Volume 11 • Issue 3 • Third Quarter 2020

909 North Railroad Street Eagle River, WI 54521 (715) 479-4451 HHCCGG aazzeettttee “One of America’s Finest Small Market Radio Broadcasting Companies” In This “SO FAR…SO GOOD” Issue Heartland Stations COVID-19 Recovery Page 2 . . . ometime in year in the history of our Pres. Release March, for company through February about ten days, 29, 2020 and then we Page 3 . . . cancellation calls came in weren’t….just like that! It fas“Ster than we could write was shocking and devastat - Ashland News them,” said Heartland South ing at first until we could get General Sales Manager, Jeff our arms around the damage Page 4 . . . Wagner. “The phone never and determine a plan of ac - Eagle River News stopped ringing.” tion.” “Years of effort, establish - According to Heartland ac - Jim Coursolle, CRMC ing marketing relationships counting reports, Heartland President and CEO with our clients were usurped saw a little over one million by lockdown orders through - dollars ‘evaporate’ due to the Wendi Ell, newsletter out the U.S. and Wisconsin. COVID-19 pandemic lock - designer and publisher People discontinued their ad - down. At the end of June vertising because they were 2020, the company was forced to close their stores and down 28.19% from the businesses,” reported John Heartland June 2019 figures. One month later, at the end Warren, GM at Heartland It seemed like forever, but in of July 2020, the revenue www.heartlandcomm.com North, Ashland station cluster. just four months the com - deficit was reduced by about Jim Coursolle, Heartland pany had clawed its way 6% to 22.46%. Coursolle President and CEO, said, back from over 50% said, See Recovery , Page 7 “We were having the best COVID-19 revenue losses.

THE COUNTRY CONCERT COVID COULDN’T KILL ince 1978, or for al - You see, Oneida County au - most 42 years, crowds thorities in concern for the have attended what has concert goer’s health, can - become the Northwood’s Pre - celled the famous concert mSier Country Music Festival. named after the Rhinelander Everything was set. Super monster moniker. The cancel - Stars such as Neal McCoy, lation disappointment turned Darius Rucker, Brett Eldredge, into a ‘Ho Hum’ or no concert Runaway June and many more at all. were on the docket. The tickets But hold the phone… off in were sold and thousands of a secret planning place the country music fans from all minds of Heartland Corporate over the Midwest had made Program Director Mike Wolf plans to spend their summer and Continuous (the ‘KEY’ vacation listening to their fa - word here) Hit Country Coy - vorite country stars and coun - ote 93.7 Country Music morn - try music. ing personality Jim Franklin Then the guitar licks that were meeting. It was TOP were set to play and the coun - SECRET stuff. been the Northwood’s Coun - international COVID-19 pan - try music stars that were set to You see CONTINUOUSLY try Music Festival time. Wolf demic was about to claim an - entice…couldn’t and almost – or going on 42 years – the and Franklin were over - other victiSme.e Concert , Page 7 didn’t. month of July had always whelmingly concerned. The Page 2 Volume 11 • Issue 3 • Third Quarter 2020 PPrreess.. RReelleeaassee ecently, I was talking with a About that same time, a Catholic priest at home and hide from one another. I friend of mine who is employed friend of mine wrote me an email. He said would tell them to be the first to grab up in Washington by a U.S. legisla - he had written out his sermon to be in ac - what they might want and not consider tor. We were discussing the current envi - cord with that Sunday’s Gospel which was what others might need. ronRment and how things always seem to the Story of the Apostles Afraid of the Since God wants them to take one day a happen at the just the appropriate moment Storm. He said he remembered the style week to rest from their labors, I would put to either attempt to that the late radio broadcaster Paul Harvey them out of work so they would have no condone or to obstruct had used in his radio broadcasts and de - need of rest. Since God invites them to a certain matter or cided to emulate it. gather together in church to seek solace issue. Those “pro or I thought what he wrote was particularly and comfort, I would close the churches con” actions always good and I thought I would share it with but keep the liquor stores open so they seem to happen at just you today. Please keep in mind that the could obtain Southern Comfort. the right moment, sort “Pres. Release” column is always meant to Since God invites them to trust and rely of like a scripted TV be an opinion column even though we on Him, I would tempt them to trust in or movie drama. So I Jim Coursolle work hard at expressing truthful opinions. government to provide for all their needs. said to him, “Gee, President, CEO From my priest friend: Since God is the source of truth, I would there certainly are a lot IF I WERE THE DEVIL try to limit what they are able to hear. I of ‘coincidences’ that If I were the Devil, the prince of dark - would try to turn truth upside down. I happen in Washington ness and the father of lies, what would I do would tell them that it is harmful if they on the political scene.” if I wanted to draw people away from try to gather to help anyone, but it is a His response was, “Jim, don’t you know God? wonderful thing if they if they gather in that everything that happens in Washing - Since God’s Word tells them to trust and large numbers to destroy property and hurt ton during an election year is because it IS not to fear, I think that I would start by people. I would tell them that it is a terri - an election year.” frightening them and put them into a ble thing to say that you respect all human I guess even though I suspected as panic. And since God’s Word tells them to life instead of saying that only some lives much, I never really thought that people care for each other, I think I would want matter. I would tell them to avoid contact would actually “plan” good and bad events them to believe that it’s everyone for with anyone and I would call it ‘social dis - to coincide with political agendas. Maybe themselves. tancing.’ See Devil , Page 7 I was a bit naive?” I would have “experts” tell them to stay

