July 2022
Brant Wells Named WKAR Senior Director of Television and Digital Operations
Brant Wells has been named WKAR’s senior director of television and digital operations. He most recently served as senior director of television production and operations. In his newly expanded role, Wells adds oversight of the station’s digital strategy and execution for both TV and radio. He will focus on growing the current digital content offerings…
Read MoreBlarney Stone Launches “Q100 Michigan Homegrown Music”
Blarney Stone Broadcasting is launching a locally produced, one-hour program dedicated to honoring Michigan’s incomparable music tradition. Q100 Michigan Homegrown Music, with host Ida Reed, features Michiganders, as individuals and groups, who offer a true variety of delicious sound with so much talent and creativity in myriad musical genres. Reed’s show will air Thursdays between…
Read MoreFCC Cracking Down on Long Periods of Station Silence – Short-Term Renewals for Radio Stations Silent More than 25% of License Term
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP The FCC’s Audio Division, in the latter part of the license renewal cycle for radio stations, seems to have adopted a more aggressive position on stations that were silent for extended periods of time during their license term. In our summary of last week’s events of importance to broadcasters, we noted one case where an Oklahoma…
Read MoreHBO’s “Hacks” Offers an Important Lesson for Radio Air Talent
By: Seth Resler Jacobs Media Strategies Over the weekend, I had an opportunity to catch up on a few quality television shows. (FWIW, The Bear and Abbott Elementary are my recent favorites.) Among the programs that I am now proudly up to date on is HBO’s Hacks, a show starring national treasure Jean Smart as…
Read MoreMAB to Offer Political Revenue Webinar in August
The political season is in full swing and broadcasters have the opportunity to learn about the opportunities available both for on-air and digital campaigns. During the August Third Thursday (August 18), the MAB is offering a two-part webinar starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. In Part One, AdCellerant will discuss digital marketing revenue opportunities, tactics and…
Read MoreMichigan Radio’s Steve Schram Announces Retirement
Stephen Schram, Executive Director & General Manager of Michigan Radio has announced that he will retire from the station this fall on November 30th. He was personally recruited by University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman in 2006. “I have had the opportunity to be a part of many remarkable organizations throughout my media career.…
Read MoreCBS News Detroit Announces Talent Hires for WWJ-TV
CBS News Detroit, which will soon be launching a full-scale local news department, has announced the hiring of anchors Shaina Humphries and Rachelle Graham, meteorologist Ahmad Bajjey, and executive producer of community impact Amyre Makupson. CBS News Detroit is the hyper-local streaming and broadcast news service that is being built from scratch by CBS News…
Read MoreWBET Raises Nearly $144k for United Way
Swick Broadcasting Company’s WBET-FM (Sturgis) recently wrapped up their 2022 and 13th annual St. Joseph County United Way Radiothon. This year’s Radiothon raised a record total of $143,887! The total surpassed last year’s mark by over $12,000. Each year, WBET turns over its studio to the United Way for 18-hours, from 6 a.m. until midnight.…
Read MoreWEYI/WSMH-TV Welcome New Chief Meteorologist Erik Kostrzewa
WEYI and WSMH-TV (Flint) has announced the arrival of new Chief Meteorologist Erik Kostrzewa. Kostrzewa, a Michigan native who grew up in Novi, graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Engineering in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. Prior to joining the Flint stations, he was a Meteorologist for WeatherNation, based in Denver. Kostrzewa…
Read MoreMAB Lobbyist Firm Kelley Cawthorne Adds Three Partners to Leadership Team
Kelley Cawthorne, the Midwest’s leading multi-client lobbying firm, continued its rapid growth by announcing (7/14) the elevation of three team members to partnership status and promotion of another to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Government relations professionals Jim Kirsch, Jason Sheppard and David Hildenbrand have achieved partnership status at the firm as of July…
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