Editing CHBM-FM

{{short description|Classic hits radio station in Toronto}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}{{Infobox radio station
| name                = CHBM-FM
| city                = [[Toronto, Ontario]]
| country             = CA
| area                = [[Greater Toronto Area]]
| logo                = boom 97 3.png
| logo_upright        = .8
| airdate             = {{Start date and age|1987|5|18|p=fy|br=yes}}
| frequency           = 97.3 [[MHz]] {{HD Radio}}
| branding            = [[Boom FM|Boom]] 97.3
| language            = [[Canadian English|English]]
| format              = [[Classic hits]]
| licensing_authority = [[CRTC]]
| erp                 = {{val|28900|u=watts|fmt=commas}}
| haat                = {{convert|420.5|m|ft|sp=us}}
| class               = C1
| callsign_meaning    = Boom (branding)
| former_callsigns    = CJEZ-FM (1987–2009)
| owner               = [[Stingray Group]]
| sister_stations     = [[CFXJ-FM]]
| webcast             = [https://player.boom973.com/ Listen Live]<br>(Canada only)
| website             = [https://www.boom973.com boom973.com]
}}

'''CHBM-FM''' (97.3 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) is a radio station in [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada. The station currently broadcasts a [[classic hits]] format branded as ''[[Boom FM|Boom]] 97.3''. CHBM's studios are located at [[Yonge Street]] and [[St. Clair Avenue]] in Toronto's [[Deer Park, Toronto|Deer Park]] neighbourhood, while their [[transmitter]] is located atop the [[CN Tower]]. The station is owned by the [[Stingray Group]].

The station's playlist contains songs from the [[1970s in music|1970s]], [[1980s in music|1980s]] and [[1990s in music|1990s]], with a core focus on music released in the 1980s, while also playing select songs from the [[1960s in music|1960s]] and early [[2000s in music|2000s]].

==History==
The station was launched at 9:00&nbsp;a.m. on May 18, 1987, by Redmond Broadcasting, with the call letters CJEZ-FM, and carried an [[easy listening]] format under the branding ''Easy 97''. Staff for the new station included many long-time Toronto personalities, such as Jay Nelson, Russ Thompson, Bill Anderson and Carl Banas.<ref>Craig MacInnis, "CJEZ sets up shop on dial's last FM spot," ''The Toronto Star'', April 25, 1987.</ref><ref>Craig MacInnis, "CKFM's Carl Banas defects to new station," ''The Toronto Star'', May 8, 1987.</ref>

In the early 1990s, it changed its moniker to ''Lite 97'', but soon after, it changed its format to [[classic hits]] as ''Z97.3''. In February 1995, Redmond sold the station to [[Telemedia]] and on June 30, at 5:30{{nbsp}}a.m., the station changed monikers to ''97.3 [[EZ Rock]]''. The slogan was ''The Heartbeat of Toronto'', and aired an [[adult contemporary]] format. "EZ Rock" launched with the intent of having an audience of mainly women ages 25–44, and the Toronto station became the flagship when several other stations owned by Telemedia at the time broadcasting a similar format also gained the "EZ Rock" branding.<ref>Peter Goddard, "Keep it soft, but be smart and hold the Bolton," ''The Toronto Star'', July 8, 1995.</ref>

[[File:Ezrock973.png|thumb|Former "[[EZ Rock]]" logo]]

In 2002, Standard Radio bought Telemedia and kept CJEZ under their ownership, while some of the other "EZ Rock" stations were sold to either [[Rogers Communications]] or [[Astral Media]]. In October 2007, Astral Media purchased much of Standard's assets, including CJEZ. In early 2009, the station became known as ''Today's New 97.3 EZ Rock'', pivoting to a [[hot adult contemporary]]-leaning direction. During November 2009, certain personalities from the station left. Throughout much of that time until December, CJEZ played nonstop Christmas music, while at the same time, asking their listeners what radio station they want to hear going forward.
 
[[File:Building Of Newstalk 1010 CFRB, CHBM-FM (Boom 97-3) & CKFM-FM (99-9 Virgin Radio).jpg|thumb|When Standard acquired CJEZ-FM from Telemedia in 2002, the studios of CJEZ-FM were relocated to the CFRB/CKFM-FM building.]]

