Issue No. 261 | July 2, 2021 | View Online
Note: The MAB offices will be closed on Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day. Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!
Have you signed up
for your ABIP?

It's not too late to sign up for your Alternative Broadcast Inspection. Rest better knowing your station could pass the rigors of an FCC inspection. With files online it's easier than ever to get a random inspection. Inspections begin the week of July12.

Call Ann Walters at the MAB: 517.484.7444 to schedule your ABIP today. Learn More
Upcoming Events

July 13 | 12:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: "Broadcast Selling Is Always Evolving - Are You?"
with Greg Gibbons, Digital Manager at Cumulus Media and LBS Digital Expert (Register Now)

July 15 | 2:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: "The Art of Storytelling: The Art of Sales. One and the Same"
with Pat Bryson (Register Now)

August 10 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
SAVE THE DATE: MAB Annual Business Meeting & Advocacy Conference (Virtual).
Read more below!

August 19 | 1:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: "Copyright" with David Oxenford. Full description to come. (Register Now)
MAB Annual Meeting and Advocacy Zoom Conference August 10!
Join us August 10. 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Registration is free but you must be registered to join.

Guest Speakers: 

Curtis LeGeyt, Chief Operating Officer National Association of Broadcasters
Rosemary C. Harold, Chief of Enforcement Bureau FCC
David Oxenford, Wilkinson, Barker & Knauer LLP

Plus a special Report from the MAB Transition Committee on their search for the NEXT MAB President. Click here to see more and register today.
LEGISLATIVE / REGULATORY UPDATES
New Legislation to Impose Sound Recording Performance Royalty on Over-the-Air Radio – What Does It Provide and What Would the Royalty Cost?
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
Last week, Congressmen Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced the American Music Fairness Act (see their Press Release for more details) which would impose a new music royalty on over-the-air radio stations. Read More
Michigan Government Update
Kelley Cawthorne is the MAB legislative consultant working with MAB President White on your behalf in Lansing
In a late-night session, the House of Representatives adopted a basic, $48.05 billion ($9.61 billion GF) budget, failing to appropriate approximately $3.1 billion General Fund and half of the $6.5 billion in federal ARP funds available to the state currently. Read More
ENGINEERING AND EAS
Nationwide EAS Test Scheduled for August 11, 2021: Verification of EAS Information Due by July 6 in ETRS
The FCC has issued a Public Notice announcing an August 11, 2021 nationwide EAS test, with a backup date of August 25 if there are conditions that prevent the test from occurring on the initial date. The test is scheduled for 2:20 PM EDT.

The Notice also sets July 6, 2021 (THIS TUESDAY) as the deadline for all stations to complete their “2021 ETRS Form One” setting out information about each station’s EAS decoders, encoders or combined units. Read More
IN THE NEWS
WMMI/WCZY Receives Congressional Recognition
Latitude Media's WMMI-AM/WCZY-FM (Mt. Pleasant) has received Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman John Moolenaar. Read More
PMJA Honors for Michigan Public Radio Stations
On June 24, at its 2021 Virtual Awards Ceremony, the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA) announced the stations that will be receiving PMJA awards for work done in calendar year 2020. Four Michigan radio stations are award recipients.
Melissa Kibler Named General Manager at MacDonald Broadcasting/Lansing
InsideRadio reports that Alpha Media Amarillo, TX Market Manager Melissa Kibler is joining MacDonald Broadcasting in Lansing as General Manager. Kibler joined Alpha Media’s Amarillo cluster in 2017, having previously worked for Cumulus Media in WilkesBarre, PA.
WXYT-AM Becomes "1270 The Bet"
Previously airing on three Audacy-owned stations around the country, the company has expanded its Sports Betting “BetQL Network” to seven additional stations, including WXYT-AM in Detroit. The network debuted on June 21. The company will also plan to distribute the network via affiliate opportunities with additional network providers. Details to be announced in the coming weeks. Read More
WGFN/WWSS Adds 'Mark & Tim Show' For Mornings
Black Diamond Broadcasting's WGFN-FM/WWSS-FM (Glen Arbor/Tuscarora) "Bear" classic rock simulcast has teamed former WRIF-FM and WCSX-FM (Detroit) Program Director Mark Pennington with longtime station veteran Tim Logan for mornings, as the "Mark & Timm Show." Read More
TRAINING & EDUCATION
FREE WEBINAR:The Art of Storytelling: The Art of Sales. One and the Same?
with Pat Bryson, Bryson Broadcasting International

Thursday, July 15, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern
The best salespeople educate their clients, and the best way to educate is through telling stories. In this session we will: *Explore why stories should be the basis for our sales process. *Learn how people retain information through stories. *What elements make a good story. *What types of stories we need to move our prospects through the marketing channel. *Develop strategies for creating our own bank of stories to use with clients. The best storytellers are the best salespeople. Come and learn how!
Ask LBS

It is common to run into difficult selling situations in the field.  Let us know what we can help with and we will get your question in front of our seasoned broadcast professionals who will get you a personalized response with real strategies for your specific situation!
The BEST Program

The BEST Program is designed for sellers who are new to broadcast. Each weekday for 5 weeks, you will receive a special email containing 3 videos. In less than 30 minutes per day, your new sellers will have built up a solid foundation for a career in selling broadcast!
Sales Ideas

Sometimes we just need a creative boost or an idea to take to a prospect tomorrow – or even today! The list contains 99 of the hundreds you can find on the site! Need a creative boost or some fresh ideas? This section of LBS is loaded with them!
DIGITAL / SOCIAL / WEB
How Your Radio Station Can Take Advantage of
Facebook Groups
By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies
It's always fun to try out new social media platforms when they emerge, but while I encourage radio stations to experiment on TikTok or Clubhouse with whatever the hot new thing is, often the most effective strategy is to renew efforts on an established platform. While it's tempting to dismiss Facebook, year after year it beats out every other social media platform in our Techsurvey results. Read More