Issue No. 266 | August 6, 2021 | View Online
Resend: Our apologies if you were attempting to read the Seth Resler article "YouTube Has Added New Features for Livestreamers." The link has been corrected. -Editor
Happy Birthday
to Ross Biederman!
By: Karole L. White
President/CEO, Michigan Association of Broadcasters

On Saturday, July 31, I was on-hand for the 80th birthday party for Ross Biederman, President of Midwestern Broadcasting. The celebration was held at the barn of Chris Warren, General Manager of the company. I was honored to be among the many local friends, family and long time clients to be invited to the gathering to celebrate this tower of man. Read More
Upcoming Events/Dates
August 10 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
MAB Annual Business Meeting & Advocacy Conference (Virtual). Read more below!

August 10 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
LBS Sales Webinar: Budgeting After an Economic Shutdown. Free to MAB Members. (Register Now)

August 11 | 2:20 p.m. Eastern
National EAS Test. Backup date is August 25. (Read More)

August 19 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Free Webinar: "Copyright Issues for Broadcasters" with David Oxenford, Wilkinson, Barker & Knauer, LLP.
MAB Annual Meeting to Feature
Top Industry Leaders
Last Chance to Register!

Join MAB August 10 at 10:00 a.m.
for an Important History Making Zoom Meeting!

The MAB has had only two professional Executive Directors/Presidents
in 72 years: Thomas Cleary and Karole L. White, each spending
over 30 years managing the MAB.  

At the Annual Business Meeting on August 10,
you will meet the New President Elect of the MAB, who will take the role
of President when Karole White retires in January, 2022.


There will also have three other very special guests:
Rosemary C. Harold
Chief of Enforcement Bureau, FCC
Curtis LeGeyt
Chief Operating Officer, NAB
David Oxenford
Partner, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
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 House of Representatives and Senate are in recess. The House of Representatives is next scheduled for session the week of August 16. The Senate Fiscal Agency released its Michigan Economic Indicators for the month of February. That document is available... Read More
The Local Journalism Sustainability Act – Another Congressional Proposal to Help Local Media
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
Last week, another bill was introduced in both the House and the Senate with the intention of supporting local media to help offset the erosion of their advertising base by digital media. The Local Journalism Sustainability Act proposes certain benefits for local newspaper subscribers, as well as benefits to advertisers who advertise on local media – both broadcast and print. Read More
FCC Broadcast Auction Ends. Here's the Winners of Michigan Frequencies
The FCC’s Auction 109 of of 136 FM signals and 4 AM signals ended August 5 after eight days and 36 rounds of bidding with 97 of the potential licenses nationwide won. The auction brought in $13,770,950 in bids with a net of $12,344,110 following the use of bidding credits. In Michigan, there were six FM frequencies up for bid. Read More
EAS AND ENGINEERING
Reminder: National EAS Test This Wednesday
As many members already know, this Wednesday, August 11 at 2:20 p.m., the FCC and FEMA will conduct a National Period Test (NPT) of the Emergency Alert System. This test will be through the over-the-air daisy chain and will not be sent through IPAWS. Is your equipment and procedures ready for the test? Read More from the SBE Here
Broadcasters are also reminded of the mandatory online
reporting requirements following the test. Read More
IN THE NEWS
Jim Rademaker Named GM for WGVU Public Media;
Ken Kolbe Retiring
WCMU Public Media (Mt. Pleasant) General Manager Jim Rademaker is moving to WGVU Public Media in Grand Rapids, replacing Ken Kolbe, who is retiring. It is the second time he has succeeded Kolbe in a GM position. Kolbe was GM of WCMU, leaving for WGVU in 2019 and Rademaker was appointed interim GM for WCMU. He formally became GM of WCMU in September of last year. Read More
WGHN Celebrates 65 Years of Service
On July 23, WGHN-AM (Grand Haven) celebrated its 65th Birthday with a 3-hour live broadcast in downtown Grand Haven. The broadcast and live event featured interviews with former owners, station staff, news personnel and long-time clients. The event also featured music from the station's on-air timeline of 1956 to 2021, a retro t-shirt giveaway, prizes and A LOT of reminiscing. Read More
WKHM's Charity Radiothon Raises Over $13k For Area Causes
McKibbin Media Group's WKHM-FM (Jackson) held its second annual Charity Radiothon July 30. The on-air talent of K105.3, Jared “J-Rod” Hammond, Scott Clow and Jenny Lewis, broadcasted live from the K105.3 studio for 13 straight hours. Read More
WHMI To Air High School Football This Fall
Krol Communication's WHMI-FM (Howell) has announced that the station intends to air local Livingston County High School Football games this fall. This will be the first time in generation that the station has aired the games. The broadcast season begins with The Westland John Glenn-Howell season opener August 26. Read More
Sarah Lehr Joins WKAR News Team
as Politics and Civics Reporter
WKAR Public Media has announced that Sarah Lehr has joined its news staff in the role of politics and civics reporter. “As a politics and civics reporter, I want to hold public institutions to account,” said Lehr. “And I want to look beyond the horse race to show how policies affect real people in their everyday lives.” Read More
Radio Programmer Brent Alberts Retires
After 53 years in radio, Townsquare Media/Lansing Brand Manager Brent Alberts has retired.  Alberts remarked in a Facebook post that he would continue to work with WMMQ's All-Request Saturday Night and produce a daily feature for the Michigan Sports Network. Alberts wrote, “I’ve worked with some awesome broadcasters in my career, it’s been an honor and a pleasure." Read More
WCSX To Unveil Alice Cooper Court
at Eloise Asylum
Beasley Media Group has announced that WCSX-FM (Detroit) Morning Personality Big Jim O’Brien will join Motor City rock Legend Alice Cooper to unveil Alice Cooper Court on Thursday, September 23 at Eloise Asylum in Westland. Read More
TRAINING & EDUCATION
FREE WEBINAR: Copyright Issues for Broadcasters
with David Oxenford, Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer

