99.9 Virgin Radio — CKFM-FM

99.9 Virgin Radio (CKFM-FM) is what Toronto, Ontario’s flagship pop station sounds like. The station has been on the air since 1947. It is now owned by Bell Media, while the Virgin brand is licensed from Virgin Group. A powerful transmitter at the CN Tower covers the entire Greater Toronto Area on 99.9 FM, while the online stream reaches listeners across Canada. The format is classic CHR / Top 40, aimed at listeners aged 18 to 54, with a particular focus on women. In Toronto, the station has a long-standing rival in KiSS 92.5. But while KiSS leans more toward club mixes and urban culture, Virgin Radio stands out with live interaction, major promotions and a strong on-air team.

Music Balance and the Canadian Scene

There is little chance of getting bored here: fresh tracks from Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande rotate heavily throughout the day. At the same time, the station strictly follows Canada’s 35% CanCon requirement. That is a major plus, as alongside global hits from The Weeknd and Drake, the station also gives airtime to standout Canadian artists such as Charlotte Cardin and Devon Cole. Through the Pick The Hits poll, listeners can even have a say in which songs deserve to stay in rotation and which ones are ready to be retired.

The Voices Behind the Mic

The people behind the microphone are a big part of what makes this station tick. Mornings are hosted by Daryn Jones and Deepa Prashad on Daryn & Deepa Mornings. Interestingly, Daryn got his start performing street comedy right outside the windows of the same studio, while Deepa also creates content around Formula 1. During the day, Shannon Burns takes over the airwaves — in 2022, she received the Allan Waters Award as Canada’s Best Young Broadcaster. The evening prime-time slot belongs to Sam East and Deim Nellas. Deim also works as the station’s music director, giving him a particularly good sense of what Toronto wants to hear on the drive home.

This is a station for anyone who wants to stay at the centre of modern pop culture and discover the biggest global tracks before everyone else. A mix of genuine live radio, real listener influence over the playlist and generous cash promotions makes it one of the most prominent music stations in the Greater Toronto Area.

Quick Facts

Frequency: 99.9 FM