The MAB has learned that veteran Marquette area sports announcer Ed Holmgren passed away June 6 at the age of 85. Holmgren was a beloved and comforting voice on the radio at multiple stations in the west-end communities of Ishpeming and Negaunee for his calling of sports contests, particularly football and basketball, for more than a half century.
Blarney Stone Broadcasting’s WQON-FM (Grayling), in partnership with Odawa Casino, has announced the Odawa Casino Battle of the Bands 2025, a high-energy competition spotlighting Michigan’s best unsigned musical talent. The event offers local artists the chance to win $4,000 cash, radio airplay and live performance opportunities!
The lazy days of summer provide little respite from the regulatory actions of importance to broadcasters. July brings quarterly requirements, including most importantly, the obligation to upload Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists to a station’s online public file. There are comment deadlines in July in three FCC proceedings: on regulatory fees, on a proposal for LPTV stations to operate under the 5G Broadcast transmission standard, and in the FCC’s proposal to expand foreign ownership disclosure requirements for FCC-issued licensees, including broadcasters.
This past Monday (6/16), Gray Television’s WLUC-TV (Marquette) announced that station News Director Andrew LaCombe will be leaving the station after four years. LaCombe will become the news director at WLUK-TV in Green Bay beginning in July. LaCombe previously worked at WLUK.
Michigan broadcast stations and networks receiving awards included Bally Sports Detroit, WDIV-TV, WGVU-TV, WILX-TV, WJBK-TV, WJRT-TV, WKAR-TV, WSYM-TV, WTVS-TV, WXMI-TV, WXYZ-TV and WZZM-TV.
The Detroit News has announced their 2025 Michiganians of the Year honors. Every year, the publication selects the “most impressive fellow citizens” to receive the distinction based on nominations by the readers and staff. Among the 10 picked this year are Mike Murri, of WMYD/WXYZ-TV and broadcaster George Blaha, the voice of the Detroit Pistons.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of Mike Campbell’s passing. Mike was more than a colleague at WWJ Newsradio 950; he was a friend to us all and a trusted voice for our listeners, bringing the stories of Detroit and Southeast Michigan to life. We are truly heartbroken by this loss and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends,” said WWJ news director Rob Davidek in a statement.
This past Wednesday (6/11) Queen Bee’s Knees WOLV-FM/WCCY-AM (Houghton) helped bring “Vet Fest 2025” to Houghton County. Now in its third year, Vet Fest has become one of the best veterans service events in the state for connecting people. This year’s event will bring organizations from across the western Upper Peninsula to work with veterans and educate the community about various military benefits.
This past Tuesday (6/10), the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) honored two group broadcasters that have a significant presence in Michigan: Beasley Media Group and Scripps Media.
Last Wednesday morning the news came Republican Commissioner Simington had announced his departure from the FCC effective last Friday. Shortly thereafter, Commissioner Starks, the Democrat whose planned departure was to have given the Republicans a majority on the FCC, announced that last Friday would also be his departure date.