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 ambition she had early on: starting her own label

• Her unique “listening party” feedback method that shaped her music

• The making of Tug of War and how Jonathan first signed her after Canadian Idol

🎸 Part Two: Matthew Good Band

• Jonathan’s high-stakes gamble to land him a record deal without knowing the industry

• How label execs chose not to help during Matthew’s bipolar struggles

• Why the angsty Canadian rock scene of the 2000s didn’t fully break into the U.S.

• Honest reflections on an era of Canadian music that almost broke through globally

This episode blends untold stories of Carly Rae Jepsen’s rise and Matthew Good’s struggles, giving you an unfiltered look at the Canadian music industry—straight from the guy who lived it.

👉 Don’t miss this deep dive into Canadian music history. Full episode out now!

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 Industry

24:44 The Struggles of Investigative Journalism

30:10 The Impact of COVID on Careers

34:31 The State of Canadian Music Industry

39:14 The Shift in Artist Development

44:04 The Changing Landscape of Fame and Success

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 after

The value and illusion of “indie credibility”

How artist relationships can make — or break — your label

Why The Weeknd succeeded and Song Corp collapsed

The importance of mentorship in a chaotic industry

And how some wounds in music take decades to heal It’s nostalgic, insightful, and sometimes absurd — a must-listen for anyone trying to understand the Canadian music industry from the inside out.

🎙 Full episode out now on YouTube + all podcast platforms.

Chapters:

02:53 The Music Business Journey Begins

06:08 The DSK Connection

08:48 The Rise of Len and 'Steal My Sunshine'

11:59 The Complexities of Artist Relationships

14:48 Navigating the Music Industry's Challenges

18:13 The Impact of Indie Cred

21:13 How Music Consumption has Changed

26:59 The Aftermath of Legal Battles

37:54 The Aftermath of Fame for Artists

41:31 Mentorship and the Journey of Teenage USA

42:57 The Evolution of The Weeknd

44:40 Defining Success in the Music Industry

45:40 Navigating the Challenges of Record Labels

47:39 Lessons from the Fall of Song Corp

51:41 The Journey of Selling and Regaining Control

01:07:44 Reflections on the Music Industry and Personal Growth

01:12:27 The Nickelback Phenomenon and Closing Thoughts

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 reinvention, from merit-based representation to the chaos of live shows, Ralph shares hard-earned truths about the ever-changing music industry.

Plus: industry controversies, substance abuse, gambling, and what success really looks like after decades in the game.

🎙 Whether you're a die-hard music fan or just industry-curious, this one’s packed with unfiltered insights and backstage stories.

Chapters:

02:00 Ralph’s musical past & Harlequin

04:59 Touring Canada & artist management

10:05 Marianas Trench: evolution & strategy

15:02 Nickelback’s early struggles

19:56 Controversies & misunderstandings in music

24:54 Merit, representation & fairness

31:08 Early career challenges

32:04 How the live music business changed

34:38 Reinvigorating a career

36:26 Passion for the job

37:18 Listening properly

39:13 Relationship-building in the industry

40:31 Reflections on success

42:00 Gambling & substance abuse

43:21 The future of the biz

51:17 Indie artist hustle

53:40 Creative freedom in production

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 career in the streaming age.

They share insights from working with legacy estates like Glenn Gould, the rise of ambient music, and what the future looks like for music rights, catalog value, and niche genres.

Whether you're a musician, manager, or just love music industry stories, this episode is packed with insider knowledge you won't want to miss. Chapters

02:46 The Changing Canadian Music Industry

05:49 Personal Journeys in Music Management

11:54 The Confusing Role of Labels Today

15:10 Artists Taking Control of Their Careers

18:02 Reflections on Major Labels and Their Future

27:36 The State of the Music Industry

30:06 Creating a Hub for Artists

32:29 The Shift to Digital and Niche Markets

36:07 What Is Success in the New Music Landscape

43:48 The Crazy Value of Music Catalogs

55:27 The Mystery of Sync Licensing

01:00:10 Building a Music Rights Management Company

01:04:20 The Glenn Gould Administration

01:07:44 The Rise of Ambient Music

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 Industry Politics

06:05 A&R Experiences and Band Signings

08:51 The Evolution of Age of Electric and Static in Stereo

15:00 Early Career Experiences in the Music Business

17:53 Strip Bar Obsessions and Rock Band Culture

20:57 Management Challenges and Artist Relationships

26:55 The Impact of Major Label Mergers

29:49 Holly McNarland and Her Musical Journey

33:35 The Unconventional Approach to Music Business

36:33 Navigating the Challenges of Music Funding

38:39 The Evolution of Indie Labels and Global Reach

40:05 The Impact of Major Labels on Artist Success

43:29 The Rollercoaster of Fame and Its Aftermath

47:57 The Shift from Physical to Digital Music

51:20 The New Dynamics of Touring and Revenue

53:29 The Changing Landscape of Music Videos

56:18 The Role of Canadian Funding in Music Production

01:01:15 Reflections on the Music Industry's Evolution

🎙 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 development actually means behind the scenes

• Why songwriting still trumps hype

• One-hit wonders and what defines “lasting” success

• The Wild West era of sampling — and what’s changed

• Digital collectibles & future artist revenue streams

This is unfiltered, behind-the-scenes storytelling from two people who’ve been in it for decades.

🎧 Subscribe & follow I Hate Simkin wherever you get your podcasts. 📌 New episodes every second Friday. Chapters:

01:17 The Origin of 'I Hate Simkin'

03:06 Polarizing Figures in the Music Industry

07:10 Early Career Reflections and Aggression in Law

09:05 The Journey of Matthew Good and Music Publishing

12:46 Artist Development and the Role of Publishers

15:08 The Evolution of Music Videos and Creative Control

20:39 The Impact of 'Steal My Sunshine' and Sampling

32:08 The Enduring Nature of Music and Licensing Trends

34:34 The Impact of 'Call Me Maybe' and the Download Era

37:43 Identifying Talent: The Art of A&R

40:08 The Intrigue of Music Videos and Artist Personas

42:20 The Reality of One-Hit Wonders

43:34 The Craft of Songwriting: More Than Meets the Ear

45:05 The Challenge of Repeated Success in Music

48:39 Green Lighting: The Decision-Making Process in Music

51:32 Lessons from George Lucas and the Beatles

57:06 The Evolution of Music Production and Artist Development

01:06:55 The New Era of Music: Technology and Direct Artist Engagement

01:12:49 The Future of Digital Collectibles in Music

#IHateSimkin #MichaelMcCarty #MusicIndustry #604Records #OneHitWonders #ArtistDevelopment #CallMeMaybe #StealMySunshine #MusicVideos #PodcastLaunch #MusicPodcast #SpotifyPodcasts #ApplePodcasts #FullEpisode

🎙 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 the industry’s double standard
• Label politics, Twitter pile-ons, and the truth about staying normal in a chaotic business

🎧 Subscribe & follow I Hate Simkin wherever you get your podcasts.

📌 New episodes every second Friday. 

🎙 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 that never makes the press releases.

📌 New episodes drop every second Friday.

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & more.