Boom 99.7

Boom 99.7 (CJOT-FM) is an Ottawa radio station playing hits from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Broadcasting on 99.7 FM across the Ottawa–Gatineau area (National Capital Region), it offers a mix of pop, rock and disco, with a focus on older songs rather than new releases. The station launched on May 27, 2010 as 99.7 EZ Rock, switched to the Boom classic-hits format on June 30, 2011, and has been owned by Corus Entertainment since 2014.

The playlist moves between decades and styles. "Take On Me" and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" sit alongside "Livin' on a Prayer", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Le Freak", while late-evening tracks such as "Rocket Man", "Africa" and "Hotel California" slow the pace. Canadian artists, including The Tragically Hip, Tom Cochrane and Barenaked Ladies, also feature in the rotation. I went through a full day of the playlist: mornings lean on upbeat 80s tracks, and the late evening runs Eagles into Luba into Prince. It suits a commute, cooking or a shift at work.

On weekday mornings, Dan Chen hosts "The Boom Breakfast", followed by Tara Dawn through midday and Johnny Garbutt on the afternoon drive. On Friday and Saturday evenings, DJ Jamie C hosts the "Kitchen Party", with a more social, party-oriented feel. Longtime host Dylan Black left in the June 2025 layoffs.

Compared with CHEZ 106's heavier rock, Hot 89.9's current pop and Live 88.5's alternative mix, Boom covers more decades and leans on familiar hits. If you want newer releases or a harder rock sound, one of those stations may suit you better.

Boom has done well with younger adults. In Numeris data for April 2024–April 2025, it ranked second in Ottawa among men 18–34 (8.4% of hours tuned) and women 18–34 (11.2%), behind CBC Radio One. The spring 2026 summary does not name Boom among the leaders for women 18–34, but full figures are not public, so its current position is unclear. Boom was a nominee for Station of the Year, Classic/Gold in 2018; I found no record of a win.

Quick Facts

Frequency: 99.7 FM