Volume 11 • Issue 4 • Fourth Quarter 2020

909 North Railroad Street Eagle River, WI 54521 (715) 479-4451 HHCCGG aazzeettttee “One of America’s Finest Small Market Companies” In This AN AMAZING COMEBACK Issue A Terrific Team Effort Is Apparent Page 2 . . . The amazing comeback of Pres. Release Heartland revenue is a lot more than a story about Page 3 . . . money and advertising sales. Ashland News It is a story about resolve and willpower. Page 4 . . . It is a story about adrena - Eagle River News line and elbow grease. It is a story about knowing that many people all over the Jim Coursolle, CRMC country were losing their President and CEO jobs, and their paychecks, i.e., Wendi Ell, newsletter money to go grocery shop - designer and ping and pay the rent or mort - gage. There are a lot of publisher Heartland families with kids peace of mind and security nights that I sat in my chair that needed to be fed and about their future. tryingS teoe r eCloaxm weibtha cak l,i tPtlaeg TeV 6 www.heartlandcomm.com adult employees that needed “Many and Countless

CHRISTMAS IS ON THE AIR Heartland Holiday Programming Brings Cheer “In a time when Ashland and the sur - WATW FM & AM.” rounding area is suffering from the sadness Stone also mentioned that the Heartland connected with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashland stations will be broadcasting their the Heartland on-air folks in Ashland have annual “Magic Stocking” fundraiser to worked hard preparing to bring old-fash - help feed people in need. ioned Christmas cheer to our airwaves on The Heartland Eagle River stations of WBSZ, WJJH, WNXR and WATW FM & award-winning WRJO, WCYE, WNWX AM,” said Heartland Ashland Program and WERL FM & AM “will be lighting up and Operations Manager, Steve Stone. the holiday season with a bunch of listener Mike Wolf, Heartland Corporate Pro - fun and winning,” according to Program gram Director reported that the Heartland Director, Mike Wolf. He said, “It is a fun on-air team in the Minocqua, Eagle River time to be a jock on the air as listeners win and Rhinelander area, a.k.a. ‘The North - ‘Ho Ho Ho’ to our Christmas program - prizes and play on-air games adding to the woods Vacation Triangle’ were putting the ming,” said Wolf. Christmas entertainment.” finishing touches on many Christmas Holi - Listeners in the Ashland/Superior-Du - On Coyote 93.7, Coyote Program Direc - day programs wishing to bring traditional luth and Ironwood, MI area can expect to tor Jim Franklin is excited about a Christ - Christmas Spirit to thousands of homes hear their favorite Christmas songs begin - mas Dinner Give-away. “Listeners will be and holiday listeners throughout the ning Monday, November 30th, on WNXR, able to win a large dollar amount gift card Northwoods. WJJH and WBSZ. On December 24th, ac - from a local grocer. They can then decide “I’m stopping short of putting on a red cording to Stone, “We will broadcast whether they want to keep their dinner suit and white beard, but along with all of Christmas music on Christmas Eve begin - winnings or give thSee gei fCt hcarrisdt tmo a s f,a Pmaiglye 6 our announcers, I am ready to add some ning at 6 pm on WNXR, WBSZ and Page 2 Volume 11 • Issue 4 • Fourth Quarter 2020 PPrreess.. RReelleeaassee

hen you’re 77 years going to the movies or a ball old, you usually game or even a family wedding? don’t look forward to I couldn’t even get a haircut. Are the passing of a year; 2020 might we losing our freedoms? beW an exception to that feeling. As I wrote this, we are about a I guess if there is week or so after the pres - any mental impression idential election with no that would leave its clear winner... only TV mark on 2020, it networks “calling” or would have to be the predicting a winner, but infamous white or no official announce - light blue surgical ment. News reports of mask. In an almost rampant voter fraud filled surreal bad dream, it the airwaves as did re - Jim Coursolle seems that people ports of dozens of law - lined-up as robots President, CEO suits being filed in many under control, go courts throughout the about their business land; ballots mailed out suspecting and won - at random, even to thou - dering if that unfamiliar person sands of dead people, were being pushing a shopping cart by them broadcast as much of the prob - at the super market would infect lem. What a year 2020 has been. and kill them without notice. With all of that and from my Fear for many became the de - perspective, the loss of about $1.1 termining factor for their day and million in advertising revenue life. We wondered if this was re - due to government mandated ally America and if so, what hap - buSseinee Tssh laonckdsgowivnins,g I, aPmag e 6 pened to moving around freely...

