Jonathan Simkin Launches New Podcast
I Hate Simkin Premieres Friday, May 16th

After decades of working in Canada’s music industry, Jonathan Simkin — co-founder and president of 604 Records and a force behind artists like Marianas Trench, Carly Rae Jepsen, Nickelback, Theory of a Deadman, and Coleman Hell — is finally stepping in front of the mic. His new podcast, I Hate Simkin, launches Friday, May 16th, and it’s just as outrageous, sharp, provocative and unfiltered as anyone who’s worked with him might expect.

 Simkin is turning the spotlight on himself in this no-holds-barred series, sitting down with the artists & collaborators who’ve helped build the shape the Canadian music business over the last quarter century. 

 The title I Hate Simkin is more than an inside joke — it’s a reference to the infamous T-shirt worn by Nickelback’s Mike Kroeger on red carpets. It speaks to the industry-wide love/hate relationship with Simkin: a man known for blunt honesty, ruthless feedback, and an unrelenting passion for music. The podcast exposes label politics, creative clashes, near-disasters, and the wild moments that never make it into official press releases.

 Season one guests include Mike Kroeger himself, legendary booking agent Ralph James, noted Record and Publishing executive Michael McCarty,  and more — offering raw conversations and inside stories revealing the beauty and the ugliness of the music industry.

 I Hate Simkin drops bi-weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.