===Boom 97.3 (2009–present)===
On December 24, 2009, during its standard [[Christmas music]] run during the holidays, the station's website was changed completely by hosting only a countdown clock and a posted message urging listeners to tune in at 9&nbsp;a.m. on December 26. At 6&nbsp;a.m. that day, after playing EZ Rock's final song (which was [[Christina Aguilera]]'s version of "[[This Christmas (Donny Hathaway song)|This Christmas]]"), the station began [[stunting (broadcasting)|stunting]] with a recorded message on how to "view" the launch of the new station.

Finally, at 9{{nbsp}}a.m., the station ended its 14-year run with [[adult contemporary|AC]], and flipped back to [[classic hits]] with the branding ''[[Boom FM|Boom]] 97.3, Toronto's Greatest Hits'', adopting the "Boom" branding used by some of Astral's small-market [[French language|French-language]] stations in [[Quebec]]. The first song played on "Boom" was "[[Don't Stop Believin']]" by [[Journey (band)|Journey]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-12-23|title=EZ Rock to Change Formats on Boxing Day - Now BOOM FM|url=http://www.torontomike.com/2009/12/ez_rock_is_now_boom_97.html|access-date=2020-07-05|website=Toronto Mike}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-12-26|title=boom 97.3 Playlist Analyzed|url=http://www.torontomike.com/2009/12/boom_973_playlist_analyzed.html|access-date=2020-07-05|website=Toronto Mike}}</ref> CJEZ's call letters were changed the following day to CHBM-FM. The station's airstaff remained intact for a time, but in May 2011, Humble Howard and Colleen Rusholme were let go by the station.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-05-03|title=Humble and Colleen Fired from Boom 97.3|url=http://www.torontomike.com/2011/05/humble_and_colleen_fired_from.html|access-date=2020-07-05|website=Toronto Mike}}</ref>

In March 2013, the [[Competition Bureau]] approved a proposal by [[Bell Media]] to acquire Astral Media, under the condition that it divest itself of several television services and radio stations. Following the closure of the merger, CHBM was placed in a [[blind trust]] pending its eventual sale.<ref name=crtc-bellastraltrust>{{cite web|last=Biblic|first=Mirko|title=Re: Voting Trust Agreement between BCE Inc. and Pierre Boivin, the trustee Application No. 2013-0243-9 – Approved|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2013/lb130627.htm|publisher=CRTC|access-date=5 July 2013}}</ref><ref name=cbc-compbureauok>{{cite web|title=Competition Bureau OK's BCE-Astral deal, with conditions|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/competition-bureau-ok-s-bce-astral-deal-with-conditions-1.1326790|publisher=CBC News|access-date=5 March 2013}}</ref><ref name=gandm-closer>{{cite web|title=Bell moves closer to Astral with sale of TV assets|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/bce-to-sell-assets-to-corus-as-part-of-astral-deal/article9272784/|publisher=The Globe and Mail|access-date=5 March 2013}}</ref> On August 26, [[Newcap Radio]] announced it would acquire CHBM, along with three other former Astral stations and Bell Media's [[CFXJ-FM]], for $112&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1215153/newcap-signs-agreement-with-bell-media-to-acquire-five-radio-stations-in-toronto-and-vancouver|title=Newcap signs agreement with Bell Media to acquire five radio stations in Toronto and Vancouver|publisher=CNW|access-date=26 August 2013}}</ref> The deal was approved by the [[CRTC]] on March 19, and the sale closed on March 31.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-03-19|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-129|url=http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2014/2014-129.htm|access-date=2020-07-05|website=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)}}</ref><ref name="crtc-newcap-toronto">{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1325013/newcap-radio-receives-crtc-approval-to-purchase-stations-in-toronto-and-vancouver|title=Newcap Radio receives CRTC approval to purchase stations in Toronto and Vancouver|work=Canada Newswire|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.boom973.com Boom 97.3]
* [https://broadcasting-history.ca/radio/radio-stations/ontario/ontario-city-of-toronto/CHBM-FM CHBM-FM] at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the [[Canadian Communications Foundation]]
* {{RecnetCanada|CHBM-FM}}

{{Toronto Radio}}
{{Newcap Radio}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chbm-Fm}}
[[Category:1987 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Classic hits radio stations in Canada|HBM]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1987]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Toronto|HBM]]
[[Category:Stingray Group radio stations|HBM]]