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Northern Dial Radio
All Killer, All CanCon
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Northern Dial Discovery

Find Your Next Canadian Artist

Pick a genre, era or artist you already love and we’ll dial up five Canadian artists worth checking out.

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About

Northern Dial is an independent Canadian radio station built for people who actually care about music.

This station exists because Canadian music deserves space not just in quotas, but in context. We believe the best songs hit differently depending on the hour, the season, and where you are. So we built a station that moves with you.

We stream 24/7 and add new music into rotation constantly. Interested in having your music or podcast played? Scroll down and click our submission box.

About the Northern Dial project →

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Northern Dial TV

Canadian music, on screen. Put on the channel and let the next discovery find you.

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Browse recently played tracks and search our catalog

On Air Daily

Open Roads

Canadian Open Roads

A playlist that feels like sunrise and highways - pop, indie, rock, R&B that moves with the morning.

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Northern Bars

Northern Bars

A hip-hop forward block rooted in Canadian voices - from golden era hits to new rap chemistry.

2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
After Hours

After Hours Up North

Late night vibes for deeper listening - mellow beats, smooth grooves, edge-of-town energy.

10:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Request A Song

Request A Song

Got a track in mind? Submit a request and we'll add it to the rotation.

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Submit Your Music

Canadian artist or podcaster? Share your tracks with us for airplay on Northern Dial.

Open-Source Community Project

Explore our bigger picture and discover how you can get involved in building the future of Canadian independent radio.

Latest Stories

Artist features, listening guides and deep dives from the Northern Dial blog

Jessie Reyez surrounded by Dua Lipa, Normani, Kehlani and Lisa in a torn-paper editorial collage

October 7, 2026 · Artist Feature

Jessie Reyez’s Second Catalogue

From Dua Lipa’s “One Kiss” to Lisa’s “Moonlit Floor,” the Toronto singer has helped write hits you might never have connected to her.

Read More →
Elisapie framed by her raised hands and colourful woven clothing in an Arctic-inspired torn-paper collage

October 7, 2026 · New Music

Elisapie’s New “Dreams” Connects a Familiar Song With an Inuk Story

Her Cranberries adaptation for North of North follows a Fleetwood Mac cover rooted in family memory.

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Esthero with the members of Elsiane and Beast in a torn-paper collage of records and studio equipment

October 7, 2026 · Listening Guide

Canadian Trip-Hop Classics

Esthero, Elsiane and Beast took trip-hop in different directions. Sixtoo offers a related route through instrumental hip-hop.

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Dylan Sinclair, Clerel, Charlotte Day Wilson, Witch Prophet and Dominique Fils-Aimé in a warm-toned torn-paper collage

October 7, 2026 · Listening Guide

Five Canadian Soul Singers Worth Your Time

Dylan Sinclair, Clerel, Charlotte Day Wilson, Witch Prophet and Dominique Fils-Aimé offer five routes into Canadian soul.

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Angine de Poitrine in a Northern Dial torn-paper collage inspired by Saguenay, Quebec

October 1, 2026 · Polaris Music Prize

Who Is Angine de Poitrine? Meet the 2026 Polaris Prize Winners

The masked Saguenay duo swept both 2026 Polaris prizes. Start with “Fabienk,” then follow the strange logic into Vol. II.

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Record shop collage for Northern Dial's October 2026 Canadian album guide

October 1, 2026 · New Canadian Music

Canadian Albums Coming in October 2026

Bruce Cockburn, Art d’Ecco, Ghostkeeper, Nickelback, PISS and more lead October’s Canadian album calendar.

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Torn-paper collage of early Canadian hip-hop artists, radio and Toronto imagery

October 1, 2026 · Canadian Hip-Hop History

Before Drake, Part 1: How Canadian Hip-Hop Found Its Voice

Before the industry caught up, radio, independent records and artists like Michie Mee, Maestro Fresh Wes and Dream Warriors built the foundation.

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Daniel Caesar in a Northern Dial torn-paper collage

October 1, 2026 · If You Like...