July Top Sellers Birthday “Broadcasts” AUGUST 4th – Jim Franklin – Eagle River Sales Reps 27th – Jim Coursolle – Corporate Trish Keeley ...... $23,019 SEPTEMBER Diane Byington ...... $22,200 1st – Jeff Wagner – Eagle River Tammy Hollister...... $21,984 1st – Tyler Ostman – Ashland th Scott Larson ...... $14,383 9 – Brian Nowicki – Ashland 14th – Wendi Ell – Corporate OCTOBER 3rd – Marion Warren – Ashland 25th – Mike “Wolf” Ell – Eagle River Volume 11 • Issue 3 • Third Quarter 2020 Page 3 AAsshhllaanndd

By John Warren, The Summer of 2020 General Manager WBSZ/WNXR/WJJH/WATW

id the Summer of 2020 really happen? Well I’m not 100% sure. John Warren Heartland Communication’s Ashland AshDland Home and Sport Show General Manager had a last-minute postponement of the Spring Show due to Governor www.wbszfm.com Tony Evers statewide shut down. www.wnxrfm.com We had planned to move the Show to September 2020 however www.wjjhfm.com the fall has now been canceled as www.watwbay well. We’ll try again for the country.com Spring of 2021. The new date is set for March 26th, 27th and 28th 2021. Have you heard about the Mur - der Hornets? I hope they aren’t as Have you seen the Poisonous I haven’t either, Thank the Lord! bad as they sound. What’s next? Chameleon Flying Spiders? LOL

Man Cave Promotion Bay Area Battle of the Bands Canceled for 2020 Our Bay Area Battle of the Heartland Communications Bands for this past July was can - Group – Ashland would normally celed due to the Mass Gathering conduct our Man Cave promotion Mandate however, Heartland consisting of approximately Communications Group – Ash - $5,000 in prizes that would be land staff pulled off a Virtual Bat - given away in August. The Man tle of the Bands. The contest is Cave Promotion was canceled due still underway and its driving peo - to concerns of large gatherings as ple to our four radio stations web - both Ashland and Bayfield Coun - sites. Feel free to vote for you ties Health Departments asked favorite band! that there be no mass gatherings per Governor Tony Evers orders. 2020 High School Graduations

55+ Health Expo The 2020 High School Gradua - tions across the country were af - The 55+ Health Expo was to be fected by the COVID-19 held on August 19th at the Bay Pandemic. That didn’t stop the Area Civic Center and Bretting’s ceremonies in our listening area. Center. The event was canceled Heartland Communications Group Steve Stone due to the Mass Gathering Man - – Ashland aired 9 graduations in Operations date. Plans for August 2021 will our listening area; be discussed in the near future. Manager and See Ashland , Page 6 Program Director

2320 Ellis Avenue. P.O. Box 613, Ashland, Wisconsin 54806 Page 4 Volume 11 • Issue 3 • Third Quarter 2020 EEaaggllee RRiivveerr

