, his ninth nomination in 10 years.
The awards will be given out Sept. 9 in Hamilton, Ont.
CKFM is nominated alongside stations from Red Deer, Moncton, N.B., Belleville, Ont. and Melfort, Sask.
“It’s amazing,” Noel said about the nomination. “It sort of speaks to the relationship that we have with Canadian country radio and with the artists involved.”
Noel is proud to be a part of a small-town station that has had a big impact in the industry year after year.
“It really is a big thing for our station. The owners have a vision for how this radio station should sound with music and everything we put on the air,” said Noel proudly. “It’s my job to basically see that out and put to air how they want it to sound.”
Noel has been with CKFM and in Olds since 2007. He started off doing the afternoon drive shift and helping out a little in the music department.
Then in 2009 he took over as the music director and later the program director for both CKFM and Rock 104.
“It’s definitely evolved over the years; I’ve taken on a lot more responsibility, but it’s very exciting," he said.
“It’s something I never thought I’d get the opportunity to do in this business.”
Noel felt that he was more of a grunt than a leader but has taken on the responsibility and enjoys all that it has entailed.
For Noel the highlights he’s had working in Olds at CKFM haven’t necessarily been the chances to hang out with big stars in the studio but rather the more local aspects of the job.
“Honestly though in my career I’ve been given the opportunity to go out into the public and be involved with some really cool events.”
One of the things he takes most pride in is going out to Breakfast for Learning at Ecole Deer Meadow School.
Noel is excited to be going east to Hamilton for the first time and is looking forward to the songwriting events that take place.
“What’s really cool is seeing some up-and-coming artists playing some new songs that maybe you haven’t heard before in a very quiet and acoustic venue,” said Noel. “That’s the kind of thing that I live for.”
