I Hate Simkin
By 604 Podcast Network
Categories: Music, Music Commentary
I Hate Simkin is a no-holds-barred music industry podcast hosted by veteran music executive Jonathan Simkin. With decades in the business, Simkin has seen it all—and now he's telling the stories. Each episode, he sits down with artists, managers, and industry insiders he's crossed paths with over the years to revisit the wild, weird, and game-changing moments that shaped their careers. From behind-the-scenes chaos to untold anecdotes, I Hate Simkin is a deep dive into the music industry like you've never heard before. Unfiltered, insightful, and always entertaining—tune in for the real stories behind the music. 🎙️🎵 #IHateSimkinBuy your 'I Hate Simkin' shirt here: https://604shop.com/products/i-hate-simkin-tee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
44 episodes indexed on PodSearch.
Recent episodes
- Coleman Hell On His JUNOs Nightmare, Chad Kroeger's Tip That Led To Fireproof & More
Coleman Hell, the Thunder Bay singer-songwriter behind "Two Heads" and "Fireproof," sits down with Jonathan to look back on a wild decade, just as the 10th anniversary edition of Summerland arrives. In this episode Coleman talks: • How his mom sent a rap mixtape to 604 without telling him •…
- Zach Gray and Tom Dobrzanski of The Zolas Reminisce On Swooner, Ancient Mars, Molotov Girls & More
Jonathan gets a little emotional as he reunites with the founding minds behind one of Vancouver's most enduring indie-pop mainstays: Zach Gray and Tom Dobrzanski of The Zolas. In their first-ever podcast appearance together, Zach and Tom help piece together a blurry, 18-year timeline of indie…
- How The Internet Broke The Music Industry & Where AI Is Taking It With Cam Gordon
Jonathan sits down with music researcher, author, and former Twitter Canada head of communications Cam Gordon to trace 25 years of the music industry going digital — from the early download-store wars with Puretracks, to Napster panic and DRM fights, to the day Spotify changed everything. They dig…
- The Mailbag Episode - Why Dallas Left Default, Elliot Smith Was Unique, Nickelback's San Quentin & More
Not the Plaque Series — something a bit looser. This week Jonathan digs through everything that's piled up around the 604 offices lately: Plaques, an award, and one very personal autographed CD, going through them one by one as each turns into a story. Jonathan also takes a look at just how much…
- Quarterlife Crisis at 20: The Suits XL on Losing Yohann, Disappearing After a Top 10 Hit & More
It's been almost two decades since Jonathan last spoke with Olivier and Sam of The Suits XL — the Quebec City pop act that became 604 Records' first francophone signing and first Top 10 pop hit with "Play." To mark the 20th anniversary reissue of their album Quarterlife Crisis, the trio gets back…
- Taron Cochrane on Saskatchewan's Deep, Diverse Range of Music, Northern Pikes, Reviving The Raccoons & More
CBC producer Taron Cochrane has spent years telling stories about Canadian music. In this conversation with Jonathan Simkin they cover everything from championing Saskatchewan artists to helping bring national attention to The Raccoons soundtrack revival. Along the way they discuss Canadian punk…
- Ally Baran & Connell Simkin Watt On Marianas/Nickelback Concerts Behind The Scenes, Being Blind In Music & More
This episode is a little different. Jonathan is joined by his son, Connell Simkin Watt, and Connell's girlfriend, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Ally, for a conversation about songwriting, music school, and launching a career in today's music industry. Ally shares the story behind her upcoming…
- How Nickelback Got Signed: A&R Legend Ron Burman on the Early Days of Nickelback & 604 Records
Jonathan welcomes a true industry titan and longtime friend: Ron Burman, the legendary former A&R executive at Roadrunner Records who famously signed Nickelback. Jonathan and Ron jump into a time capsule to reconstruct the late-'90s grind that launched a multi-platinum powerhouse. They reveal how…
- The Music Industry Is Rigged? Jo Loewenthal on the Truth Behind Publishing Deals (Part 2)
Jo Loewenthal joins Jonathan Simkin for part 2 of this chat exposing the music industry. Jo explains why he terminated his publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing and why he's now asking the Supreme Court of New South Wales to determine whether that termination was valid. The…
- Jo Loewenthal's Shocking Audit of the Music Industry - Part 1
After seeing Jo Lowenthal publicly question how artists get paid, Jonathan reached out. What followed was a deep conversation about publishing, neighbouring rights, missing data, royalty collection systems, transparency, and why so many artists struggle to understand where their money actually…
- The Plaque Series Part 2 Episode 3: Carly Rae's I Really Like You, My Darkest Days' Pornstar Dancing, & Theory of a Deadman's Scars & Souvenirs
We're back with the last episode of our second plaque series! From Theory of a Deadman fighting the "Nickelback clone" label, to the controversy around My Darkest Days' "Porn Star Dancing," to the emotional fallout after Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" era — this episode dives deep into the…
- The Plaque Series Part 2 Episode 2: Nickelback's The Long Road, Marianas Trench's Astoria, & A Rant On The Organ's Acceptance Speech
Jonathan Simkin breaks down the real story behind Nickelback backlash, internet hate culture, Marianas Trench pressure, and the fallout between 604 Records and The Organ. From The Long Road selling millions while being labeled a "failure," to when Nickelback started to get public abuse, Jonathan…
- The Plaque Series Part 2 Episode 1: Matthew Good's The Last of the Ghetto Astronauts, Coleman Hell's 2 Heads, & Dani & Lizzy's Dancing in the Sky
We're back with the plaque series for three more episodes! Jonathan Simkin reacts to some of the biggest records and strangest success stories of his career. He breaks down how Matthew Good went from playing small Vancouver cafes to becoming one of the biggest bands in Canada, why Two Heads…
- Ryan Worsley on his Studio Hospitalizing him, The JUNOs Fading, Producing Dear Rouge & More
Ryan is one of Vancouver's most respected producers, mixers, and songwriters. He has worked with artists including Dear Rouge, Fake Shark, The Royal Foundry, and many others across the Canadian music scene. In this episode, Ryan breaks down how he built his studio from the ground up, how it…
- Historian Aaron Chapman on Iconic Vancouver Venues, Leaving Live Nation, His Punk Band & More
Vancouver historian, musician, and author Aaron Chapman joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from punk rock stages to city politics. Aaron spent over 20 years working inside Vancouver's live music world, including at major venues like The Commodore Ballroom during the shift…
- The 60420 Special - Music & Marijuana and Our Best Picks for 4/20
We're giving you the ultimate 4/20 guide on 4/19! Jonathan Simkin sits down to chat through the best music you can listen to on 4/20, ranging from trippy Intraset tunes to Peter Tosh to Born Slippy by Underworld. There's chat on why there's such a range of music linked with Cannabis and nostalgia…
- From PA to Award-Winning Director: Emma Higgins On Her Rise With Kesi Smyth & Jonathan Simkin
Emma Higgins and Kesi Smyth join I Hate Simkin for a full-circle conversation about building careers in music, film, and everything in between. Emma went from PA'ing on music video sets to becoming an award-winning music director with a feature film now streaming. Kesi helped shape 604 Records…
- Kevvy Maher On Co-Writing With Carly Rae Jepsen, Comics vs Musicians, HMV Encounters With Gary Oldman And Tom Green & More
Kevvy Maher of Fake Shark joins I Hate Simkin to talk about behind the scenes stories of Canada's music and comedy industry. They cover: • How Carly Rae Jepsen's early album was nearly scrapped • Why "Call Me Maybe" became the single • From working at HMV to quitting for music • Building 604…
- Steve Bays on Hot Hot Heat's Collapse, AI in Music Is Getting Scary, Latest on Mounties & More
Steve Bays, singer of Hot Hot Heat, joins I Hate Simkin for an in-depth conversation about the realities of success in the music industry. From recording DIY demos and signing with Sub Pop and Warner Bros to touring internationally and landing major radio hits, Steve reflects on how fame reshaped…
- Kayla Diamond on Leaving Law To Launch a Label, How Spotify Has Made & Erased Careers & More
Kayla Diamond joins I Hate Simkin to chat about the realities of the modern music industry — the parts that happen after you make it. Kayla shares how she left law school to pursue music, accidentally hung up on the label that signed her, and quickly found herself navigating radio success, touring…
- Fionn On Why People Assume They're Bad Before They Even Play & Humiliation Of Their Early TikToks
Fionn (Alanna & Brianne Finn Morris) sit down for an honest, unfiltered conversation about building a music career from childhood. From nearly losing their first audition to extortion pressure, to busking with their own speakers, to finally earning their first-ever Billboard #1 plaque, this…
- Dave Benedict & Danny Craig on Default's Rise & Fall, Watching Dallas' Country Career, How TVT Records Failed them & More
Danny Craig and Dave Benedict of Default join Jonathan Simkin for a brutally honest breakdown of how the band really got started — and what almost ended it. From Chad Kroeger discovering the band and early Vancouver showcases, to Greenhouse Studios, Nickelback tours, and the chaotic rise of…
- Theory of a Deadman pt.2: The Nickelback Relationship & The New Sound in Upcoming Music
In this episode of I Hate Simkin, Jonathan Simkin sits down with Tyler Connolly and Dean Back of Theory of a Deadman for a brutally honest conversation about record labels, ownership, and what it actually means to be a rock band in today's music industry. They break down why major label deals…
- Theory of a Deadman part 1: The Record Deal that Launched the Band & 604, Surviving Napster & More
In this episode of I Hate Simkin, Jonathan Simkin sits down with Tyler Connolly and Dean Back of Theory of a Deadman to tell the full, unfiltered origin story of the band — from basement showcases and water delivery jobs to label bidding wars, major record deals, and multi-platinum hits. They…
- Crash Test Dummies vs Carly Rae Jepsen, MTV/SNL/Letterman changed everything & more with Jeff Rogers
What really happens when a band suddenly explodes? Jonathan Simkin sits down with legendary Canadian manager Jeff Rogers (Crash Test Dummies, The Pursuit of Happiness, Rusty) to break it down. Jeff dives into: 🎵 How ignoring "industry rules" helped his career 🎵 Why Canada's music scene pushes…
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