MAB News Briefs kicks our first issue of the year off with information on our feeds of Governor Rick Snyder's State of the State address, to be held next Tuesday, January 17.

We'll be providing both clean video feeds and a hosted radio broadcast for Michigan Broadcasters.  Details below.

Also in this week's issue:  we begin previewing The Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference, coming March 7-8 in Lansing.  Have you registered yet???

And don't forget Friday is the deadline for the Broadcast Excellence Awards, ceremonies to be held in conjunction with GLBC.  

Have a great week! 

 
Dan Kelley
Director of Technical Services
Digital Communications Manager

If there is one thing that broadcasters must be getting tired of being told, it's 'you have to be digital,' especially if that message isn't immediately followed by 'and here's how to make money doing it!'

But, being 'digital' is a tactic, not a strategy, so that's why Broadcast Electronics' Commotion platform covers so many strategic bases for today's radio broadcasters and their listeners - both today and tomorrow. Read more here...


iEEi, International Electronic Enterprise, Inc., has been servicing the computer industry since 1976. We support the rich media world with our digital storage solutions. Our customers are Broadcasters, News Production, Animation, Editing suites/studios, Post Production, Special Effects houses and HD film scanning companies worldwide. These companies find that working with our IEEI Broadcast division is a nice change from dealing with larger, numbers oriented companies. As SERVICE is a main goal, we know you need to ask a lot of questions before you make a purchase decision. We offer experience and expertise to each and every customer. We VALUE you!  Read more here...

Session: Unsung Heros of TV News
Presented by Les Rose, Professor of Practice, Broadcast and Digital Journalism, Syracuse University, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication

Stations expect journalists to be multimedia. Les will you give you valuable tips on how to be multimedia including:
Read more here...

According to the Broadcast Law Blog, the Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) announced an interim agreement with the new performing rights organization Global Music Rights (GMR) that will give commercial radio stations, who decide to accept the license, the right to play music written by songwriters represented by GMR for nine months. Read more here...



MAB Washington Legal Counsel David Oxenford is making his 2017 Calendar of Important Dates for Broadcasters available as a free download for MAB members.  Read more here...

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that the nationwide EAS test, conducted in September 2016, was a success, though it revealed "shortfalls" in some state-level EAS plans and other areas that could be improved. Read more here...

Wendy Sobeck is the Traffic & Billing Manager for Midwestern Broadcasting in Traverse City, including stations WTCM-AM/FM, WBCM-FM, WJZQ-FM, WCCW-AM/FM, WATZ-FM, WRGZ-FM and WZTK-FM.

Wendy has been in traffic for 23+ years, all but three years with her present company.

Q:  Which Superhero would you be, and why?
Wendy:  Probably Wonder Woman... she was my favorite growing up... I like her ability to make people tell her the truth with her lasso and just generally kick butt, while looking amazing.

Read more of Wendy's answers to our questions here...

By: Kevin Robinson
Robinson Media

Kevin Robinson will be speaking at this year's Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference (GLBC) March 7-8, 2017 in Lansing. 

Say hello to Scott Ginsburg. Scott is the guy who, since 2000 has worn a Hello My Name IS Scott nametag. Every day, every hour, every minute. Read more here...

It's that time of year when we make resolutions, both personal and professional. If your radio station (or radio company) has been neglecting its digital strategy, or if it's time to take that digital strategy to the next level, 2017 is the year to do it.  Read more here...

Alpha Media, Saginaw is proud to announce that WSGW-AM/FM raised $53,250 with their radiothon held on December 21. Money donated will go towards 1,775 nights of hope and care at the Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan. Rescue Ministries has homeless shelters in both Saginaw and Bay City, and, combined they house over 200 people per night including men, women and children.  Read more here...

On Jan. 16, WKAR Public Media (East Lansing) will launch new, free, localized 24/7 children's services - WKAR's latest initiative to support early learning in the community.  Read more here...