PByD M NikeO WTEoSlf.,. . Corporate Program Director

Backpack Backpack It is that time of year again. Time for kids to think about going back to school, wherever it may be? Heartland Communications stations 94.5 WRJO, Coyote 93.7 Jeff Wagner Eagle River and Mix 96, gave away backpacks General to support the area students and Sales Manager give parent’s pocketbooks a little break. www.wrjo.com This was Heartland’s 4th year giving away the backpacks and it is a promotion that is unbelievably www.mix96 well received. The stations will Three stations at Heartland northwoods.com begin getting calls weeks before Communications gives away the promotion even starts to make sure it is going to happen. 150 backpacks and school sup - This year the 3 stations com - plies for a fourth year. bined and gave away 150 back - packs along with the school Heartland’s Corporate supplies to go with the backpacks. Office Sign Gets a Facelift The sales department does the sales and organizing of the back - With the addition of radio sta - packs accompanying letters from tions WCYE, WNWX, and the each sponsor congratulating the WERL translator to the Heartland student on a great school year. Corporate Offices, the exterior The looks on the faces of the sign needed a bit of a facelift to parents and students who pick up call attention to all of the stations. the backpacks at the stations is See Eagle River , Page 5 priceless.

Mike Wolf Corporate Program Director

909 N. Railroad Street, P.O. Box 309, Eagle River, Wisconsin 54521 Page 5 Volume 11 • Issue 3 • Third Quarter 2020 EEaaggllee RRiivveerr

PByD Ji mN FOrTanEkS li.n.. , Program Director

he Coyote 93.7 Country Concert Covid Couldn’t Kill was a huge success! This concert took place due to a Northwoods concert that could not T Jeff Wagner take place because of the Covid-19 Eagle River pandemic. This is an event that at - General tracts upwards of 30,000 concert- Sales Manager goers who could not make their annual pilgrimage to Rhinelander to enjoy this outdoor festival. Jim Franklin, Coyote Program www.coyote Director, spent weeks putting to - 937.com gether a concert filled with live music, sound effect and interviews from all the acts who were sup - posed to be playing this year. Jim also worked on a tribute to Charlie Daniels, a music industry icon, &R\RWH who died this year. &RQWLQXRXV+LW&RXQWU\ The concert aired over 4 nights and was well-received by the Northwoods country community. Jim received many calls from lis - teners of Coyote 93.7 that were sitting around campfires, working, boating, and enjoying other activi - ties while listening to the concert. Coyote is looking forward to 2021 and another on-air concert. Jim Franklin Eagle River, from Page 4 Program Director solved to maintain fall inter - in the stands for the games. scholastic opportunities with a de - WRJO will once again be cov - It is amazing what some new layed start—as well as an alternate ering the Northland Pines football paint, stain, staples, screws and a opportunity for s chools unable to games. The standard start of the laminated sign insert can do to start and administer the traditional football regular season is in Au - brighten up a tired sign. fall season, at its virtual special gust, but this year will be pushed meeting in a 8-3 decision—the back to September 25th and run - Waiting on Sports board approved conducting the ning until November 6th. fall sports season with a delayed This could make for an interest - Fall sports, mainly high school start. The first possible football ing year of high school football football, will be underway with a game may be scheduled Wednes - considering that last year’s winter bit of a delay, but is being re - day, Sept. 23, if the first practice is came to the Northwoods in Octo - ceived as a type of normalcy. conducted on Sept. 7. ber and November giving us snow The Wisconsin Interscholastic The WIAA is letting the and temperatures as low 2 degrees Athletic Association Board of schools and county health depart - above zero. Control considered a number of ments personally handle the task Bundle up kids, the weather season schedule models and re - of allowing or not allowing fans could get interesting. 909 N. Railroad Street, P.O. Box 309, Eagle River, Wisconsin 54521 Volume 11 • Issue 3 • Third Quarter 2020 Page 6

