This week's news starts off with a call for nominations for both the Michigan Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Awards, to be presented at our annual Advocacy Conference and Annual Meeting, August 22-23 at Crystal Mountain Resort.  Details below.

Michigan's Public Broadcasters are now accepting nominations for their Public Media Impact Awards, to be presented during those same ceremonies. Details in the MAPB section of this newsletter.

We've got broadcast industry news from around the state, including passing along some sad news regarding the passing of three longtime Michigan broadcasters.  

Thanks for reading (and forwarding to your fellow collegues).  Have a great week.
 

 
Dan Kelley
Director of Technical Services
Digital Communications Manager

Do you know a broadcaster that deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, or receive the Lifetime Achievement Award? Now is the time to nominate them! Nominations due Friday, April 28, 2017. Read more here...

According to a report in InsideRadio, supporters of a performance royalty on AM/FM airplay have introduced legislation in Congress that would require stations to pay a fee on music they use for over-the-air broadcasts. Introduced by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the 'Fair Play Fair Pay' Act would create a performance right on AM/FM airplay which Nadler says would put broadcasters on "equal footing" with internet and satellite radio services.  Read more here...

According to NAB SmartBriefs, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to release a proposal that would reverse the elimination of the UHF discount in calculating the audience reach of TV station owners.
Read more here...

By April 10, 2017, all commercial and noncommercial radio and television stations must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during January, February and March dealing with those issues.  Read more here...

In conjunction with Michigan's Severe Weather Awareness Week, April 16-22, broadcasters and emergency management partners statewide are encouraged to participate in a statewide tornado drill at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 19.  Read more with updated details here...

Local Port Huron area radio stations WSAQ-FM (Q Country 107.1), 96.9 WBTI-FM, News/Talk 1380 WPHM-AM, Rock 105.5 WHLS-AM/FM in partnership with the Bluewater Area Convention and Visitors Bureau are announcing the most aggressive tourism campaign ever launched in the greater Port Huron area.  Read more here...

WZZM-TV, the TEGNA owned ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, won the parent company's Community Empowerment Award for the second year in a row. The award showcases the initiatives and work that stations do to help their respective communities.  Read more here...

By: Dick Taylor, CRMC/CDMC
Dick Taylor Blog

Have you ever heard of the MAYA Principle? Neither had I. But I saw an article in The Atlantic titled "The Four-Letter Code to Selling Just About Anything, what makes things cool" and I wondered if there might be some application for radio.  Read more here...

"Send me a proposal."  I dread hearing those four words. "Send me a proposal." Those four words can add hours of work to your day. "Send me a proposal." Those four words can add days to your sales cycle. Look, not every sale is an enterprise solution. Not every product can be customized. Sometimes we're just out there selling stuff that solves a common business problem. Read more here...

Stay in the radio business long enough, and sooner or later you'll find yourself out of work. It's a rite of passage. Read more here...

The 2016-2017 MABF Student Advisory Committee is, without a doubt one of the best, most active student committees the MABF has had over the past few years. This year's committee, comprised of fifteen high school and college students from throughout the state, was integral in the planning of the Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference (GLBC) and has proven that they are passionate and committed to the future of the industry through their production of a new student-focused e-newsletter.
Read more here...

This year marks the 32nd year of honoring Michigan's public broadcasters with the MAPB Public Media Impact Award.

Two awards will be presented - one award for Donors and one award for Professionals - for their contribution to public broadcasting in Michigan. The awards will be presented at the Annual Awards Banquet as part of the August 2017 Advocacy Conference & Annual Meeting at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, MI.  Read more here...


Michigan Radio (WUOM/WFUM/WVGR) reports that Dr. William B. Stegath, its longest living alumnus, passed away March 29, just two weeks before his 97th birthday.
Read more here...