By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP In a press release issued today (2/7), the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) and performing rights organization Global Music Rights (GMR) announced that enough commercial radio stations signed the GMR licensing agreement to allow the settlement of the RMLC/GMR litigation to become effective. As we wrote when the settlement was announced early last month,…
Nexstar’s WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) has announced that Marlee Wierda joined the station as a Sports Reporter and Weekend Sports Anchor. She began her new position last month. Wierda previously was the Weekend Sports Anchor at sister Nexstar station WCIA-TV in Champaign, IL. Prior to joining WCIA, Wierda interned for the Florida Panthers NHL Team, where…
Crain’s Detroit reports that iHeartMedia Inc. is relocating its six local radio stations from Farmington Hills to Eastern Market, in the heart of the commercial food district. Radio stations WJLB-FM, WKQI-FM, WLLZ-FM, WMXD-FM, WNIC-FM and WDFN-AM will move into the former Detroit Brewing Company building, which is currently under renovation at the corner of Orleans…
By: Seth Resler Jacobs Media Strategies We’re all hoping that when the cold weather recedes, it will take COVID-19 with it. This summer, we may once again return to hosting the marquee events that generate revenue for radio stations from both tickets sales and sponsorships. An event’s digital presence can make or break it. When…
CBS News Detroit has announced that Paul Pytlowany has been named news director of WWJ-TV (CBS 62) and WKBD-TV (CW50). Pytlowany recently served as the WWJ and WKBD’s director of local production and community affairs since 2017. As part of his new position, Pytlowany will also play a role in helping CBS News Detroit with…
The award-winning Michigan-based public affairs television series Off the Record marks 50 years on the air this week. The first episode of the weekly show examining Michigan politics and government aired on February 4, 1972. Seen statewide in Michigan and in Northern Indiana, the series is produced at WKAR Public Media and is a presentation…
After departing as APD/afternoon host at Cumulus Media’s WDRQ-FM (Detroit) last month, Bill ‘Broadway’ Bertschinger has joined MacDonald Garber Broadcasting as Program Director of CHR WKHQ-FM (Charlevoix) and Classic Country WSRT-FM (Gaylord). Both stations serve the Traverse City market. He will also host mornings with Kristin ‘KP’ Penrose. Penrose also joins MacDonald-Garber from Cumulus Detroit,…
Susi Elkins, Director of Broadcasting and General Manager of WKAR Public Media at Michigan State University, has been re-elected as Professional Vice Chair on the board of America’s Public Television Stations (APTS). The announcement was made by APTS on Wednesday (2/2). Elkins’ term begins on Monday, February 28, 2022. APTS is a nonprofit membership organization…
This past week (2/1), Peggy Warner’s 105.5fm, LLC has filed an application with the FCC to assign the license of WBMI-FM (West Branch) to non-commercial station operator Smile FM for $95,000. According to press reports, once the deal closes, the format will be flipped from its current classic country format to Smile FM’s noncommercial religious…
By: Seth Resler Jacobs Media Strategies A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the difference between building an Audience and building a Community. The key distinction is that members of a Community care about and communicate with each other; members of an Audience do not. I believe that as media continues to fragment with more…