Longtime Northern Michigan radio and television personality Vic McCarty has passed away. He died April 6 at Munson Hospice House in Traverse City. He had been battling stage 4 metastatic cancer.
After twelve years on the air together, Ron Jolly and Colleen Wares are retiring together. Their last broadcast will be this Friday (4/10) from 7-10 am. The Ron Jolly Show, which debuted on WTCM in November of 1994, is the longest-running morning radio show in northern Michigan. The show features a blend of local and national news, guest interviews, commentary and listener feedback.
Madison, Wisconsin-based Civic Media, which expanded its ownership into Michigan with the purchase of stations formerly owned by Jerry Hackman’s J&J Broadcasting, has announced a format flip at its WMPL-AM/W297CD in Hancock, flipping the signals from talk and sports to oldies under the moniker “Yooper 107.3.”
Audacy announced that veteran media executive Debbie Kenyon has been named Regional President for its Central US markets, representing some of the biggest names in local audio. Kenyon, currently Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Audacy Detroit, will assume broader responsibilities. During more than 25 years leading the Detroit market.
Graham Media Group has appointed Stephanie Slagle Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer and General Manager of WDIV-TV (Detroit). Slagle, who has served as the company’s vice president and chief revenue officer, expands her leadership to include full oversight of one of the country’s most respected local television stations.
WQHH-FM (Dewitt/Lansing) Program Director Brion O’Brion has been selected for the National Black Radio Hall of Fame. O’Brion says getting that news brought him right back to where it all started, as a teenager learning radio hands on in Norfolk, Virginia, under his mentor Rick Partey. O’Brion was nominated in the “Talented Brothers of Radio Award” along with two others.
Buck Matthews, who for years was a household name in West Michigan as a WOOD TV (Grand Rapids) weatherman and show host passed away this past Monday (3/30). He was 97.Matthews joined WOOD-TV in 1961 and remained on air for more than two decades.
Fifty-year Detroit Radio legend Doug Podell who, in February, retired while at iHeart’s WLLZ-FM, decided to incorporate a reunion of some of the well-remembered personalities who were a part of Detroit’s first “underground” progressive rock and roll FM station, 99.5 WABX (now country WYCD).
Mid-West Family Broadcasting announced this week that it is bringing back “98.3 The Coast” branding on its WCXT-FM (Hartford/Benton Harbor). For several years now the frequency was host to “Live 98.3” and featuring an alternative rock format.
Two Michigan Public staff members have been selected to receive National Gracie Awards. Mercedes Mejia, host of the station’s “The Dish” culinary podcast, won a National Gracie Award for best Interview Feature. Additionally, Kate Wells won for her Public Health coverage as best Reporter/Correspondent.