Midwest Communication’s WHTC/WYVN (Holland) reports that longtime program host Bill Gargano passed away December 5 at age 98. The World War II veteran from Detroit first came to WHTC in 1954.
The first round of changes took effect on December 12th, with WPHM becoming an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio weeknights and Saturdays. The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon will now be heard from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. weeknights. Fox Sports Radio content will also be heard in place of Sports Map Radio on Saturdays. Markley, VanCamp, and Robbins will move to the 7-10 p.m. timeslot Sunday-Friday.
On December 9, WTCM-AM/FM (Traverse City) News Director retired after 26 years at the station and over 50 years serving the radio industry.
Jacobs Media alumnus Lori Lewis is no stranger to readers of our blogs. She has an extensive working knowledge of radio, having been both an on-air talent and an award-winning Program Director. With the rise of social media, she truly found her niche. In 2008, she left day-to-day programming and began helping brands understand how to leverage social media for growth.
In the last few weeks, a Democratic Senator and a Republican FCC Commissioner have both expressed support for the future of AM radio. This is not a new topic, being the subject of speculation for at least the last 20 years as FM listening caught up to and surpassed the older service’s audience.
“NAB thanks the members of the House Judiciary Committee who voted against the AMFA today, and the more than 250 members of Congress – including a majority of the House of Representatives – that support a resolution opposing this new performance royalty on local radio.”
During his time at the station, Ragan hired and trained hundreds of people who would work in front of the camera and behind it, many who have taken the guidance and advice to advance their careers fat beyond mid-Michigan.
Midwestern Broadcasting has named Bill “Broadway” Bertschinger Program Director of its Top 40 WJZQ-FM (Cadillac/Traverse City). Bertschinger. who will host the midday shift on the station, succeeds Ron Pritchard, who remains at the station focused on his morning show.
Western Michigan University’s WMUK-FM (Kalamazoo) has been selected by the nonprofit group Report for America to host a journalist beginning next year. WMUK’s reporter will cover stories for a beat called “rural meets metro.”
Cumulus Media’s WLAV-FM Grand Rapids has announced that former Detroit radio personality Gregg Henson is joining the station as morning co-host. He joins Michelle McKormick and Travis Gibbs weekdays from 5:30 -10 a.m. on the newly-named “Michelle and Gregg With Travis Show.”