Thursday, August 19, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Whether on-air or online, broadcasters constantly face copyright issues in their operations. Music licensing is always so confusing – who are all these organizations that want money and why should I pay them? How much will my radio station pay to make its programming available on various digital platforms? Can I use pictures or content from other sources in my newscast without getting permission from the originator? What can I put in a podcast without permission – or what can I use in a commercial without getting into trouble? How about online – can pictures on my website get me into trouble – and how about material that is posted on my website by users?
FREE WEBINAR: Budgeting After an Economic Shutdown
Mike Costa, Costa Media Advisors CEO & LBS Broadcast Expert

Tuesday, August 10 | 12:00 p.m. Eastern
Broadcast sellers across the board are facing unusual opportunities and challenges. Being effective in the recovering economy requires us all to be even more on top of our game than we needed to be before the shutdown. Being average is no longer an option. For the serious seller, there has never been a better time to be in the broadcast and digital marketing world. Join us for a straightforward presentation about how to help your clients plan their ad budgets for the road that lies ahead. We will discuss when you should be talking with your clients, which clients to focus on, and both the internal and external advantages that are in it for you!
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
YouTube Has Added New Features for Livestreamers
By: Seth Resler, Jacobs Media Strategies
Pandemic or not, radio broadcasters everywhere should be experimenting with livestreaming video. For radio stations, it can provide a new way to engage with audiences. For on-air talent, it can provide a way to continue doing a show even if you find yourself “on the beach.” Read More
MAB ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan Announces New PSA
An award winning group with more than 30 million plays on Spotify is lending their music to Michigan tribal communities in a Public Service Announcement (PSA) encouraging the uptake of the COVID vaccines among young adults across Michigan. “The Halluci Nation,” formally known as “A Tribe Called Red,” blends instrumental hip hop, reggae, electronic dance music with elements of First Nations music, particularly vocal chanting and drumming. Read More
Miss Digg Says Remember 811 on 8/11!

August 11 is almost here, and MISS DIG 811 hopes that the 8/11 date on the calendar will serve as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked.