MI Radio: Johnny Burke & Blondie Can Keep Internet Show

Johnny Burker, Blondie

Ex-WHNN 96.1 FM radio personalities Johnny Burke and Blondie can continue to broadcast their morning internet talk show, a federal judge ruled.

According to mlive.com, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington filed an opinion in Bay City Friday, July 15, saying Burke and Blondie, whose real name is Bonnie Belger-Holzei, can continue to stream their morning talk show online and on the social media network Periscope "because the internet Show is not a radio station," as defined by the radio personalty's contracts with their former employer Cumulus Media.

Cumulus Media, which operates the FM radio station, filed suits in April against Burke and Belger-Holzhei, saying the duo was in violation of non-compete and non-solicitation clauses in their employment agreements they entered into with Cumulus and/or Citadel Broadcasting. Cumulus wanted a federal judge to issue an injunction barring the longtime radio hosts from hosting an Internet radio show that they launched after being fired from the station in January.

The media company's suit came after Burke, 61, and Belger-Holzhei, 53, filed an age-discrimination lawsuit against their former employer. Burke, who was the voice of the radio station for the past 25 years, and Belger-Holzhei were fired after the station underwent a format change.

In his ruling Ludington ordered Burke and Belger-Holzhei stop soliciting current and former Cumulus advertisers. They also can't use the WHNN call signs in any promotional or on-air material.

More specifically, Ludington ordered Burke and Belger-Holzhei to refrain from using specific segments on their show, like "The Tweet of the Day," which was previously used on their WHNN radio show.