To continue progress toward state’s goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders over age 16 and bringing a quicker end to the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) officials today announced the state is expanding vaccination eligibility for Michiganders ages 16 and older with disabilities or medical conditions that put them at high risk of negative COVID-19 outcome beginning Monday, March 22. The state is also announcing that beginning Monday, April 5, all Michiganders age 16 and up who were not previously eligible will be eligible to receive a vaccine. Read More

My 2020 annual update on the use of trademarks associated with the NCAA Basketball Tournament was published on the same day that the NCAA announced it was cancelling the tournament due to the pandemic. Fortunately for all concerned (the players, fans, the NCAA and the broadcasters), it appears that the tournament will proceed as scheduled, with the first men’s games beginning on March 18 and the first women’s games beginning on March 21. Accordingly, this discussion should hold greater interest than it did last year. Read More

Frank J. Kelley, affectionately dubbed the “eternal general,” died of natural causes on March 5 at age 96. Kelley earned his nickname for his 37 years as Michigan’s longest-serving attorney general. A Democrat, he served from 1961 to 1999, winning statewide election 10 times. Kelley worked under five governors of differing political parties. Read More

On March 10, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate coronavirus relief legislation. Within this legislation was $175 million in COVID-related assistance for the nation’s 1,400 public radio and television stations. The funds, to be distributed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, will help maintain local stations’ enhanced programming and services, and protect the most financially vulnerable stations serving rural and remote communities. Read More

House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), House Antitrust Subcommittee Ranking Member Ken Buck (CO-04), Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on Wednesday (3/10) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. Read More

In two Notices of Violation issued on one day this week, an FCC Field Office cited Low Power FM operators for using transmission systems that, in addition to transmitting signals on their authorized channels, were also emitting signals on other channels that posed the potential for interference with other users on those other frequencies – sometimes not even broadcast frequencies. Read More

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared March 21-27 to be Michigan's Severe Weather Awareness Week. Broadcasters and Emergency Management partners statewide are encouraging Michiganders to conduct a statewide tornado drill at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday, March 24. Read More

You say they don't do that anymore! Not true, they do. It's easier than ever before. With so much of our business activities available in our public file and on electronic forms at the FCC, they can easily inspect a station without ever coming to your door. Additionally they still investigate complaints. Read More

On March 8, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its first set of guidance for fully vaccinated people. Here’s what fully vaccinated people can do: Read More

The MAB has learned that Art Cervi, who played children's television show host "Bozo the Clown," passed away February 15 at age 86.  Cervi played the clown with a big red nose and red hair that protruded sideways on either side of his head, first on CKLW-TV from 1967 to 1975, then continued on WJBK-TV until 1980. Read More

Lin D. McNett, known to radio listeners as Michael O'Shea, passed away March 8 at The Villa at Traverse Point in Traverse City.

McNett spent his youth in Alden, graduating from Mancelona High School. He went on to join the U.S. Coast Guard, where he found his passion for radio. Read More

On February 5, iHeartMedia/West Michigan held its fourth annual "Day of Hope" on its WOOD-AM/FM and WBFX-FM (BIG 101.3), collecting $95,000 for Grand Rapids homeless shelter Dégagé Ministries. Read More

Beasley Media Group announced today (3/12) the 94.7 WCSX-FM’s Big Jim’s House Morning Show will air Motor City Rockin’ Roll Legend Bob Seger’s first ever recorded song, entitled “The Lonely One” on Monday, March 1 at 8 a.m. Read More

The business world experienced unprecedented challenges in 2020. Some of our clients did not survive, some barely survived, some experienced record-breaking business. Now it is 2021, which should be a rebuilding year for our stations and for our clients. How do we overcome their fear and reluctance to part with money?

Pat Bryson, from Bryson Broadcasting International says it all starts when we understand how their business has been affected by the pandemic .In this webinar, learn how to ask great questions and probe more deeply into the business aspects of our clients. It will result in larger agreements for us and better results for our clients.

The Weyland S.O.S. summary proposal template is bullet-proof and field-tested by broadcasters and advertisers. The steps to conducting meetings with your clients are logical and insightful providing you confidence on every call. Make this session so you’ll be equipped to add long-term dollars to your bottom line. You’ll be exposed to the how-to path on creating meaningful presentations through your client’s eyes. And that is why Paul’s formula will become a welcome surprise to your clients and prospects. 

While TikTok and Clubhouse are the shiny new objects that get all of the attention, this pandemic has proved that email marketing — as unsexy as it is — is still a tried and true channel for reaching listeners. Unfortunately, many radio stations simply shove all of their content into one generic weekly email newsletter. These email campaigns weren't particularly compelling back when there were a lot of concerts and contests to include. They're definitely not now. Read More