E. Patrick [Pat] McNally, veteran radio sales executive whose career included such prestigious call letters as WWWW (W4)/Detroit, WAVA/Washington, WAPP/New York and KITS (Live 105)/San Francisco, died Thursday, May 7.
The FCC this week proposed an auction for the rights to construct new FM stations on 132 FM channels – the first such auction of new FM stations since 2021. The auction is proposed for February 2027, although interested parties will need to submit “short form” applications to participate in the auction at some point prior to that date.
Longtime Detroit sports radio host and columnist Pat Caputo passed away Thursday (5/7) after a battle with cancer at the age of 67. In a post on social media, Caputo’s family said he died following a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer revealed earlier this year.
WCMU Public Media has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation to support expanded local journalism in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The funding, provided through the Foundation’s Community Investment Fund, will directly support WCMU’s Great Lakes Bay Region Reporter initiative.
As part of Beasley Media Group’s Community of Caring initiative, the collaboration will focus on raising awareness, inspiring action, and supporting efforts to address food insecurity across Metro Detroit.
In a fitting tribute on International Jazz Day 2026 (4/30), Eastern Michigan University proudly celebrates 89.1 WEMU’s achievement as the number‑one non‑commercial jazz radio station in the nation by market share, based on Nielsen Audio’s Spring and Fall 2025 ratings.
Interlochen Public Radio’s (Interlochen) classical music service has announced that it is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a new podcast series called “AAPI Classical Artists of Interlochen.”
After 34 Years at WGVU Public Media (Grand Rapids), Director of Engineering David Oliver has announced his retirement, effective May 1, 2026. Oliver was recipient of the MAB’s Carl E. Lee Engineering Excellence Award in 2017.
On April 28, the FCC granted the proposed agreements between Gray Media, Inc. and The E.W. Scripps Company to swap television stations across five mid-sized and small markets, resulting in the creation of new duopolies for each group. Among the markets affected is Lansing, where Gray Television will take ownership of Scripps’ WSYM-TV (Fox).
After 18 years spent as WXMI-TV/FOX 17 (Grand Rapids) morning traffic anchor and reporter for Walker, Northview and Comstock Park, Robb Westaby put down the microphone for the last time on April 18, 2026, retiring after more than 50 years in broadcasting.