February 2020
MAB Names Jayne Hodak as Executive Director of Programs
The MAB has hired Jayne Hodak as the Executive Director of Programs! Jayne has an extensive history in Michigan Broadcasting, spending more than 25 years in television newsrooms across the state. Most recently, she served as the News Director for WJRT-TV (Flint). She has also worked at stations in Traverse City, Lansing and Detroit. Jayne…
Read MoreHow to Aircheck Yourself on the Cheap
By: Seth Resler Jacobs Media Strategies As a podcaster, I find myself in a situation that was foreign to me during my radio days: as an air talent without a program director to provide critical feedback. Feedback is, of course, how broadcasters get better. As much as we sometimes fear aircheck sessions, they make us…
Read MoreWDRQ Detroit Becomes New Country 93.1
Cumulus Media has refreshed its Detroit Country-formatted station WDRQ-FM, relaunching the station as “New Country 93.1.” The change took place February 18. The station has been known as “93.1 Nash-FM” since December 2013. With the change in handle, afternoon host Bill ‘Broadway’ Bert will move his “Electric Barnyard” from afternoons to mornings with Kristina ‘Krissy’…
Read MoreLt. Gov. Gilchrist Signs Marijuana Bills Into Law
On February 19, Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist signed House Bills 4126 and 4127 into law. Both laws pertain to the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA). House Bill 4126 requires the MRA to promulgate a rule requiring marijuana establishments to include a warning on marijuana packaging for women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or…
Read MoreJade Springart Named APD and Midday Host at WRIF
Beasley Media Group has announced that Jade Springart has promoted to Assistant Program Director and Midday Host at WRIF-FM (Detroit). She will begin her new position immediately. Springart has been with the station for the past 12 years. She most recently served as the Music Director and as a weekend on-air personality at WRIF. In…
Read MoreMichigan Radio’s Bryce Huffman Explores Black History in America with Live Dates Around State
Michigan Radio West Michigan Reporter and Same Same Different podcast host/creator Bryce Huffman is hosting three live events around the state that will explore the importance of black history in America — how it’s being taught and its impact on black identity. At each event Bryce and his panel will be discussing these and other…
Read MoreGray Television to Buy Lansing LPTV
On February 14, an application was filed with the FCC to transfer the license of WLNM-LD (Lansing) from Tri-State Christian TV, Inc. to Gray Television. Gray also owns full-power WILX-TV (Lansing), plus WJRT-TV (Flint) and WLUC-TV (Marquette). The deal permits Tri-State to program one digital subchannel on WLNM for five years after Gray takes ownership.…
Read MoreWYCD’s Chuck Edwards, Beasley’s George Beasley Named To Country Radio Hall Of Fame!
At ceremonies on February 19, The Country Radio Hall of Fame has announced its 2020 inductees and there are a couple of names known to Michigan broadcasters. The honorees include Chuck Edwards, of “Chuck, Rachael and Grunwald In The Morning” on Entercom’s WYCD-FM (Detroit). Chuck has spent the past 20 years at WYCD/Detroit where he…
Read MoreFinalists Announced in 2019 Michigan APME Broadcast Contest
Finalists have been announced in the Michigan Associated Press Media Editors 2019 radio and TV contest. The awards in actual order of finish — first or second — will be announced at the annual Michigan APME annual awards banquet April 4 in Lansing. The General Excellence, Rising Star and First Amendment award winners also will…
Read MoreWhen Does a Radio Station Project Deserve Its Own Website?
By: Seth Resler Jacobs Media Strategies From time to time, radio broadcasters will ask me whether an initiative their station is working on warrants the creation of a website separate from the radio station’s website. We might be talking about a morning show, a concert festival or a large contest. For example, let’s say your…
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