October Top Sellers Birthday “Broadcasts” NOVEMBER 6th – Shannon Anderson – Ashland 8th – Diane Byington – Eagle River Sales Reps 20th – John Warren – Ashland Tammy Hollister...... $20,774 DECEMBER Trish Keeley ...... $20,289 14th – Sydney Cristiano – Ashland Diane Byington ...... $19,354 JANUARY Tyler Ostman ...... $11,280 9th – Wendy Baxter – Eagle River Scott Larson...... $9,164 10th – Grayce Schulta – Eagle River th 11 – Trish Keeley – Eagle River th 17 – David Olson – Ashland nd 22 – Jenny Schilling – Eagle River th 25 – Kathy Wawiorka – Corporate Volume 11 • Issue 4 • Fourth Quarter 2020 Page 3 AAsshhllaanndd

ByM Johen rWraryren , Christmas from Heartland-North General Manager WBSZ/WNXR/WJJH/WATW

’m happy to say that 4th quarter sales are pacing very well as October 2020 John Warren outperformed October 2019 and Ashland reaIched 128.4% of its adjusted General Manager October sales goal. It’s looking like we will outperform Novem - www.wbszfm.com ber 2019 sales as well as we’re www.wnxrfm.com currently pacing at 134.9% of November 2020 adjusted sales High School Football play-by- can be heard on 107.3 FM and on www.wjjhfm.com goal. We haven’t seen this type play action got underway with line at WNXRFM.com by click - www.watwbay of sales success since the start of Mike Granlund, Brady Lind and ing the Listen Live tab. At this country.com the pandemic in March. Way to Terry Johnson. With a shortened time, Northwestern Tigers bas - go Tammy, Tyler and Shannon. A 7-game season the final regular ketball is scheduled to start on huge thank you to Marion for season game is Friday, November December 3rd, 2020. getting all those orders in, keep - 6th. We expect the Tigers to go Ashland Oredockers Football ing it all straight and getting the deep into the playoffs starting with Nick Gima and Chris billing out. November 13th. Congrats to the Beeksma got off to a late start After a late start to the foot - Northwestern Tigers on a great this year withS eae s Ahosrhtelanned ,7 P-gaagme e5 ball season, Northwestern Tigers season. The Northwestern games

he 2020 Heartland Com - OTES munications Deer PByD St Neve Ston.e.,. Hunter’s Round Up airs Operations Manager and November 20th through Novem - Program Director beTr 28th on both WNXR 107.3 FM and WATW AM 1400/101.3 FM starting at 4:30pm. The show WATW Grows brings back some familiar names, Sports Programing Steve Williams, Rudy Allen, Marty Davidson and various other guests. There’s a number of WATW has recently added contests, camp call-ins, venison some major sports to the lineup. recipes, hunting stories and of The Badgers Football course all your favorite hunting and Basketball seasons will be tunes. airing on both 101.3 FM and Photos will be posted to the 1400 AM, the games will also be Deer Hunters Round Up Face - available on the live streaming book page. The show will air on service. With the addition of the Badgers, WATW also received WNXR 107.3 FM, WATW AM Steve Stone 1400 and 101.3 FM and online permission from the Green Bay Operations at wnxrfm.com and Packers organization to simulcast Manager and watwbaycountry.com by clicking the PaScekee Prsr oggamraems wmitihn g si,s Ptear ge 5 the Listen Live tab. Program Director