If You Like Daniel Caesar, Listen to These 6 Canadian Artists

Six different routes out from Daniel Caesar’s sound through Toronto R&B, psychedelic soul, folk and jazz.

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Monsune in a Toronto collage

September 26, 2026 · Artist Feature

Monsune Returns After Seven Years Behind the Boards

Toronto’s Scott Zhang returns to the Monsune name with “Sure.”

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Kardinal Offishall in a Scarborough collage

September 26, 2026 · Canadian Hip-Hop

Kardinal Offishall Returns With Firestarter Vol. 2

Kardinal Offishall returns to Firestarter 25 years later.

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Northern Dial collage for a 2026 guide to francophone hip-hop in Canada

September 21, 2026 · Francophone Hip-Hop

A Guide to Francophone Hip-Hop in Canada in 2026

Five current artists, five different ways into francophone rap across Canada.

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Northern Dial collage featuring the 2026 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame class

September 21, 2026 · Canadian Music

The Songs Behind Canada’s 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame Class

The Tragically Hip, Feist, Loverboy and Roch Voisine enter the Hall of Fame Sept. 26. Here’s where to start.

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Northern Dial collage about AI-generated music and Canadian independent artists

September 20, 2026 · Music & Technology

What AI-Generated Music Means for Canadian Independent Artists

What changes when generating a song becomes easier than getting anyone to care about one?

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Northern Dial collage for the 2026 Polaris Music Prize Short List

September 20, 2026 · Polaris Music Prize

A Listener’s Guide to the 2026 Polaris Music Prize Short List

Ten albums, ten very different ways into Canadian music. Here’s where to start.

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Northern Dial collage for new Canadian music released September 18, 2026

September 19, 2026 · New Canadian Music

6 New Canadian Releases to Hear This Weekend

Carly Rae Jepsen, Blonde Diamond, Orville Peck, Emma Worley, Weatherell and Joce Reyome lead this week’s picks.

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VIBI angeldies

September 12, 2026 · On Repeat

On Repeat: VIBI’s “angeldies”

The Canadian singer-songwriter keeps a fast-moving 2026 run going with “angeldies.”

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The Northern Dial Project

Our Mantra

Northern Dial exists to prove that independent, community-driven radio can thrive in the streaming era. We believe Canadian music deserves better than algorithm playlists and quota-filling: it deserves context, curation, and a platform built by people who actually care.

Where We Are Now

This is v1: a homegrown, open-source passion project built from scratch. We're streaming 24/7 with curated blocks of Canadian music across genres, constantly adding new tracks to rotation, and developing the infrastructure for what comes next.

The Vision

Northern Dial is positioning to become a comprehensive Canadian music and culture platform with:

  • Hyper-local niche programming: city-specific shows, regional spotlights, and genre-focused blocks
  • Weekly shows and segments: hosted programs with personalities, guest mixes, artist interviews
  • Community news integration: local music scene coverage, event promotion, grassroots storytelling
  • Personality development: cultivating hosts and voices that connect with listeners
  • Exclusive and live content: live DJ sets, in-studio sessions, premiere releases
  • Complementary media website: reviews, features, news, and longform content supporting what's on air

This isn't just a radio station. It's a movement to reclaim space for independent Canadian voices in a landscape dominated by corporate consolidation and algorithmic curation.

How You Can Contribute

Northern Dial is community-powered. We welcome contributions in any capacity:

  • Sponsorship and Funding: Help us expand infrastructure, commission content, and compensate contributors
  • Grassroots Promotion: Share the station, spread the word, build the community
  • Content Submission: Submit music, podcasts, mixes, or ideas for programming
  • Development and Design: Contribute code, design assets, or technical expertise
  • Hosting and Production: Pitch show concepts, volunteer to host, produce segments
  • Writing and Journalism: Contribute to the future media platform with reviews, features, and reporting

Get Involved

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Northern Dial Radio
All Killer, All CanCon