From the inception of the DJ or Record Pool system in 1976 with the formation of the Canadian Record Pool in Montreal and the Ontario Disco Pool in Toronto, the system has thrived and survived, undergoing various changes to reflect the technological, musical, cultural and business imperatives of the Canadian music industry and society in general. For over 20 years record companies such as Sony, BMG, EMI, PolyGram, MCA, Warner, Quality, Popular, SPG, Koch, Attic, Virgin, and Hi-Bias and others have recognized the pools as the frontline for laying down a foundation for new club-driven recordings. There are at least 15 pools of varying sizes, specialty interests and strengths across Canada. The Cheer DJ Pool, founded by Daniel Caudeiron in 1977, is recognized as the leader, the trend-setter and the blueprint for the entire system of DJ promotional reporting.
DJs join on the recommendation of other DJs, record reps and music service contacts. Every prospective DJ is screened carefully for their interest beyond acquiring cheap white-label, hard-to- find records and remixes. Only the most promotion, network, CanDance-minded DJs are admitted. And even then, they are always on probation, having to prove their mettle each week.
BREAKING DOWN CHEER
THE MUSIC PLAYED:
EVERYBODY plays Mainstream dance: House, Euro, NRG, Freestyle, Dance Pop, Funk, Old School,
R&B crossover, Retro-Disco, Trance, Techno, and Latin-pop. We have special crews, squads and
sections focusing on hardcore elements in hip hop, alternative (whatever that means these days),
Afro-Caribbean, and progressive to underground house and electronica.
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT:
DJs work in this pool. They pick up product weekly, phone in their picks, review all records
serviced, hip the co-ordinator to hype imports, communicate directly with the promo departments
at labels when asked, and provide weekly input to the official Cheer charts. They attend regular
bi-weekly pool meetings, special gatherings to meet and greet visiting, touring artists, participate
actively in club promotions, and attempt to network with member DJs and DJs in other pools.
Cheer DJ Pool reports feedback, new adds, and chart positions weekly to all reps, contacts and promoters of all supplying labels, companies and distribution divisions as well as to assigned consultants. Weekly chart ads and stats are faxed to dance radio, dance retail, Electric Circus, THE RECORD, RPM, StreetSound, The Bridge, Billboard, Club Scene, Peace, Tribe, Club_Music, DMA, Hot Toronto, Mic Check, other pools, the CDJA, CMW, the music publishing houses, RPI, DMC Canada, ERG, Spinning Sounds, Advance Warning, and all other such remix, service, and supply agencies in our community.
Within 48 hours of their weekly product service DJs are required to phone in their 3 picks, their top personal choices and projections for future stardom. The aggregate 3 PICKS list is faxed to all suppliers.
The Big 3/Most Wanted is an occasional tipsheet of the hottest, most talked about, most requested imports now being played by cheer DJs and which are most likely to deserve domestic release and promotion.
On a weekly basis, usually by Friday morning, the Cheer 50, Alternative, Urban, Quiet Storm, House and Reggae-Soca charts are supplied to the trades, record labels, and other interested contacts.
For information about servicing dance product, Cheer can be reached at (416) 463-8880 Monday to Friday from 10am to 4:30pm. You may leave a message at this number at any other time.
Cheer is now on line, with our own home page under construction and maintained for us by pool member Mike May on his MMT web site. You can find us at http://www.m-m-t.com/
Through 1997, as we have done since mid-1977, Cheer will continue to do its job -- promoting new dance product, CanDance and International, through the most significant clubs and cutting edge DJs to the dance market in Toronto and environs. And we will be marking our 20th year of activity throughout 1997 --- so lookout!!!
There will be continuous events, meetings, special publications and parties to mark the glorious 20th ANNIVERSARY of North America's hardest-working and most successful DJ/Dance/Record/Music/Club Pool.
Keep checking out this home page and web site for forthcoming announcements.
FAMOUS CHEER DISCIPLES:
Many famous Canadian DJs have graduated from the Cheer DJ Pool including: