Issue No. 259 | June 18, 2021 | View Online
Michigan ABIP Inspections
begin week of July 12!

It's not too late to sign up for your Alternative Broadcast Inspection. APPOINTMENTS ARE BEING MADE NOW! 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.

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

June 21 | 2:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: Michigan Redistricting Rundown. From Gongwer and Kelley Cawthorne. (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 MEETING UPDATES
MAB Annual Meeting and Advocacy Conference: August 10 via Zoom
This year's MAB Annual Meeting and Advocacy Conference will take place August 10 via Zoom. Speakers to be announced later this month.

Members will be able to meet the new President Elect of the MAB. Current MAB President/CEO Karole White is retiring at the end of 2021. Interviews are taking place this month and next. A President Elect will be named in July with plans for this new leader to work with Karole for three months to learn to "secret sauce" to Michigan's success.

We're back! The MAB has also announced that the Great Lakes Media Show will return to a in-person event the first week of March, 2022. If you'd like to participate in the planning, contact Matt Treadwell at 517.484.7444 or treadwell@michmab.com.
LEGISLATIVE / REGULATORY UPDATES
Whitmer: State will Open to Full Capacity June 22
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced (6/17) an accelerated end of all COVID-19 epidemic orders on gatherings and masking as COVID-19 cases continue to plummet following increased vaccinations. Beginning June 22, capacity in both indoor and outdoor settings will increase to 100% and the state will no longer require residents to wear a face mask. Read More
Webcasting Royalties Going Up – Copyright Royalty Board Releases Rates and Terms for 2021-2025
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) on Friday (6/11) released the rates and terms for webcasting royalties for 2021-2025, and the rates are going up. Read More
ENGINEERING AND EAS
Nationwide EAS Test Scheduled for August 11, 2021: Verification of EAS Information Due by July 6 in ETRS
Last week, the FCC 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 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
FCC Approves Repeating EAS Alerts
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday (6/17) unanimously approved several updates to its rules governing the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The FCC concluded alert repetition can be integrated into alert origination software as an automated function. That will allow the alert originator to program how, when, and for which EAS event codes it will need the message to be broadcast more than once. Read More
IN THE NEWS
Dan Boers Hired as WXMI News Director
Dan Boers has been hired as News Director at WXMI-TV/FOX 17 (Grand Rapids), effective June 23, 2021. He comes to the station after nearly a 20-year career at WOOD/WOTV/WXSP in Grand Rapids, where he was most recently news director for the past 6+ years.
Michigan Radio’s Sarah Cwiek Wins McCree Advancement of Justice Award
Michigan Radio reporter Sarah Cwiek has been selected as a winner of the 2021 Wade H. McCree Advancement of Justice Awards, sponsored by the Michigan Press Association Foundation. Cwiek was recognized for her investigation “Tax foreclosure lawsuit asks: How much can government take from property owners?” Read More
Summit Technology Group Named Exclusive Engineering Partner of IBA
On June 15, the Independent Broadcasters Association (IBA) announced a new partnership with Keego Harbor-based Summit Technology Group, making them the exclusive provider of broadcast engineering solutions to the over 1500 member stations that make up the IBA. Read More
Townsquare Names Mary Fork at Market President/CRO for Southwestern Michigan
Townsquare Media Inc. announced June 15 that Mary Fork has been appointed as Market President/Chief Revenue Officer for Southwest Michigan, leading its “Digital First” strategy and driving strategic multi-platform sales and content initiatives across the region, which includes Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. Read More
WDET Announces 'Artist Next Door' Initiative
Six Southeast Michigan artists have been selected by a jury of artists and journalists to demonstrate their art, heritage and culture through an innovative program, The Artist Next Door, hosted by WDET-FM (Detroit) and made possible by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA). 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
It’s Time to Re-evaluate Your Radio Station’s User Experience
By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies
About 15 years ago, when I was a Program Director for a radio station, I decided that I would take my programming staff on a field trip in lieu of our typical music meeting. My radio station, WBRU in Providence, made a habit of stepping out on new music. But what happened when our listeners went to music stores looking for albums by the artists we were championing? Read More