2320 Ellis Avenue. P.O. Box 613, Ashland, Wisconsin 54806 Page 4 Volume 11 • Issue 4 • Fourth Quarter 2020 EEaaggllee RRiivveerr

oyote 93.7 has an - ried, no kids, but do have a chi - day and Drive By Funny brings nounced a new week huahua and a tabby-cat. I love to those moments. It’s a wide variety night program from 7pm cook, bake, play Texas Hold ‘em, of comics, all in 60-90 seconds. to midnight that focuses on the travel, binge watch shows on TV, Laugh along at work at home, in locCal information for the Coyote go to the movies and fish. So your car, where ever. It’s a good listener but with fun elements happy to still be in radio doing daily uplift. mixed in. November my thang!” And, because it is a country sta - Jeff Wagner saw the start of Week - Renee along with in - tion so Renee also offers the Eagle River nights with Renee forming listeners about Nashville Update. WCYE’s General DuBay. local Northwoods informa - Nashville Update is information Sales Manager Renee said, “I found tion and events will have 3 for today’s modern country radio my calling when I was benchmarked elements. audiences. The Nashville Update www..com 16 and our 4-H club The first is The Outdoor is also a backstage pass to www.mix96 did a fundraiser at a Minute with Marv Nashville’s latest buzz, news, and northwoods.com local radio station in Renee DuBay Holowinski. Marv will stories with original artist-focused www.coyote937.com my home-state of Min - On-Air keep listeners up-to-date content, concert info, and exclu - nesota. Since then, I’ve Personality with Wisconsin’s North - sive interviews with the biggest done radio in Colorado, woods hunting, fishing and names in . Ohio, Hawaii, outdoor scene. It will also We are happy to have Renee on Nebraska, be a nice way for listeners to Coyote 93.7 weeknights and hope Chicago and get the major and minor she will be that fun and informa - Minneapolis. I fishing and hunting times for tion that keeps you going late into still love radio the following day. the evening. as much as I &R\RWH Renee will also offer Email Renee with song requests did when I was &RQWLQXRXV+LW&RXQWU\ “Drive By Funny.” Everyone and information at 16. I’m mar - needs a little humor every [email protected].

OTES please be assured that no turkeys So, if we must beg listeners to get PByD M Nike Wolf.,. . are harmed while playing the out there and reward them with Corporate Program turkey shoot. This contest has be - prizes, you’re darned tootin’ we Director come a listener favorite. Calls will will. start coming in when the calendar We will wrap up 2020 with one strikes November wondering of our favorites, The Elf Toss. he fourth Quarter in when we will be shooting turkeys. Santa and his boy are having a lit - Eagle River gets busy. Next, we have a special contest tle fun at the North Pole and that spans the end of the year and WRJO listeners benefit with a There are always several con - the beginning of the next. It’s chance to win their Christmas tesTts and fun events that WRJO Shop Local 365. This is a contest ham. Whether you like your ham offers to our listeners as the holi - that not only benefits WRJO but Bayonne, Black Forest, Boiled or day season gets closer. This year our local businesses as well. We Cooked, Capicola, Country, Cu - has been such a drain on every - start in November, just before latello, Gammon, Honey or Mike Wolf one, and if WRJO can help usher Thanksgiving so listeners benefit Maple, Irish, Jamon Iberico, Pic - Corporate out a crazy time with fun and from all the holiday shopping, nic, Prosciutto (Italian Ham), Program Director even delicious prizes, that’s what and at the end of March pull a Scotch, Serrano, Smithfield, we are going to do. winner of our grand prize valued Speck, Westphalian or York, we The first contest in line is our at or more than $1,000. Last will set the stage you just have to Turkey Shoot. This is where we year’s grand prize was well over prepare it to your liking. ask listeners to call in to win their $1,000, with a bicycle included We love the holiday season at Thanksgiving turkey. Let us just valued itself at $1,000. We want WRJO and one big reason why is say that there is a cannon involved to not only promote shopping simply because our listeners ben - and a turkey with a helmet, but local but have people really do it. efit from us having fun. Jim Franklin 909 N. Railroad Street, P.O. Box 309, Eagle River, Wisconsin 54521 Program Director Volume 11 • Issue 4 • Fourth Quarter 2020 Page 5

Ashland, from Page 3 Unfortunately The 10th Annual Garland held at the Bay Area Civic Center on City Women’s Expo that was planned for March 26th, 27th and 28th, 2021. We look season. Ashland Oredockers have three Saturday November 7th was canceled this forward to a show full of vendors and po - wins and three losses with the final regu - year due to Ashland County’s Health De - tential new customers. To reserve booth lar-season game to be played on Novem - partments mandate on large gatherings. We space contact Tammy, Shannon or Tyler at ber 6th. At this time it’s uncertain on look forward to putting it together for the 715-682-2727. playoff implications. Ashland Oredocker 1st Saturday of November in football can be heard on WATW AM 2021. 1400 and 101.3 FM and online at Heartland Communications watwbaycountry.com by clicking the Lis - - North Sales Staff is currently ten Live tab. Ashland Oredockers and In - accepting reservations for dianhead Conference Basketball booth space for the Heartland play-by-play will air on WATW AM 1400 Communications 2021 Home and 101.3 FM. The season kicks off in and Sport Show in Ashland. early December. The Show in Ashland will be

