Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-333

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Ottawa, 7 December 2022

Revised content categories and subcategories for radio

1. In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-332, which sets out the new policy for commercial radio, the Commission announced its intention to revise the content categories and subcategories for radio by amending the definitions of content subcategory 21: Pop, rock and dance and content subcategory 35: Non-classic religious. The Commission indicated that these changes would provide more flexibility to broadcasters.
2. To implement these changes, the content categories and subcategories contained in the appendix to the present regulatory policy, including the amended definitions of content subcategory 21: Pop, rock and dance and content subcategory 35: Non-classic religious, will replace the content categories set out in the appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-819. The Commission will propose amendments to the Radio Regulations, 1986 for the purpose of removing all references to the appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-819 and replacing them with references to the appendix to this regulatory policy. The music categories set out in the appendix will apply once the proposed regulatory amendments mentioned above come into force. 

Secretary General

Related documents

• Revised commercial radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2022-332, 7 December 2022
• Revised content categories and subcategories for radio, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-819, 5 November 2010

Appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2022-333

Content categories and subcategories for radio

Content Category 1 – Spoken word

This category includes the following two subcategories:

Content Subcategory 11: News  

The recounting and reporting of local, regional, national and international events of the day or recent days, with particular emphasis on the topicality of the events or situations selected, or on the constant updating of information, or both as well as background material about current events when included in newscasts but excluding weather, traffic and sports and entertainment reports.

Content Subcategory 12: Spoken word – other

All programming with the exception of material falling under subcategory 11 – News and categories 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Popular Music, Special Interest Music, Musical Production and Advertising).

Content Category 2 – Popular Music  

This encompasses musical selections in the genres or groups of genres set out below:

Content Subcategory 21: Pop, rock and dance  

This refers to music from the entire pop, rock and dance music spectrum. Examples include all types of rock music, including soft rock, hard rock, classic rock, heavy metal, modern rock, alternative rock, jazz rock, folk rock, and blues rock. It also includes pop, rock & roll, rhythm & blues from the fifties and sixties, soul, dance, techno, rap, hip hop, urban, and contemporary rhythm & blues.

Content Subcategory 22: Country and country-oriented  

This includes country & western, country music recorded since the 1950s, new country, and other country-oriented styles. It includes musical selections listed in Country charts compiled and published by music trade publications.

Content Subcategory 23: Acoustic

This refers to music performed in an acoustic style that draws largely from Category 2 Popular music genres.

Content Subcategory 24: Easy listening  

Easy listening includes easy listening instrumentals, adult standards, middle-of-the-road and beautiful music.

Content Category 3 – Special Interest Music  

This encompasses musical selections in the genres or groups of genres set out below:

Content Subcategory 31: Concert

Concert music includes the whole spectrum of the “classical” music traditions, including opera and operetta. It also includes extended dramatic excerpts of popular musical theatre when performed in a full-cast version. It does not include orchestrations of “popular music,” however classical in form.

Content Subcategory 32: Folk and folk-oriented  

This genre includes authentic, traditional folk music, as well as contemporary folk-oriented music, that draw substantially on traditional folk music in style and performance. It includes old-time country music recorded before the 1950s, and traditional bluegrass.

Content Subcategory 33: World beat and international

This genre includes world beat music that draws heavily from the traditional music styles of countries throughout the world. It also includes music from the popular, folk and classical music traditions of countries throughout the world that are played in instrumental form or sung in languages other than English and French.

Content Subcategory 34: Jazz and blues

This includes both historic and contemporary music in the jazz and blues traditions. Examples of music in the jazz tradition include ragtime, Dixieland, “golden age” swing, modern swing, bebop, “cool” jazz, modern, avant-garde, Latin-oriented jazz, jazz-funk, soft contemporary jazz, contemporary jazz fusion and other contemporary and emerging jazz styles. Examples of music in the blues tradition include classic blues, delta blues, Chicago blues, and contemporary blues music.

Content Subcategory 35: Non-classic religious  

This refers to spiritual and religious music of all faiths.

Content Subcategory 36: Experimental Music

The unconventional and non-traditional uses of instruments and sound equipment to create new sounds and an orchestration of these sounds. This includes audio-art, turntablism, musique actuelle, electro acoustic and sound ecology. While it may involve the use of previously recorded sounds to create new sounds and orchestrations, it does not include spinning or beat mixing where the alterations of previously recorded tracks are limited to mixes between two or more pieces or samples.

Content Category 4 – Musical Productions

Musical matter broadcast by a station to identify itself or any of the components of its programming, including musical linking devices used to highlight elements of the broadcast service. For greater particularity, this category includes the following five subcategories:

Content Subcategory 41: Musical themes, bridges and stingers  

Musical selections used to identify particular program segments, or to extend programming segments to the end of their allotted time as well as applause, brief musical and other sound effects intended to punctuate the presentation of other broadcast matter, where this matter is less than one minute in duration.

Content Subcategory 42: Technical tests

Broadcast matter intended to be used for the purposes of technical tests by the station or its listeners.

Content Subcategory 43: Musical station identification

Short musical selections designed to identify the station by call letters or frequency.

Content Subcategory 44: Musical identification of announcers, programs  

Musical material identifying and accompanying the use of specific announcers, programs or programming elements.

Content Subcategory 45: Musical promotion of announcers, programs

Musical material promoting increased listening to specific announcers, programs or programming elements.

Content Category 5 – Advertising

Broadcast matter intended to promote services or products offered to the public by persons normally advertising in the course of their business. For greater particularity, this category includes the following three subcategories:

Content Subcategory 51: Commercial announcement  

A commercial announcement for a business, product or service, presented in return for consideration.

Content Subcategory 52: Sponsor identification

Identification of the sponsor of a program or program segment other than under subcategories 51 and 53.

Content Subcategory 53: Promotion with sponsor mention

Verbal or musical material promoting increased listening to the station or to specific announcers, programs or programming elements, when accompanied by the identification of a sponsor.

Date modified:

2022-12-07