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. 🎙️🎵 #IHateSimkin
Buy your 'I Hate Simkin' shirt here: https://604shop.com/products/i-hate-simkin-tee
Zach Gray and Tom Dobranski 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 music history. Jonathan tells them that he literally launched an entirely new division of his company, Light Organ Records, as a tactical "white label" maneuver just to make the hipster-leaning band feel comfortable signing with him over the shadow of 604's related commercial acts (Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, Marianas Trench etc.).
They chat about the early days of Lotus Child, carpooling to choir practice across Prince of Wales and Point Grey high schools, and the agonizing overnight shoots for the "Not In My Heart" stop-motion video. They also reflect on their atmospheric masterpiece Ancient Mars and how a music video inspired by the tragic Elisa Lam case ultimately forced them to change creative direction out of respect for her family.
Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.
23 Sept 2026
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 into 604's early decision to hold onto its digital rights, the disaster of 360 deals, the Marianas Trench "Hot Chocolate" video that changed how the label thought about the internet, Bieber's tweet that helped launch Carly Rae Jepsen, and why Cam thinks the AI moment right now feels a lot like 2001 all over again.
Cam's book, Track Changes: The Origin Story of Canadian Music on the Internet, 1990–2010, is out now — find it at your local bookseller or follow @trackchanges_ca on Instagram for the archive of clips and old ads that go with it.
Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.
9 Sept 2026
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 the music business has shifted — Warner Canada's leadership change, mass layoffs across the majors, and SOCAN's move to absorb CMRRA etc., as well as a longer term look at cultural and structural improvements that have happened across the years.
The episode includes analysis & stories around:
- Elliot Smith's unparalleled lyrics
- Where Nickelback's San Quentin idea came from
- Receiving Billboard recognition & why people appreciate different characters in music now
- Fionn's recent rise and developing teenage artists
- A look back on Dallas Smith's decision to go country & why more Default tracks are likely ahead
- & Much more!
Subscribe to I Hate Simkin for bi-weekly deep dives into iconic Canadian music stories, behind-the-scenes label moments, and artist's career turning points. Likes, comments, and feedback help massively — thank you for supporting the show.
Who has been a guest on I Hate Simkin
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jodie Ferneyhough
Brian Hetherman
Michael McCarty
Mike Kroeger
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
74,373
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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