September 04, 2025
There’s a new voice on the FM dial in Yellowknife, NWT. Cabin Radio has recently been given a licence to broadcast after many years of applications and rejections.
What began as an independent and online live stream for music and news in Yellowknife has now emerged as a voice for those looking to share their vision of the NWT.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced its decision at the end of July to permit another station to broadcast on its airwaves.
“Getting these licences is the end of a long process.”
The five-person, locally owned company, which was established in 2016 but first began streaming online in 2018, had been rejected due to the need for more radio transmissions given the size of the listening area and the level of engagement with its available audience.
“We applied in 2023 and we were told there was not enough market to sustain two stations,” Ollie Williams, Editor and Co-Founder of Cabin Radio, said. “Getting these licences is the end of a long process.”
Hundreds of supporters joined the conversation on social media, and a strong letter-writing campaign helped prove the need for more diverse voices on the FM dial. Residents, musicians, businesses and politicians got involved to throw their support behind Cabin Radio.
Funded through local support and advertising, those who saw a need, including residents who wanted a new voice in the area, kept beating the drum. Owners and volunteers continued to contact the CRTC and host shows to prove that they had the audience. Now Cabin Radio intends to prove its worth with continued local news, strong journalism and its mandate for promoting Northern and Canadian artists.
“We’ve been able to demonstrate the value we bring to this community,” Williams said.
Two of Cabin Radio's owners, Andrew Goodwin (left) and Ollie Williams, at the CRTC's Gatineau headquarters in June. (We had no reason to be there, we were in Ottawa and figured it was worth a detour to take this photo just in case we ever got a licence.) Andrew Goodwin/Cabin Radio
Carmen Braden’s family has been in Yellowknife since 1964. She’s a Juno-nominated artist and musician who makes her living in the music industry in Yellowknife. She thinks Cabin Radio does a lot for local artists, including providing some of the best news reporting in the area.
Braden was concerned about her kids and senior parents having basic access to local radio, especially when radio is the dominant medium in the region, and it can be difficult for them to access internet livestreams.
“I want to listen to Cabin Radio on the radio,” Braden said. “I have one in my car, my house and my cabin.”
She also believes that having local representation — and building a fan base through local stations —is key to making progress in the Canadian music scene.
“If we can’t even get played where we’re from, what hope do we have making it beyond?” Braden said.
While Canada doesn’t impose content requirements on internet radio, well before receiving its FM licence, Cabin Radio has made it a priority to feature Canadian talent, playing at least 40% Canadian music, which exceeds the 35% required of Canadian FM stations. Local music is also a regular part of their daily playlists.
“I want my audience to grow,” Braden said. “I want my music in people’s ears, bums in the seats at my shows.”
The new FM licence for Cabin Radio will help them expand their programming. Williams wants to see more music with a bigger mix of commercial hits and Northern artists. They’re also hoping to bring more news content and current affairs, as well as programming in French and Indigenous languages.
"Now we have to deliver the service we fought for. We still have a lot of work to do."
The two-day hearing to decide the fate of the internet livestream’s right to broadcast in Yellowknife was opposed by a rival station, Vista Radio. They claimed Yellowknife and the surrounding area could not sustain two FM frequencies and would disrupt market stability. However, CRTC decided to grant Cabin Radio a licence based on the notion that “it would increase competition and add to the diversity of voices on the airwaves in the Yellowknife area.”
Williams appreciates all the support the station has received since launching its Facebook page in 2017. However, the real work has only just begun for him and his tight-knit crew of radio enthusiasts. It will take a few more months to finalize the logistics of getting the station ready for broadcasting to a broader audience.
“Now we have to deliver the service we fought for,” Williams said. “We still have a lot of work to do.”
Cabin Radio will have to install new hardware and software to transition their online presence to the FM dial. This includes purchasing and setting up a radio transmitter at 93.9 FM before receiving clearance to broadcast. The CRTC also requires them to have a secure location with the proper technical equipment to ensure clear transmission and reliable coverage throughout the area.
However, the team is ready for the challenge. They look forward to preserving a medium enjoyed by many in the North–a tradition of sitting around the speakers, listening to new, local and national bands that inspire the next generation of musicians and journalists.