Programming, from Page 3 nia native, Elaina Smith has become one of Brian Wick along with Ashland’s lady of the strongest female presences on country the airwaves Bri went out for a drive and station WNXR, bringing radio. She was recently named one of Ra - judged the submissions. Winners received Packers Football back to dioInk’s 30-And-Under Superstars. Elaina “Chamber Bucks” to spend at local busi - Ashland. Adding to the is also a two-time Gracie award-winning, nesses. sports lineup, Wisconsin CMA and ACM nominated broadcaster. All four Ashland stations are having fun Radio Network sports The nightly program will feature country with the “Caffeinated Caller” promotion. update with Bill Scott is music, news and interviews with chart top - Tchebo Coffee provided packages of cof - now a daily feature as pers in country music. fee for the contest. Listeners have to iden - well. tify a song that has been sped up several Bill Scott times its normal speed. If they guess the song and artist they receive the coffee and station drink coozies. A few months ago, J-96 WJJH added “Flashback Trivia” as a feature of the morning show. The program has really We Have caught on with listeners. Each morning Steve Stone opens up the phone line to Wisconsin News find one person that can answer the daily trivia question. The daily feature is cur - Award-winning news coverage for all rently sponsored and because of its popu - four of Ashland’s radio stations is now larity, has a list for future sponsorships. being provided by The Wisconsin Radio The contests have been extremely valu - Network. In October, the Ashland market able in keeping listeners engaged with the became an affiliate, adding the coverage of radio stations and keeping them tuned in. Wisconsin State News to the morning shows on WBSZ, WJJH and WNXR and hourly updates on WATW. The North - woods area truly needed a resource for Wisconsin news, since most of the televi - sion coverage is focused on , leaving listeners with no media coverage for their state. WRN and the Ashland sta - tions will also provide special programing Scarecrows, Coffee and cover important events. and Trivia WBSZ Adds Top Country Nights COVID-19 has brought more than a few challenges to the broadcast industry, chief among them has been “listener engage - Today’s Country WBSZ Z-93 will be ment.” The programing team in Ashland adding one of the top syndicated country has been hard at work getting the listener music programs to its nightly line-up. engaged with some awesome promotions. “Nights With Elaina” will fill the 7pm to In October, WBSZ, WATW and the Ash - midnight time-slot seven days a week land Chamber of Commerce sponsored a starting Monday, November 30th. Califor - “Scarecrow Contest.” Rick St. Nick and Volume 11 • Issue 4 • Fourth Quarter 2020 Page 6

