Jonathan welcomes a true industry titan and longtime friend: Ron Burman, the legendary former A&R executive at Roadrunner Records who famously signed Nickelback.

Jonathan and Ron jump into a time capsule to reconstruct the late-'90s grind that launched a multi-platinum powerhouse. They reveal how Chad Kroeger used to prank-call radio stations pretending to be an indie promoter, the exact moment Ron got goosebumps watching the band play "Leader of Men" in a damp Vancouver venue, and the uphill battle of pitching a mainstream rock band to a hardcore metal label.

Plus stories like watching a sold-out Hammerstein Ballroom show side-stage with Jay-Z and Lyor Cohen.

This episode is available in video on Youtube or Spotify, and in audio form on other podcast platforms. Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.

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 collection societies, neighbouring rights, SOCAN, PRS, APRA AMCOS, governance issues, board structures, voting systems, artist representation, transparency, and the growing debate around how music royalties are collected and distributed around the world.

Topics Include:

Why Jo sued Universal Music Publishing

The reality of publishing advances

How royalty collection actually works

Music industry monopolies

Why artists struggle to change industry systems

& Much More!

This episode is available in video form on YouTube & Spotify, and in audio form on all other pod platforms. Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.

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 of publishing societies, international royalty systems, privacy requests, and millions of lines of data. Along the way he discovered missing registrations, unexplained reporting gaps, and answers from industry organizations that raised even more questions.

Jonathan compares Jo's experience to his own investigation into neighboring rights royalties in Canada and the issues that inspired his Billboard article. They chat about:

- Why Artists Become Industry Disruptors

- The Missing Audience Feedback Problem

- Discovering Music Used On TV Without Knowing

- Building A Royalty Audit System

- Crazy Admissions by Label Execs

- Outrageous Incentives, Accountability, And Transparency

& Much More!

Part 2 will be out this time next week. This episode is available in video on Spotify & YouTube, and in audio format on all other podcast platforms. Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.

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 bands back into the spotlight.

Jonathan talks about:

• Chad Kroeger and Joey Moi's influence on modern rock
• How Theory of a Deadman finally escaped Nickelback comparisons
• The success and backlash of Porn Star Dancing
• Why 2000s post-grunge rock is suddenly huge again
• Carly Rae Jepsen's transition from pop phenomenon to respected songwriter
• Jonathan & Carly's relationship after Call Me Maybe

Featuring discussion around: Theory of a Deadman, Nickelback, My Darkest Days, Carly Rae Jepsen, Three Days Grace, Chad Kroeger, Joey Moi, Faber Drive, Default, Thornley, Morgan Wallen and more.

Each segment is also available on Youtube (or soon will be). Like, reviews, shares, subscribing etc. help us big time. Thank you for listening!

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 rock band.

He looks back on giving up creative control on Marianas Trench's This Means War video, and why that song didn't connect commercially. He also responds in detail to comments and narratives surrounding The Organ, their breakup, the Polaris Heritage Award controversy, and why he feels 604's role in the band's success has been erased from the story.

The episode also covers:

• Why Nickelback became a punching bag online
• The psychology of rock fans and backlash
• Marianas Trench's Astoria era pressure
• How The Organ almost became massive internationally
• The beginning of 604 studios due to The Organ 'tossing a record in the river'
• Why some Canada's biggest ever bands never made it out of the country

Each segment is also available on Youtube (or soon will be). Like, reviews, shares etc. help us big time. Thank you for listening!

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 one of 604 Records' most streamed songs ever.

The episode also dives into:

• The early Matthew Good Band years
• CFOX Seeds and Vancouver rock history
• Why some artists become "one-hit wonders"
• How losing the person who signed you to a label can put your music career on the shelf
• The emotional impact of Dancing in the Sky
• Coleman Hell, Mad Dog Jones, and Thunder Bay's weird creative scene
• Why some Canadian bands never fully crossed into the US
• Canadian Live rock scenes in the 90s

Featuring stories about Matthew Good, Coleman Hell, Dani and Lizzy, Nickelback, Mad Dog Jones, 21 Pilots, Carly Rae Jepsen, Pure, Dreamworks Records, Columbia Records and more.

Each segment is also available on Youtube (or soon will be). Like, reviews, shares, subscribing etc. help us big time. Thank you for listening!

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 include:

- Building Echo Plant Studio

- Why he left a heavily religious upbringing

- Why mixing, producing, and songwriting require different mindsets

- Dear Rouge and Fake Shark

- The JUNOs are dwindling into nothingness

- Harrowing stories of anti-semites you come across from time to time in Music

- And much more!

This episode is also available in video form on YouTube. Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.

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 corporate—and what that meant for musicians, venues, and audiences.

The conversation dives into the rise and fall of Vancouver's live music ecosystem, why mid-level bands struggle today, and how licensing laws, rising costs, and shifting nightlife habits reshaped the city's entertainment culture. Aaron also discusses his decision to leave Live Nation after two decades and pursue a run for Vancouver City Council with the OneCity party. He explains what pushed him toward politics, what he believes the city is getting wrong, and the small practical changes he thinks could make a real difference—especially for arts, venues, and local businesses.

This episode is also available on all audio podcast platforms. Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.

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 playlists mentioned during the podcast.

We'll have a regular episode as usual on Wednesday. This episode is also available on video on YouTube. Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.

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 breaking into directing
• The collapse of music video budgets (and what replaced them)
• What it really takes to make a feature film
• The difference between talent vs confidence in creative careers
• Industry gatekeeping, funding, and how projects actually get made
• The reality of touring with major artists like Justin Bieber

Emma also breaks down how her film Sweetness went from idea to theaters, including funding, casting, and surviving production.

This episode is also available on all audio podcast platforms and in video on YouTube. Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.