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!