Christmas, from Page 1 Thanksgiving, from Page 2 business climate, but then I refocus, realizing that our Heartland people in need.” Franklin said, “Heartland knows grateful. are the best and through teamwork how hard 2020 has been on all Northwoods I am grateful that through amazing Heartland would once again be set - families.” teamwork, the Heartland stations ting records and winning awards. Christmas listeners can also expect to hear have survived and mostly recouped This Thanksgiving season, despite ‘The Elf Toss,’ ‘Shop Local 365’ and other our lost $1.1 million in revenue. the stresses of COVID 19 and the Christmas contesting. But, according to Wolf, This is the Thanksgiving season 2020 election, please join with me in “The Star of the Show will be our Christmas and I feel thankful that at this writ - a short prayer of gratitude for all that Music which starts the day after Thanksgiving ing, everyone at Heartland has a job we have overcome and accom - through Christmas Eve.” with which to support themselves plished. It’s really comforting to be a “The joy that the Christmas holidays bring and their families. This was no easy part of this wonderful Heartland will be incredibly important this year,” said feat and could only be accomplished team. Wolf. Ashland’s Steve Stone added, “I by excellent teamwork. We need to Thanks to you and the Big Guy in haven’t talked to one person who isn’t looking continue to work hard to guarantee the sky for bringing us all together to forward to a little Christmas cheer this year… our jobs. serve our listeners, advertisers and we’ve all been through a lot and we are wait - Sometimes I worry about the fu - communities. ing for the Christmas celebration!” ture with proposed government anti- HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Comeback, from Page 1 may be federally mandated until God may impose stringent regulations and knows when; the effectiveness of such ac - guaranteed tax increases on businesses and and yet, I found myself thinking about pay - tion has become questionable by many doc - the general public. I have mentioned to our rolls and bills,” said Heartland CEO Jim tors. President Trump has often said that the management team that we must look for - Coursolle. “I also knew I was having some “cure has been worse than the illness.” I ward and focus on ‘belt-tightening’ and health issues, but I knew I had to keep that think I understand that Trump quote. production. Those belt-tightening effects to myself a bit because there was lots of We all went to work. have already taken place; an announcer in work to be done. I quietly got myself to “The behind-the-scenes efforts by John the Ashland market gave notice and will doctors and finally three surgeries for heart and Jeff and their sales teams, and the not be replaced. Other business friends tell stents. My blood pressure had increased forefront product or programming support me they are doing the same thing which, in considerably due to concerns about Heart - by Mike, Steve, Jim and their teams was the long run, will result in the loss of mil - land’s survival and success during the pretty amazing,” said Coursolle. “We initi - lions of jobs throughout the United States. COVID pandemic and probably living a lit - ated doable “pandemic” revenue goals. We There will not be any room for anyone tle wild in my younger years and just being held several staff meetings being ex - who does not do their jobs, thus disallow - an American broadcast entrepreneur.” tremely candid about the challenges we ing themselves and our stations goal ac - Coursolle said that other members of his faced. I thought it much better to just let complishment. We just will not be able to team had tested positive for COVID and a everyone know what we had to do to en - afford mediocre work knowing what may few of them became ill with COVID. “It sure payroll and the hope that there would lie ahead. We all lived through eight very was not pleasant at all for these folks, they be no layoffs or salary reductions. I told marginal years with the US GDP averaging were really sick. But they survived them it was up to them…we had to pro - 1.6% during the Obama/Biden administra - COVID and recovered. They were return - duce like never before or I wouldn’t be tion compared to the 2.5+% during the ing to normal and back at work in just a able to ensure that there wouldn’t be cut - Trump/Pence Administration prior to the few weeks. This, itself, proves what re - backs or salary reductions. It seems every - pandemic. Even in small towns, the U.S. sponsible people we have at Heartland.” one understood, probably because we all economy has far reaching effects.” Coursolle shared that he knew he had had friends at other companies that were “The good news,” according to Cour - some great Heartland leaders in John War - suffering the loss of their jobs; I couldn’t solle, “is that Heartland has good, solid ren, Jeff Wagner, Mike Wolf, Steve Stone, stand the thought of that for our people,” people, and with much more than average Jim Franklin and Bruce Marcus and that said Coursolle. “This is not a big company effort, we will be able to survive and suc - those folks had his back. But he said, “it is and our people are not just numbers… they ceed even with another future government almost impossible to not think about are part of my family.” mandated lockdown and possible future things…I tried to pray away my worries Since initially losing about $1.1 million inept government economic policies.” and that helped a lot. Turning stuff like in contracted advertising revenue, we have “I am very proud that no one at Heart - that over to God really worked.” pulled ourselves up and have recovered al - land has been terminated or laid-off and no It was the middle of March 2020 that the most 90+ percent of that lost revenue. one has had their salary reduced to date be - government mandated lockdown of almost Coursolle went on to say, “With the out - cause of COVID,” Coursolle said, “We are all businesses took place. At first, most peo - come of the election certainly to be deter - better prepared today than we were when ple thought the government forced lock - mined by many courts and state the pandemic hit and we hopefully, as a downs would last a few weeks or months, legislatures and I am almost positive, The team, understand what has to be done to but we are nearing the end of 2020 and we Supreme Court of the United States, the survive and succeed. There is little room are hearing reports from one presidential possibility exists of dealing with a new for a lackadaisical attitude and, my guess candidate that face masks and lockdowns “Green” anti-business administration that is, our Heartland team fully realizes that.”