The MAB has learned that former Grand Rapids country music programming Doug Montgomery is retiring. Montgomery is best known in Michigan for the 20 years he programmed Clear Channel/iHeartMedia’s WBCT-FM (Grand Rapids). He was also the original programmer for the company’s Country Premium Choice service.
The National Association of Broadcasters has announced the results of the 2025 NAB Radio and Television Board of Directors elections. The two-year terms of the elected board members will begin in June 2025. Of note is the re-election of longtime Michigan broadcaster (and 2016 Michigan Broadcasting Lifetime Achievement Award recipient) Julie Koehn to the NAB Radio Board.
Audacy has unveiled Sound Space @ Audacy Detroit on on the second floor of Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit, Michigan. The studio launched this past Wednesday Night (5/14) with an exclusive grand opening event and ribbon-cutting ceremony featured ACM’s 2025 On-Air Personality of the Year Winner and WYCD-FM hosts Josh Holleman, Rachael Hunter and Steve Grunwald.
Longtime WKQI-FM (Detroit) morning host Mojo, who leads the Mojo in the Morning Show, has been nominated for induction into the Radio Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. The personality was previously nominated in 2022 and 2024.
WGHN, Inc. has sold its WGHA-AM (formerly WGHN-AM) and associated translator W235CM (Grand Haven) to Grand Rapids-based Cano’s Broadcasting I, LLC. The application was filed on May 9, 2025.
On May 5, Connoisseur Media (“Connoisseur”) and Alpha Media (“Alpha”) announced they have entered into a definitive agreement in which Alpha will be acquired by Connoisseur. The combined company will retain the Connoisseur name and be led by Connoisseur CEO Jeff Warshaw.
After a successful 40+ year radio career that started as the first woman on the air at WMEE/Fort Wayne and is ending after 14 years as OM at MacDonald Garber Broadcasting’s WLXT-FM (Petoskey), Diane Shannon Hansell is preparing to embark on an awesome Up North summer vacation with no plans, as she announced her impending retirement, effective Friday, May 23.
Michigan Public’s News Director Vincent Duffy has announced that Zena Issa has joined the NPR affiliate as the station’s Criminal Justice reporter. Zena Issa was previously an intern in the Michigan Public newsroom and has also worked extensively with the Stateside and digital teams on special social media and election projects.
WDIV-TV (Detroit) (Local 4) has announced that Detroit-area native Lauren Kostiuk has joined its news team. The alum of Shelby Township’s Eisenhower High School and Columbia College Chicago has been with the station since April.
In many of the comments filed by broadcasters and their representatives in the FCC’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” docket, high on the list of rules suggested for deletion were the local broadcast ownership restrictions. Changes in these rules were also a subject high on the discussion list in Las Vegas at the recent NAB Convention.