Bill Macek hosts the New Open Mic Show, between 6 and 8, Monday nights, over 97.9 WHAV FM. The show may also be seen at WHAV.tv, WHAV’s Facebook page and HC Media (Comcast) Channel 22.
He has been on all sides of the microphone—as on-air personality, station owner and newsmaker. Now, continuing his lifelong radio passion, William J. “Bill” Macek is returning to his roots as host of 97.9 WHAV FM’s New Open Mic Show, beginning Monday, Jan. 22.
Over the years, Macek has been heard on the air as “Bill Maxwell” and “Rick Adams,” but he is well known to residents of his hometown under his own name as the longest-serving member of the Haverhill City Council. He first served as a city councilor between 1984 and 1992 and again from 2004 to present, but he emphasizes the New Open Mic Show won’t be about his role in getting a pothole fixed or requesting a street sign. He plans to bring a variety of entertaining and informative guests.
“I’m hoping to make the New Open Mic Show appointment radio between 6 and 8, Monday nights,” said Macek. “I’ll have special guests, top stories, sports, entertainment, music, flashbacks, trivia and prizes too. Best of all, you can call in.”
To chat with Macek during Open Mike, listeners may call 978-374-1900.
The Open Mike Show is heard every Monday, live, over 97.9 WHAV FM. It may also be seen at WHAV.tv and WHAV’s Facebook page.
Between 2006 and 2015, Macek owned WPKZ, Fitchburg, 1280 AM and 105.3 FM. Previously, he owned WMOO FM, Derby, Vt. and WIKE, Newport, Vt., between 2001 and 2005 and WINQ, Winchester, N.H. between 1991 and 2000. His broadcast career dates back 40 years when he began his on-air career at WNBP, Newburyport, and moved on to WLLH-WSSH, Lowell; WFEA, Manchester, N.H.; WHAV and WLYT, Haverhill; and WHOB, Nashua, N.H. During his earlier stint at WHAV AM 1490, Macek hosted a one-hour, weeknight talk show called The General Store.
Macek succeeds WHAV President and General Manager Tim Coco as host of the venerable program and becomes the seventh host of the popular program in 50 years, following Edwin V. Johnson, William C. “Bill” Pike, Lindsy Parker, John “Jack” Bevelaqua and Coco. Macek previously filled in host in 2012 when the show was limited to internet and cable television while WHAV’s FM license was sought.
Besides broadcasting and elected office, he founded Macek and Co. real estate in 1976 and practices as a family lawyer. Macek holds a jurist doctorate degree from Massachusetts School of Law, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Cambridge College. He is married to the former Maria J. DiPiro and they have two sons.
The WHAV call letters have been associated with local broadcasting since 1947. WHAV is today operated by Public Media of New England Inc., a nonprofit corporation. Since 2004, the call has served the Merrimack Valley’s pioneer internet radio station at WHAV.net and a number of public access cable television stations in Andover, Haverhill and Methuen, Mass., and Atkinson, Plaistow and Sandown, N.H.