The NewMusic

The NewMusic
Created by	John Martin
Presented by	Jeanne Beker J. D. Roberts Daniel Richler Laurie Brown Denise Donlon Jana Lynne White Kim Clarke Champniss Avi Lewis Byron Wong George Stroumboulopoulos Hannah Sung Hannah Simone
Original release
Network	MuchMusic MuchMoreMusic Citytv, A-Channel CP24
Release	1979 (1979) – 2008 (2008)

The NewMusic was a weekly music and culture television newsmagazine that previously aired on the Canadian television stations owned by CHUM Limited: MuchMusic, MuchMoreMusic, Citytv, A-Channel and CP24.

Created by John Martin, and intended to combine the spirit of magazines like Rolling Stone and New Musical Express with the format of a television newsmagazine, The NewMusic presented current popular music in a broad social, political and economic context.

Origin story

The NewMusic was conceived in 1979 by Martin, who sought to create a program blending music with social and political commentary. Martin was frustrated by the lack of meaningful television coverage of music’s cultural impact, particularly during a time when youth culture was navigating major social shifts. He envisioned a program that treated music as a lens to explore issues like politics, identity, and activism.

Before finding a home for The NewMusic, Martin pitched the concept to CBC and CTV, but both networks passed, deeming it too unconventional for their audiences. Undeterred, Martin approached Moses Znaimer at Citytv, whose boundary-pushing ethos made it a perfect match for the program. Znaimer supported Martin's vision, allowing him the creative freedom to produce what became a pioneering show.

The first episode aired on September 29, 1979, with hosts Jeanne Beker and J.D. Roberts. From the start, The NewMusic broke ground with on-location interviews and stories examining topics like censorship and activism, merging journalistic depth with the vibrancy of pop culture. Its success laid the foundation for MuchMusic, shaping Canadian music journalism for decades.

Hosts

• Jeanne Beker (1979–1985)
• J. D. Roberts (1979–1985)
• Daniel Richler (1985–1987)
• Laurie Brown (1985–1990)
• Denise Donlon (1986–1993)
• Jana Lynne White (1990–1996)
• Kim Clarke Champniss (1993–1996)
• Avi Lewis (1996–1998)
• Byron Wong (1998–2000)
• George Stroumboulopoulos (2000–2004)
• Hannah Sung (2004–2006)
• Hannah Simone (2006–2008)

Awards

The NewMusic won in the Best Light Information Series category at the 6th Gemini Awards (1992).

Cancellation and legacy

In November 2008, The NewMusic was officially canceled after nearly 30 years on air, marking the end of a groundbreaking era in Canadian music journalism. The cancellation reflected broader industry shifts, as MuchMusic pivoted toward youth-oriented reality content amid declining budgets and changing viewer habits.

Several former hosts have commented on the program post-cancellation:

• "It was this golden era of television that I don't think could ever be created again." - George Stroumboulopoulos (speaking to The Canadian Press)

• "The NewMusic was very influential. It helped [us] take pop culture and rock music really seriously as something to be discussed and to think deeply about, for sure. And that permeates all of our culture today in media." - Hannah Sung (speaking to Exclaim! Magazine)

• "It was groundbreaking; two kids from Toronto running around interviewing rock stars on smoky buses, hanging around backstage... We weren’t music journalists. Later I wasn’t a fashion journalist. It was entertainment reporting, first and foremost." - Jeanne Beker (speaking to the Toronto Star)

The NewMusic aired its final episode on November 17, 2008.