Ashland, from Page 3 delay. The Brewers games can be heard on Rock Station and gives listeners the oppor - WNXR 107.3 FM. Green Bay Packers tunity to interact directly with Alice Ashland, Washburn, Bayfield, Mellen, preseason games will not air. We are hope - Cooper through his Facebook and Website. Northwestern, Drummond, South Shore, ful that the regular season kicks off with - Hurley and Ironwood High Schools. The out a hitch on September 13th with Green graduation ceremonies could be listened to Bay at the Minnesota Vikings. We plan to on our stations and have been added to our air that game on WNXR 107.3 FM. As far websites. as high school football. Ashland Oredock - Heartland Ashland believed that seniors ers schedule is set to kick off September deserved to be honored for their accom - 4th and Northwestern is set to kick off plishment. With the cooperation of the ten September 25th. Ashland Oredockers foot - area schools in our listening area, we pro - ball will be heard on WATW AM 1400 and 11th Annual Battle of the Bands, duced and aired ten separate graduation 101.3 FM or click the Listen Live tab at With a Twist ceremonies on three of our radio stations. WATWBAYCOUNTRY.COM. The North - WNXR, WATW and WBSZ set time aside western Tigers will be heard on WNXR After ten straight years of hosting a Bat - to air graduation programs, complete with 107.3 FM or WNXRFM.COM. tle of the Bands in Ashland for the annual speeches from the students and a presenta - Bay Days celebration, it looked like there tion of each graduating senior by name. would be no 2020 battle. But, with some The ten separate programs were then online magic combined with a creative posted to our web sites so that family out - staff the first ever, Virtual Battle of the side the listening area could still be a part Bands became a reality. The community of the graduation. and our customers have gotten behind the idea and it is a huge success. Bands are Pet Food Pantry A Huge Success competing by submitting video, listeners are voting on all four websites to select a The pandemic had a huge economic im - weekly winner. The winner of each week pact on families, some members of the moves on to another battle later, with the family may have ended up on the street or top three bands enjoying a nice cash prize in a shelter or pound. Ashland stations along with one band being the first ever worked with a local merchant that donated virtual battle winner. time and a portable building to help us col - lect and distribute pet food to people that Live Music Experience may have otherwise been financially forced to surrender a pet. Our goal was to WJJH Welcomes Elton John in concert? and create a food bank that ran on an honor in concert? Well, system, and the idea worked perfectly. We not exactly, but with some radio magic ended the pantry in July as the need less - Before anyone had heard of the Corona WNXR listeners will be hearing a live ened. Listeners kept the pantry stocked Virus, plans had been made to bring music experience with Elton John. WJJH with dog and cat food and those in need “Nights with Alice Cooper” to J-96/WJJH. listeners will be treated to their favorite took only what they required with many Travel restrictions made it impossible for night-time DJ, Alice Cooper. Combining donating back when they were able. engineering to be completed until June. live music cuts and introductions from Q- Alice Cooper helped kick-off the program Ball and Steve Stone, the two radio sta - Sports on J-96 with a fifteen-minute interview tions will bring a concert experience to with Steve Stone. The Alice Cooper pro - radios and live streamming on our web - The Milwaukee Brewers Baseball sea - gram brings yet another dimension of sites. Theater of the mind meets summer son is underway after a four plus month depth to the programming of the Classic concerts.

dst of a We may be in the mi l culture, but pandemic and cance on families that’s had no effect ce on Earth enjoying the best pla sin! — Northern Wiscon Volume 11 • Issue 3 • Third Quarter 2020 Page 7

