In a year where internal tensions reached heights at 98.5 FM, a new revelation further inflames the already tarnished image of Cogeco’s main station.
According to Maxime Truman, popular host of the sports podcast Stanley25, a columnist at 98.5 FM can earn between $500 and $1,000 per 12-minute intervention.
Cogeco executives must have goosebumps knowing that this information has come out publicly. Here is the video clip that sent shivers down our spines:
Imagine: a segment of barely a quarter of an hour can bring in more than a week’s work for many Quebecers. This information reveals the extent of financial waste and, above all, the origin of some of the recent crises which have shaken the station.
Outsized salaries as great as the ego conflicts that befell the station.
According to our information, when we talk about a salary between 500 and 1000 dollars, we are aiming for the salary of a star columnist like MC Gilles or Pierre-Yves McSween before their dismissal.
And if we follow the logic, we then estimate that each column by Mc Gilles or McSween cost 1000 dollars per column.
These figures, which seem surreal, are even more shocking when juxtaposed with the toxic atmosphere that reigns within 98.5 FM.
MC Gilles, who had worked with the station for 19 years, was suddenly fired in April 2024, officially for professional differences.
Unofficially, everyone knows that Patrick Lagacé never accepted that a collaborator receive such a significant fee for a simple humorous column.
For his part, Pierre-Yves McSween, personal finance specialist, was also fired after a similar quarrel with Philippe Cantin, who would not have tolerated McSween wanting to become his co-host.
Cantin also did not accept that he earned so much by being, according to him, a “simple columnist.”?
These departures are not isolated cases: they demonstrate a toxic climate where ego conflicts and turf wars have transformed 98.5 FM into a veritable media battlefield.
Dave-Éric Ouellet, alias MC Gilles, has long been an emblematic figure of 98.5 FM, recognized for his humorous interventions which appealed to a wide audience.
However, in April 2024, he was unceremoniously fired, his computer access cut off, and his interventions immediately suspended.
According to his own statements, MC Gilles had refused to reduce his role to a single weekly column, a decision perceived as an affront by Patrick Lagacé, who wanted to refocus the show on more serious subjects.
This brutal ousting is part of a series of controversial decisions which have weakened the station and sparked outrage among listeners.
The case of Pierre-Yves McSween is even more revealing. A renowned financial popularizer, McSween not only attracted a large audience, but also major sponsors for the station.
Despite this, he was dismissed in July 2024, in circumstances which remain unclear but which seem directly linked to Philippe Cantin.
According to several sources, Cantin would have had trouble digesting the fact that McSween wanted to take up more space in the show and that he was threatening his place.
It is clear that Cantin also did not accept that McSween earned $1,000 per column, a remuneration he considered disproportionate to his own role as main host.
This tension reportedly reached a point of no return, precipitating McSween’s departure and triggering a series of criticisms against the management of 98.5 FM.
The treatment reserved for MC Gilles, McSween (let’s not forget Jeremy Filosa) is a symptom of a deeper problem: 98.5 FM is self-destructing.
Ego wars, absurd financial decisions and management’s inability to manage conflicts plunged the station into an unprecedented crisis.
Even listeners, long loyal to the station, are starting to turn their backs. The latest Numérismo surveys show a 21% drop in the audience for the return show, now hosted by Philippe Cantin.
This dizzying drop reflects not only a lack of interest in the content, but also a loss of confidence in the station and its management.
98.5 FM has become the epitome of what not to do in the media world: treating employees like pawns, letting personal conflicts or money dictate decisions, and wasting valuable financial resources. irresponsible manner.
It is possible to run a media company with respect, vision and integrity. By welcoming talent: power games and ego conflicts have no place in an organization that respects its employees and listeners.
Giving $1,000 to a columnist is one thing. Treating him with respect is another.
Patrick Lagacé today finds himself in an increasingly uncomfortable position, not only because of falling ratings, but also because of the internal controversies which are tarnishing the station’s image.
If the financial privileges granted to certain star columnists, such as MC Gilles and Pierre-Yves McSween, have aroused tensions, the revelations about the privileges granted to those close to Lagacé further inflame the situation, especially considering today how point it pays to be a columnist for 98.5 FM.
According to several internal sources, Patrick Lagacé used his influence to promote the hiring and advancement of women who shared a personal relationship with him.
These accusations, although difficult to verify publicly, fueled a climate of distrust within the team.
Jessica Leblanc, Lagacé’s current friend, former researcher and now regular columnist, would be one of the beneficiaries of this dynamic.
Other names are circulating. His ex, Marie-Ève Tremblay, is the main host of the Radio Texto show, broadcast from 10 a.m. to noon, giving rise to the idea that the favoritism system is not just an isolated case.
Needless to say, Philippe Cantin was Lagacé’s boss at La Presse and, above all, a great friend. The fact that Cantin got to host the comeback show is no coincidence.
We’re talking about two shows with horrible ratings. But these people have the privilege of being paid handsomely, just because they are emotionally close to Patrick Lagacé.
These privileges led to obvious frustration among station employees, particularly among long-time columnists like MC Gilles.
“Why do some people have to fight to keep their place while others get everything on a silver platter? » reportedly told an employee on condition of anonymity.
The forced departure of Pierre-Yves McSween also constituted an electric shock for listeners of 98.5 FM.
Patrick Lagacé’s management of the 98.5 FM morning show is also under fire from critics. Since he took office, several employees have denounced a tense work climate and a dysfunctional hierarchy. Lagacé, although undeniably talented, seems to have difficulty uniting his teams.
Despite still visible dominance in the polls, 98.5 FM is recording alarming losses. Patrick Lagacé’s morning show, although still at the top, saw its market share increase from 34.8% under Paul Arcand to 28.9%.
Disappointed listeners turn to competing stations or digital media, seeking less polarized content and a less confrontational atmosphere.
The situation is even worse for the return show with Philippe Cantin. Karma exists…and is worth more than 1000 dollars.
98.5 FM, once the undisputed fortress of talk radio in Quebec, is today a fortress under siege.
Ego wars, favoritism and controversial dismissals have shattered the foundations of this institution.
Patrick Lagacé, despite his talent and his notoriety, struggles to live up to the legacy left by Paul Arcand.
The public, tired of internal conflicts and questionable management choices, is sending a clear message: respect for auditors and employees is the key to loyalty.
For Lagacé and management, there is still time to turn things around, but the clock is ticking. And if nothing changes, they will lose much more than $1,000 per column.
Respect and dignity cannot be bought.
