I Hate Simkin

Jo Loewenthal joins Jonathan Simkin for part 2 of this chat exposing the music industry. Jo explains why he terminated his publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing and why he's now asking the Supreme Court of New South Wales to determine whether that termination was valid. The conversation expands far beyond one contract dispute. Jo and Jonathan discuss publishing deals, royalty collec...

After seeing Jo Lowenthal publicly question how artists get paid, Jonathan reached out. What followed was a deep conversation about publishing, neighbouring rights, missing data, royalty collection systems, transparency, and why so many artists struggle to understand where their money actually comes from. Jo (lead vocalist of Tora) explains how years of auditing his own catalog led him into a maze...

We're back with the last episode of our second plaque series! From Theory of a Deadman fighting the "Nickelback clone" label, to the controversy around My Darkest Days' "Porn Star Dancing," to the emotional fallout after Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" era — this episode dives deep into the music industry politics, artist development, producer influence, and nostalgia resurgence bringing these...

Jonathan Simkin breaks down the real story behind Nickelback backlash, internet hate culture, Marianas Trench pressure, and the fallout between 604 Records and The Organ. From The Long Road selling millions while being labeled a "failure," to when Nickelback started to get public abuse, Jonathan explains what was actually happening behind the scenes during one of the biggest backlashes against a r...

We're back with the plaque series for three more episodes! Jonathan Simkin reacts to some of the biggest records and strangest success stories of his career. He breaks down how Matthew Good went from playing small Vancouver cafes to becoming one of the biggest bands in Canada, why Two Heads exploded worldwide, what major labels get wrong after a hit song, and how a funeral ballad quietly became on...

Ryan is one of Vancouver's most respected producers, mixers, and songwriters. He has worked with artists including Dear Rouge, Fake Shark, The Royal Foundry, and many others across the Canadian music scene. In this episode, Ryan breaks down how he built his studio from the ground up, how it hospitalized him with anxiety, and the art of being a good hang to move up in the music industry. Topics inc...

Vancouver historian, musician, and author Aaron Chapman joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from punk rock stages to city politics. Aaron spent over 20 years working inside Vancouver's live music world, including at major venues like The Commodore Ballroom during the shift from House of Blues to Live Nation. He shares what changed behind the scenes as the industry became more...

We're giving you the ultimate 4/20 guide on 4/19! Jonathan Simkin sits down to chat through the best music you can listen to on 4/20, ranging from trippy Intraset tunes to Peter Tosh to Born Slippy by Underworld. There's chat on why there's such a range of music linked with Cannabis and nostalgia around iconic live performances for stoners. Just search 60420 or Hazy Days for either of the playlist...

Emma Higgins and Kesi Smyth join I Hate Simkin for a full-circle conversation about building careers in music, film, and everything in between. Emma went from PA'ing on music video sets to becoming an award-winning music director with a feature film now streaming. Kesi helped shape 604 Records from the ground up and now runs the label as General Manager. Topics include: Starting at the bottom and...

Kevvy Maher of Fake Shark joins I Hate Simkin to talk about behind the scenes stories of Canada's music and comedy industry. They cover: • How Carly Rae Jepsen 's early album was nearly scrapped • Why "Call Me Maybe" became the single • From working at HMV to quitting for music • Building 604 Records' studio by accident • Sync licensing in NHL and NBA broadcasts • Comedy Here Often and the busines...

Steve Bays, singer of Hot Hot Heat, joins I Hate Simkin for an in-depth conversation about the realities of success in the music industry. From recording DIY demos and signing with Sub Pop and Warner Bros to touring internationally and landing major radio hits, Steve reflects on how fame reshaped his life and career. They explore why most bands don't last, how AI is changing music creation, the pr...

Kayla Diamond joins I Hate Simkin to chat about the realities of the modern music industry — the parts that happen after you make it. Kayla shares how she left law school to pursue music, accidentally hung up on the label that signed her, and quickly found herself navigating radio success, touring pressure, and an industry that didn't work the way she was promised. They explore how streaming platf...

Fionn (Alanna & Brianne Finn Morris) sit down for an honest, unfiltered conversation about building a music career from childhood. From nearly losing their first audition to extortion pressure, to busking with their own speakers, to finally earning their first-ever Billboard #1 plaque, this episode breaks down the realities of artists people don't see online. They talk about:  The night someone tr...

Danny Craig and Dave Benedict of Default join Jonathan Simkin for a brutally honest breakdown of how the band really got started — and what almost ended it. From Chad Kroeger discovering the band and early Vancouver showcases, to Greenhouse Studios, Nickelback tours, and the chaotic rise of Wasting My Time , this episode pulls back the curtain on how fast success actually works — and how fragile i...

In this episode of I Hate Simkin , Jonathan Simkin sits down with Tyler Connolly and Dean Back of Theory of a Deadman for a brutally honest conversation about record labels, ownership, and what it actually means to be a rock band in today's music industry . They break down why major label deals stopped making sense , the most exciting moments of their career, and the "old-but-new" sound they're ch...

In this episode of I Hate Simkin , Jonathan Simkin sits down with Tyler Connolly and Dean Back of Theory of a Deadman to tell the full, unfiltered origin story of the band — from basement showcases and water delivery jobs to label bidding wars, major record deals, and multi-platinum hits . They break down the exact moments that changed everything: how Default and Nickelback unexpectedly shaped The...

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...