Celebrated Canadian radio personality Alan Cross has been taken off the air, or at least for now. Known for his informative, long-running weekly program, The Ongoing History Of New Music, the broadcaster has been "restructured" out of his position at Toronto's 102.1 The Edge and within Corus Radio.
On top of his hosting duties, Cross was also senior program director at Corus Interactive and Integrated Solutions, where he curated the Exploremusic.com website, which aimed at helping listeners discover new music. Following two-months of discussions with Cross over the direction of radio, a decision was made to let him go. He had been with The Edge, formerly known as CFNY, since 1986.
"My position was eliminated because the division that I was working in was being completely reorganized and there was no position analogous to what I was doing," Cross told the Toronto Star.
While he's no longer a full-time staffer, there is still a chance he'll be doing work with the station from time to time.
"We're currently amicably negotiating a freelance situation where I would continue to supply Corus Radio with content, so there's no ill will there, but I'm no longer in the building."
The Ongoing History of New Music ran 691 episodes from 1993 to the end of May. Cross's last post on Exploremusic.com was on June 30, where he discussed Björk's upcoming Biophilia project.
While Cross didn't go in to details, he apparently has a number of options available to him, so it shouldn't be long before the journalist drops some more music knowledge on us.
"There's some pretty interesting expressions of interest which I find extremely flattering," he said. "For the first time in decades, really, I am able to explore opportunities with other companies. It could be writing, it could be television, radio, online, I don't know."
On top of his hosting duties, Cross was also senior program director at Corus Interactive and Integrated Solutions, where he curated the Exploremusic.com website, which aimed at helping listeners discover new music. Following two-months of discussions with Cross over the direction of radio, a decision was made to let him go. He had been with The Edge, formerly known as CFNY, since 1986.
"My position was eliminated because the division that I was working in was being completely reorganized and there was no position analogous to what I was doing," Cross told the Toronto Star.
While he's no longer a full-time staffer, there is still a chance he'll be doing work with the station from time to time.
"We're currently amicably negotiating a freelance situation where I would continue to supply Corus Radio with content, so there's no ill will there, but I'm no longer in the building."
The Ongoing History of New Music ran 691 episodes from 1993 to the end of May. Cross's last post on Exploremusic.com was on June 30, where he discussed Björk's upcoming Biophilia project.
While Cross didn't go in to details, he apparently has a number of options available to him, so it shouldn't be long before the journalist drops some more music knowledge on us.
"There's some pretty interesting expressions of interest which I find extremely flattering," he said. "For the first time in decades, really, I am able to explore opportunities with other companies. It could be writing, it could be television, radio, online, I don't know."