Recovery, from Page 1 Devil, from Page 2 ator and I would have them all look “Because of immense teamwork, we are alike. I would tell them to close the chipping away at our revenue deficit – Since God sent his Son to save us comparing the year 2020 to 2019 – and we schools to save the young people and make us free, I would confine hope to finish 2020 with just a 10% deficit from a possible plague, but not be and imprison the innocent in their in comparison to 2019.” concerned with the plagues of drug homes, but I would release the guilty “In spite of very little Brewer baseball addiction and suicide, which are from the prisons. Since God blessed illing far more young people than broadcasts, no Badger football broadcasts k the work of creation, I would limit and unknown (at this time) Packer broad - any virus. I would try to convince employment and pay more to those them that everything that they have who refuse to work than those who casts – all large revenue centers – the com - pany has been able to manage revenue and learned and everything that has come actually do. I would come down expenses,” said Coursolle. “In both mar - down to us from the past is of no harshly on those who attempt to open kets, large revenue-producing events such value now. a place of business but look the other as ‘Home Shows’ and ‘Advantage System Since God has given laws for way at those who would loot and de - Sales Seminars’ had been lost; however, guidance, I would try to make every - stroy a business. Advantage Systems will bring their sales- one believe that all laws are oppres - Since God is the source of faith, I oriented marketing seminars to NW Wis - sive and those men and women who would try to make everyone rely on consin later this fall. We’ve had to go back try to uphold these laws are of no and trust in the power of government. to the drawing boards several times to value and should be opposed and Since the Holy Spirit of God brings make adjustments as government contin - done away with. I would try to make hope, I would try to make people ued to mandate lockdowns in Wisconsin,” them think that any vestiges of the think that opposition to force and in - said Coursolle. heroes and builders of the past timidation is useless. Since God is the The COVID-19 pandemic has caused should be taken down and replaced source of charity, I would try to make both markets to quarantine employees test - with those who ruin and destroy. everyone think that they are alone and ing positive for COVID-19, further dis - Since God has said that human be - wrong if they oppose the suppression rupting Heartland station’s teamwork ings are made in the divine image, I of ideas and the destruction of others’ abilities. At the writing of this story, no would order everyone to cover up property. Heartland employee has become seriously their faces and eliminate what makes If I were the Devil, I would have to ill due to the virus. The reason for that, ac - them a unique reflection of the cre - say that I am doing a great job so far! cording to Mike Wolf, Heartland Corporate Operations Director, is that both markets took the necessary and recommended safety precautions. Concert, from Page 1 No Heartland employee has been termi - fects were employed so that the nated, furloughed or salaries reduced be - thousands of fans listening at con - cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales CONTINUOUSLY since 1978, cert parties held throughout the commissions, however, took a hit due to this concert was about to have the Northwoods and available through the revenue reductions. stamp of one of Appleton, Wiscon - streaming throughout the United “So Far…So Good,” is a phrase often sin’s favorite sons, Houdini—mean - States were virtually in attendance. used by Coursolle as he discusses Heart - ing it was about to DISAPPEAR or The concert that had been can - land’s situation. “If we continue to do what be DISCONTINUED for 2020. celled, now was on. The music was we have been doing with small, but hard- Blood pressures went up, the incredible. The brats and beer earned monthly revenue improvements, we adrenalin began to pump through - never tasted better and there was will thwart financial problems. The Small out the minds of Wolf and Franklin. plenty to go around! Business Administration (SBA), in con - The wheels were turning… an idea According to Heartland CEO, Jim junction with our lender First Business was born! The famous Northwoods Coursolle, the concert production Bank, have assisted us with the SBA Pay - Country Music Festival would go was the finest he had ever heard in roll Protection Program and Economic In - on after all, CONTINUOUSLY for his 59 years in broadcasting. jury Disaster Loans which have been 42 years. It wasn’t “imagination,” but then greatly appreciated and lifesaving. But It would be a somewhat ‘virtual’ again, it WAS IMAGINATION. most importantly it’s been the incredible concert that would be broadcast Music is audio and this concert teamwork on our product side. Our stations from Continuous Hit Country Coy - sounded better than if you were sit - have sounded incredible thanks to Steven ote 93.7 at a location secretly ting on the festival grounds in the Stone, Ashland Program and Operations undisclosed in people’s minds. center of all the action. But you Director, and Mike Wolf, Corporate and The Coyote 93.7 concert broad - were in the center of all the ac - Eagle River Operations Director. With a casts would coincide exactly with tion…all you had to do was close great product, John Warren, Ashland GM the now cancelled nights that your eyes and open your ears. The and Jeff Wagner, Eagle River GSM, have WOULD have been presented at music was transcending. The been able to market our stations to ensure the festival grounds July 9th music was real. revenue capabilities.” Coursolle said, “I through July 12th. All the Super Now…from Continuous Hit am VERY proud of our teams, we just have Stars would perform right on time. Country, Coyote 93.7, once again – to keep on doing what we’ve been doing Franklin had one-on-one interviews for 42 years – this was the “Con - thus far…So Far…So Good!” with the festival stars. Special ef - cert COVID Couldn’t Kill !!!”