January 2021
FCC Issues an EAS Enforcement Advisory
The Federal Communications Commission is reminding broadcasters and other EAS participants of their obligations to comply with the Emergency Alert System rules, including ensuring that alerts are accessible to persons with disabilities. “In reporting on the most recent national level test of the EAS, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau noted improvements in…
Read MoreWJR’s Frank Beckmann Announces Retirement
WJR-AM (Detroit) Mid-Morning On-Air Host Frank Beckmann has announced his retirement after a 48-year radio career with the Detroit station. A sports broadcasting legend, Beckmann has hosted “The Frank Beckmann Show” on WJR weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to Noon for the last 18 years. His last show will air on Friday, March 26, 2021. Named…
Read MoreDates Set for Comments on FCC’s Zonecasting Rulemaking Proposal for FM Boosters
Editors note: On January 21 at 2 p.m. Eastern, David Oxenford will present a free webinar to MAB members ““What Can Broadcasters Expect in 2021?” On January 20, we will be inaugurating a new President. With a new administration, there will be changes throughout the government, including at the FCC. The day after the inauguration, join…
Read MoreWXYZ Giving Away More than 10,000 Books to Children
With donations this past summer from station employees and the community, plus a matching contribution from the Scripps Howard Foundation, WXYZ-TV/WMYD-TV (Detroit) was able to collect over 10,000 books for children that will be distributed beginning on January 19. “I am so proud of the team at WXYZ-TV and TV20 Detroit, and our viewers, for…
Read MoreFormer WNMU-TV General Manager Bruce Turner Passes
Bruce Turner, who is known for his legendary impact on public broadcasting in Upper Michigan, has died. According to Eric Smith, Director of Broadcast & AV Services at NMU, Turner died Saturday (1/9) following a brief illness. He was 82. Turner retired from NMU in 2019 following a 56-year career as WNMU-TV’s original station manager. In…
Read MoreWGHN/WMPA Stuffed the Bus for Christmas
On December 19, WGHN-FM/WMPA-FM/Oldies 94.9 (Grand Haven) hosted their 8th Annual Stuff the Bus with the local Culver’s and Dean Transportation. This year they brought the Grand Haven and Spring Lake Rotarian’s onboard as partners and were able to provide over two tons of food for the Love in Action, Salvation Army, The People’s Center…
Read More21 for 21 … 21 Programming Ideas for the New Year 2021
By: Gary Berkowitz Berkowitz Broadcast Consulting As we enter 2021, here are 21 programming points that will help you construct a “solid foundation” for your station in the new year. As each of the 21 points are released, they will appear here. Please check out my YouTube videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/garyberk1. 1. The music library and…
Read MoreWMJO’S “SANTA JOE” Delivers Over 1,000 Toys to Two Saginaw Hospitals
The pandemic did not stop MacDonald Broadcasting’s SANTA JOE from delivering boxes and bags of toys to kids spending their holiday week in the Hospital … and beyond Christmas. The toys are “gifted” to children who are hospitalized throughout the year. 97.3 JOE FM’s 7th Annual SANTA JOE promotion began in mid-January, asking listeners to…
Read MoreBridges Named VP of Programming of Macdonald-Garber
Robby Bridges has been named VP of Programming/South at Macdonald-Garber Broadcasting. Bridges will oversee programming for the company’s Traverse City and Cadillac MI clusters including country WLXV-FM and adult hits WZTC-FM, with day to day responsibility for heritage CHR WKHQ. He will continue to host “Robby and Rochelle” mornings on the station as well. “I’m…
Read MoreAnne Carlini Joins WLLZ For Mornings
iHeartMedia has announced that longtime market veteran Anne Carlini has joined its classic rock WLLZ-FM (Detroit) as Morning Show host. Carlini spent 30 years cross town at rocker WRIF-FM (Detroit). She most recently was midday host at Black Diamond Broadcasting’s WGFM/WGFE (Traverse City). WLLZ program director Casey Krukowski told All Access, “We are excited to…
Read More