On August 29, Gray Television announced a new minimum wage of $18 per hour across the company. The new policy will become effective on October 1, 2022, for essentially all full-time, non-commissioned and non-contracted employees of Gray and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Roughly 2,000 employees will receive a raise as a result of this new policy.
As radio continues to compete with a multitude of competitors, including Spotify and SiriusXM, the importance of air personalities remains a key to the industry’s success. For the fourth consecutive year, Michigan-base Jacobs Media Strategies, in partnership with Morning Show Boot Camp, is releasing the findings of its AQ4 study in a free webinar on Thursday, September 8 at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Podcast Movement returned last week. This time, the annual conference convened in Dallas. Thousands of podcasters, as well as representatives from podcast-adjacent industries, descended on the city for a week of learning and networking. I had the good fortune to attend. Here are my biggest takeaways
Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ed Christian, founder and chairman of Michigan-based Saga Communications passed away August 19 following a short illness. Christian bought WCER AM/FM (Charlotte) in 1970, but would sell the stations three years later to become VP/GM of 100.3 WNIC Detroit. He would then rise to President of Josephson Communications until purchasing the company for $38.5 million to form Saga.
Cadillac-based Heritage Broadcasting Company has announced an additional hour to its (already) 9 hours of news and content by launching Good Day Northern Michigan beginning September 6. Viewers can watch this show on WWTV/WWUP-TV starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. This move will make the one-hour show the only local content northern Michigan can watch in this timeframe.
The FCC last Friday released its second EEO audit notice for 2022 (available here), this time targeting approximately 130 radio and TV stations. Those stations, and the station employment units (commonly owned stations serving the same area) with which they are associated, must provide to the FCC…
WGRT-FM (Port Huron) has announced the addition of Choze (Harold) Powerll to its local news team. Powell joined the station the week of August 8. Choze currently serves on the board of the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, and he received the Chamber Choice award at the 2022 Eddy Awards ceremony in May.
Audacy has announced the debut of “Cash the Ticket,” a new football betting podcast from 2400Sports, the company’s sports podcast studio. Hosted by WXYT-FM (97.1 The Ticket)/Detroit’s Mike Valenti and Jim Costa, twice weekly episodes will spotlight both the NFL and college football from Labor Day until the end of the season.
Liggett Communication’s News/Talk/Sports 1380 WPHM continues to celebrate its a milestone anniversary this year. In March of 1947, the radio station originally known as WTTH was first issued a license from the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast on AM 1360 in Port Huron with 1,000 watts of power. WTTH signed on the air December 6th, 1947 with its call sign reflecting its original owner, The Times Herald newspaper.
Stay in the radio business long enough, and sooner or later you’ll find yourself out of work. It’s a rite of passage.
But that doesn’t change the fact that in the moments immediately following your dismissal, you’re prone to panic. I’ve been there more than once twice: carrying a box full of office supplies and old backstage passes out to the car.