Issue No. 270 | September 3, 2021 | View Online
Note: MAB offices will close Friday, September 3 at noon in observance of Labor Day Weekend. We will reopen at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 7.
Have a happy and safe holiday!
MAB Awards Week
Coming September 13!
Watch the MAB website starting Monday, September 13 as we formally honor the recipient of the 2021 MAB Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021 Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees, Community Broadcasting Champion Award recipient, MAPB Public Media Impact Award recipients, MAB Foundation Young Professional Award recipients and The Carl E. Lee Engineering Award Recipients.

Upcoming Events/Dates
September 3
Lowest Unit Charge Window Opens for
November 2, 2021 General Election

September 15 | 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: "Reporting on Deaths by Suicide" with The Poynter Institute’s Al Tompkins and Kelly McBride. (Register Now)

September 16 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: "Monetizing Podcasts" with Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies. (Register Now)

September 27
Final Deadline to complete Form 3 in ETRS with your detailed results of Nationwide EAS Test. (Read More)

October 10
Third-Quarter 2021 Issues and Programs Lists should be uploaded to your online public inspection file.
LEGISLATIVE / REGULATORY UPDATES
Weekly Michigan Government Update
Kelley Cawthorne is the MAB legislative consultant working with MAB President White on your behalf in Lansing
The Michigan Senate passed legislation this week aimed at limiting the governor’s use of emergency alert systems in cell phones. The bill stems from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s use of the system to notify residents of the implementation of Stay Home orders at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Win for Broadcasters: FCC Regulatory Fees Drop
On August 26, the FCC released its 2021 Regulatory Fee Order. The efforts of various State Broadcast Associations, including your MAB as well as the NAB were very successful, and as a result, the proposed regulatory fees for broadcasters dropped by about 9%. Read More
September Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: Regulatory Fees, Media Ownership and Sponsorship Identification Comments, Auction Applications, and More
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
As fall approaches and kids head back to school, be sure not to lose track of the regulatory dates and deadlines in September. We outline some of those dates below. One date is applicable to all commercial broadcasters, the obligation to pay regulatory fees. While the exact due date has not yet been announced, look for that announcement any day as the Commission adopted the decision setting those fees last week.  Read More
IN THE NEWS
Beasley Names New WRIF PD; Launches New
Sports Station
Beasley Media Group/Detroit made several announcements this past week. The company (8/31) has promoted Jade Springart to the Program Director position at 101 WRIF-FM. She will begin her new position immediately. Read More
Retired MSU Journalism Professor William (Bill) Cote, who directed CNS, Dies
Dr. William E. Coté, a retired journalism professor who influenced the careers of hundreds of Michigan State University students and a member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, died this past Monday (8/30) at age 81. Coté was born July 14, 1940 in Jackson, MI, the son of Mervin and Maybelle (Crosthwaite) Coté. Read More
Interlochen Public Radio Partners With TADL
This fall, the classical music side of Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) and the Traverse Area District Library (TADL) will launch a new partnership as part of an initiative to bring more classical music into the local community. The new series will take place every second Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. Read More
iHeart Media's Sports WMAX-FM Rebrands at "The Game"
iHeartMedia has branded long-time sports outlet WMAX-FM (Holland/Grand Rapids) from "ESPN 96.1" to "96.1 The Game." Read More
WILX-TV Announces On-Air Changes Including
New Branding
Gray's WILX-TV (Lansing) has announced an updated look and lineup this past week. The station has launched new on-air graphics, including a new red logo and tagline Breaking News & First Alert Weather. This coincided with the appointment of Darrin Rockcole as First Alert Chief Meteorologist. Read More
TRAINING & EDUCATION
FREE WEBINAR: Reporting on Deaths by Suicide
with The Poynter Institute's Al Tomkins and Kelly McBride

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 | 12 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, in fact far more people die by suicide than homicide, yet it gets a fraction of our media coverage. This workshop will help you find ways to cover this epidemic of preventable deaths by boosting your awareness, knowledge and skills in covering this vital topic.

We will expose some myths about suicide; document some of the most vulnerable populations; why gun violence is a major part of any discussion about suicide.

This workshop is focused on reporting about deaths by suicide, not ignoring it.
FREE WEBINAR: Monetizing Webcasts
with Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies

Thursday, September 16, 2021 | 1 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern
When broadcasters think about podcasting, they often think about monetization through the traditional method: advertising. But this isn’t the only way to generate revenue podcasts. In this webinar, Seth will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of different revenue models to help you figure out which is right for your station.
UPCOMING FREE MAB WEBINARS FROM POYNTER:
FREE WEBINAR - Attention Broadcast Sellers and Managers: Why "Engagement" is the Social Media Metric That Matters First!
with Lori Lewis, President of Lori Lewis Media and LBS Social Media Expert

Tuesday, September 14, 2021 | 12:00 p.m. Eastern
“Engagement is the tell-tale sign from the audience that your content is accomplishing two main goals: 1) Capturing Attention & 2) Converting It Into Action.  But let’s dig deeper into why engagement is the metric that matters.” - Lori

  • LEVERAGE: Engagement rates need to be monitored because healthy engagement is how we influence fans to invest in us with their time & actions. This is way more important than vanity metrics (the number of fans or reach).
  • LONGEVITY: The longer someone spends engaging with your content (viewing, reading, captions, commenting, etc…), that engagement extends the life of the content, opening opportunities to be seen by more.
  • LOST: Without engagement - we’re like a ghost ship - floating around the social space; no one manning the ship, no one caring about our ship. So, don’t just give engaging content - be responsive and interact with the community too.

Don't miss this wonderful Broadcast Social Media learning session!
MAB LBS Member Resources
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
What is Your Radio Station’s Digital Plan for Emergencies?
By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies
These days, the news is full of emergencies — from foreign entanglements to weather-related catastrophes. At this point, there's no excuse for getting caught off guard if a disaster strikes in your market. This is particularly true if your radio station is using its “live and local” presence to differentiate it from competitors.