Detroit Broadcast Exec Kevin Adell to Sell All Stations, Including 910 AM, WADL-TV. According to a report in the Detroit Free Press (9/12) by reporter Violet Ikonomova, longtime Detroit broadcast executive Kevin Adell has listed all his media properties for sale as he seeks to retire. Adell launched WADL-TV (Channel 38) 35 years ago. He later started The Word Network, a religious television station, and WFDF-AM (910), a longtime, locally-focused urban talk radio station that abruptly flipped to a largely syndicated conservative talk format last year. According to the report, Adell texted, “Passion is somewhere else,” adding, “Decided to [engage in] sport fish.” Adell also attributed his decision to industry turbulence as more people abandon traditional television and radio for streaming services. “Our industry is going to take a while to reset itself, like the newspaper industry,” he said, estimating that this “reset” would come in 10 years, or not at all. “This might be the new normal.” Pictured above: Adell (l) with radio historian and videographer Art Vuolo (r). Vuolo tells TALKERS, “He invited me to video in studio the launch of Super Station 910 the first week of September a year ago as he re-branded WFDF-AM 910 as news/talk. He wanted to go after WJR, but with mostly syndicated programming from Premiere Networks. Interestingly 910 now with 50 kw is the third biggest AM signal in Michigan!” For more info, see the entire Detroit Free Press article here. https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2024/09/12/kevin-adell-sell-radio-tv-staions-wadl-wfdf-world-network/75189174007/
MIW and NABLF Announce Rachel Haggerty as the 2024 MIW NABLF Launch Program Mentee. Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. (MIW), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of female leadership in radio broadcasting, and the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF), name Rachel Haggerty as the 2024 MIW NABLF Launch Program mentee. Started in 2023, Launch is a partnership between MIW and the NAB Leadership Foundation dedicated to supporting and guiding women in radio who are relatively new to the industry. The first of its kind, this program fosters the development and curation of talent. Haggerty graduated from Seton Hall University in 2019, where she was actively involved with WSOU-FM, serving as assistant technical operations director and later as student manager. After graduation, she completed the National Association of Broadcasters Technology Apprenticeship Program, interning with iHeartMedia’s New York City radio stations. She then worked locally and with a national support team at iHeartMedia before becoming the assistant chief engineer at WABC-AM. Since 2023, she has returned to iHeartMedia New York, working with Premiere Networks on nationally syndicated talk shows. Rachel is also an active member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers and holds a Certificate in Broadcast Radio Engineering.
MH Interviewed by Heidi Harris about AI. TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison was interviewed by former Heavy Hundred Las Vegas-based talk veteran Heidi Harris (KXNT, KDWN, Salem, and others) on her rapidly growing independent video “Heidi Harris Show” posted to Rumble. Harrison addressed the issue of artificial intelligence’s impact on talk show hosts as well as society in general presenting a mixed forecast of both good and bad news. To watch the video in its entirety please click here https://rumble.com/v5f32ed-will-ai-replace-talk-radio-hosts-or-djs-guest-talkers-magazine-publisher-mi.html. For more info about Harris, visit HeidiHarrisShow.com.