By: Seth Resler Jacobs Media Strategies Once upon a time, working at a radio station meant that you needed to know how to use a couple of basic software programs: your music scheduler, your automation system and a traffic scheduling program. These days, radio stations employ dozens of different programs to do everything from scheduling… read more
6 Michigan Permits in Auction By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP The FCC on Tuesday (2/9) announced plans to hold an auction to award construction permits allowing the winners to build new radio stations. The auction notice includes 136 FM channels and, in a new wrinkle, 4 AM opportunities, for which bids will be able to be placed once the… read more
By Karole L. White, MAB President/CEO Deputy Executive Director/General Counsel to the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), Dave Murley met with more than 50 Michigan broadcasters via a Zoom call yesterday, hosted by our government relations consultant, Rob Elhenicky of Kelley Cawthorne and the MAB. He explained some of the rules and regulations that impacted… read more
WDIV-TV, the Graham Media Group owned NBC affiliate in Detroit, has announced their continuing commitment to honoring African American achievement through an initiative called Celebrating Black History Month. Throughout February, viewers from early morning to late evening will see a wide range of stories and profiles in various newscasts and programming on ClickOnDetroit showcasing Black… read more
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at 7:00 p.m., Michigan Radio will continue the station’s Speaker Series with a virtual event featuring NPR White House Correspondent Franco Ordoñez. Franco Ordoñez is a White House Correspondent for NPR’s Washington Desk. Before he came to NPR in 2019, Ordoñez covered the White House for McClatchy. In those roles… read more
WDET-FM (Detroit) program host Ismael Ahmed has been honored with globalFEST’s Pioneer Award in recognition for his work fusing the power of culture and equity at the community and national levels. globalFEST is one of the country’s preeminent organizations dedicated to promoting global and American regional musical traditions. Ahmed was one of five honorees at… read more
On February 3, Woodward Sports Network (WSN), Detroit’s first all-digital sports media company announced a sports content distribution partnership with Beasley Media Group. Under the partnership, Woodward Sports will provide daily highlights from the world of sports. It will feature WSN talent such as Sean Baligian, former Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell, four-time Stanley… read more
On February 1, Gray Television, Inc. (“Gray” or “ we”) (NYSE: GTN) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Quincy Media, Inc. (“Quincy” or “ QMI”) for $925 million in cash. Upon closing the transaction, Gray will own television stations serving 102 television markets that collectively reach 25.4 percent of US television… read more
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) revealed research that demonstrates growing confidence and positivity among NAB Show participants about a return to in-person events. Results from a survey conducted by Freeman Event Research as part of a trade show industry research project, which included NAB Show in Las Vegas, indicate a majority of past NAB… read more
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP We are waiting on the Copyright Royalty Board to release its decision setting the royalties that webcasters (including broadcasters who simulcast their over-the-air programming on the Internet) will pay to SoundExhange for the public performance of sound recordings in the period 2021 through the end of 2025. As we wrote here, that decision would normally have been released in… read more