I Hate Simkin

What really happens when a band suddenly explodes? Jonathan Simkin sits down with legendary Canadian manager  Jeff Rogers (Crash Test Dummies, The Pursuit of Happiness, Rusty) to break it down. Jeff dives into: 🎵 How ignoring "industry rules" helped his career 🎵 Why Canada's music scene pushes bands coast-to-coast instead of down to New York 🎵 Booking DIY tours before social media 🎵 The moment...

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, Mahone...

Grant Lawrence joins Jonathan for one of the most revealing, funny, and brutally honest conversations about the Canadian music industry you'll hear. Grant is a longtime CBC host, author, musician, and one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian music culture. He and Jonathan go deep into: CBC's Top 20 and how radio formats keep mutating 28 years inside the CBC and surviving the chaos of the mu...

What really happened behind the scenes of North America's biggest pop wave? Jonathan Simkin sits down with Louise Burns to unpack her journey being thrown in the deep end of the music industry as a teenager — from being signed by Madonna to navigating the intense experience of record labels pressuring teenagers to lose weight. Louise reveals never-before-heard stories from the early 2000s pop mach...

In this episode of I Hate Simkin , Jonathan Simkin (604 Records) sits down with Dave Genn (54-40) to look back on the wild early days of Vancouver's rock scene — from Dead Surf Kiss (DSK) and 24 Gone , to Holly McNarland , Matthew Good Band , and beyond. They revisit the chaos, the friendships, and the heartbreak that defined the 90s Vancouver music era — including a Detroit radio hit they never e...

This interview went on for a while, so we're doubling up with a part 2 this time next week! Dave Genn of 54-40, formerly of Matthew Good Band, and producer of many albums including Marianas Trench's Fix Me sits down with Jonathan Simkin to look back on decades shared in the Canadian music industry. Dave gives us the inside track on how one of the biggest bands in Canada was doomed from the start d...

Canadian Radio personality Todd Hancock sits down with Jonathan to look back on his career. They talk through the real reason CFOX fired him, how he built a better career for himself in podcasting, and his experience spending every morning on TV with his ex-fiancé. Todd & Jonathan also both update listeners requesting Chad Kroeger joins their pods, Jonathan explains why he had hard feelings about...

Dallas Smith sits down to trace a remarkable career arc: early club nights (Studebakers), a TVT deal that nearly derailed everything, and the eventual reinvention from rock frontman to platinum country artist. They discuss the business nightmares of label bankruptcy and locked masters, the relationship with Joey Moi & Mountain View, why 604's hands-on model mattered, and how streaming and touring...

Gaye Delorme was one of Canada's most respected — and underrated — musicians. He never became a household name as a solo artist, but his fingerprints are all over legendary moments in music. From writing  The Rodeo Song (a platinum-selling Canadian classic) to collaborating with Cheech & Chong on Earache My Eye , Gaye's career was unconventional, hilarious, and brilliant. In this episode, Jonathan...

In this episode of I Hate Simkin , Jonathan reflects on managing Canadian rock singer Holly McNarland — from her edgy Sour Pie EP to her Juno-winning breakthrough with Stuff . Holly's powerful voice, raw personality, and unforgettable stage presence made her stand out, but timing, life changes, and the harsh realities of the industry shaped her path. Jonathan shares candid stories about touring, t...

In this first episode of a brand-new I Hate Simkin mini-series, Jonathan Simkin—President of 604 Records—digs through the plaques he's been given over the years and shares the never-before-heard stories behind them. 🎶 Part One: Carly Rae Jepsen The untold story of her unreleased album that almost changed everything Why her admiration of Marianas Trench drew her to 604 Records The surprising ambit...

Journalist Karen Bliss joins Jonathan for an unfiltered conversation about the Canadian music industry. They dive into the intimidation of networking and personal insecurities, investigating allegations and the emotional weight of journalism. Chapters: 06:35 Navigating the Music Industry: Personal Experiences 12:48 Mentorship and Community in Music 16:06 Investigating Allegations in the Music Indu...

From indie cred to legal disasters — this episode goes deep into the real stories behind some of Canada's most iconic music moments. Jonathan sits down with Mark DiPietro (DSK, Teenage USA, Song Corp) to talk about the wild ride of managing artists like Len, dealing with explosive fame, and the career landmines most people never see coming. They unpack: The bizarre rise of Len and what happened af...

In this episode of I Hate Simkin , music industry legend Ralph James sits down with Jonathan Simkin to pull back the curtain on the real business behind the bands. They dive into Ralph's wild journey from rock musician to booking agent to industry gatekeeper — and the crucial role he played in the rise of bands like Nickelback and Marianas Trench . From Canadian touring nightmares to artist reinve...

In this episode of I Hate Simkin , music publisher and rights management expert Jodie Ferneyhough joins host Jonathan Simkin for a deep dive into the evolution of the music industry in Canada and beyond. They cover how artists today are gaining independence from major labels , the growing importance of music publishing and sync licensing , and what it really takes to build a sustainable music care...

Brian Hetherman joins Jonathan Simkin for an unfiltered dive into the chaos, quirks, and culture of the Canadian music industry through the '90s and early 2000s. This is unfiltered, behind-the-scenes storytelling from two people who've seen it all. 🎧 Subscribe & follow I Hate Simkin wherever you get your podcasts. 📌 New episodes every second Friday. Chapters 03:10 The Much Music Video Awards and...

🎙 EPISODE 2 — I HATE SIMKIN ft. MICHAEL MCCARTY Michael McCarty (former SOCAN exec and publishing legend) joins Jonathan Simkin to talk about the realities of working with artists — from spotting talent early to surviving the music industry long term. They dive into: The rise of Steal My Sunshine and Call Me Maybe Creative control in music videos vs. major label expectations What artist developmen...

🎙 EPISODE 1 — I HATE SIMKIN ft. MIKE KROEGER (Nickelback) Nickelback's Mike Kroeger joins longtime friend and 604 Records co-founder Jonathan Simkin to kick off the first episode of I Hate Simkin.  They dive into the real story behind the iconic "I Hate Simkin" T-shirt Why fans seem to punish success and love their artists tormented Three Doors Down vs. Nickelback: The rise, the resentment, and th...

🎙 Welcome to I Hate Simkin — the unfiltered podcast hosted by 604 Records co-founder Jonathan Simkin. You've heard the music. Now hear the chaos behind it. Every episode, Simkin sits down with the artists, agents, and music lifers who've helped shape 604 Records — and survived him in the process. No PR polish. No soft edits. Just the real stories about fame, failure, label politics, and the stuff...