Over the holiday break, several radio stations in our state announced format changes and/or adjustments to kick off the new year. Markets affected include Grand Rapids and Traverse City.
Jerry St. James was a solo act in Washington, DC, Minneapolis and when he arrived in Detroit in 1977 at WDRQ. He was paired with longtime Motor City mainstay Jim Harper at WNIC. At his next stop he teamed up with Jeff Detrow, a northeast Ohio DJ, and the chemistry was instantaneous at Magic 95 WMJC (now WCSX 94.7).
Detroit has always been a bastion of great radio talent and one of the best was Bob Green. He was one of the original Key Men of Music at WKNR (Keener 13) rubbing elbows with legends like: Gary Stevens, Robin Seymour, Mort Crowley and Jerry Goodwin.
The MAB learned over the holidays that longtime broadcast engineer Donald J. Beans passed away on December 1 at age 84. Beans worked for the University of Michigan Public Radio stations WUOM-FM, WFUM-FM and WVGR-FM taking care of the radio transmitters for 19 years before retiring in 2006.
On December 11, Cumulus Media’s WJR-AM (Detroit) held its 14th annual SAY Detroit Radiothon, bringing in a record $2,494,040, beating its previous all-time high of 2.2m in 2024. The annual event is hosted by S.A.Y. Detroit Founder, author and WJR host Mitch Albom, who continues his mission of funding healthcare, housing, and community support programs.
Gray Media’s WILX-TV (Lansing) wrapped up their annual Toys for Tots campaign last week. The event’s goal is to bring smiles to children in Mid-Michigan. People were able to donate their new, unwrapped toys to either WILX or participating businesses across the region. Thousands of Mid-Michigan children will wake up to presents under the tree on Christmas thanks to those who donated this year.
The Michigan Association of Broadcasters is saddened to share the passing of Cory Cumming, Chief Engineer at WLNS-TV in Lansing and a trusted colleague to so many across our industry. Cumming, a resident of Rives Township, passed away accidently on Monday, December 15, 2025. Cumming dedicated more than four decades to broadcasting in the Lansing and Jackson areas, including over 25 years at WLNS.
The free community event took place on December 6, at the Bel Air Luxury Cinema on Eight Mile Road, where more than 1,100 school-age children received brand-new winter coats. With the support of additional sponsors, families also received free socks, hats, gloves, backpacks, and toys, helping ensure children were fully prepared for the winter season.
Mid-West Family Broadcasting’s WIRX-FM (St. Joseph/Benton Harbor) held the first ever “Rock St. Jude Radiothon” on December 4th and 5th and declared it a resounding success. Director of Content Kristen Havens, known on the air as Kiki with Brock and Kiki in the afternoons, said listeners came forward to support St. Jude in a big way.
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the American Music Fairness Act bill which proposes to adopt a new music royalty to be paid by over-the-air radio stations. The royalty would be payable to SoundExchange for the public performance of sound recordings. This means that the money collected would be paid to performing artists and record labels for the use of their recording of a song.