10/06/2015

BMI Foundation Announces BMI Founders Award

BMI FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES BMI FOUNDERS AWARD FOR RADIO BROADCASTING

NEW YORK, NY ― September 30, 2015 ― The BMI Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the BMI Founders Award, an annual scholarship competition open to radio broadcasting students nationwide. The program has been generously funded by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) for the purpose of cultivating future innovators of broadcast radio. A $5,000 scholarship will be awarded for the best original essay response entry. Aspiring radio newscasters, announcers, sales executives, program directors, etc. are encouraged to apply.

“Broadcast Music, Inc. was founded by a group of radio industry leaders in 1939 as the only American performing rights organization to welcome and represent creators of all genres of music,” said BMI Foundation President Deirdre Chadwick. “The BMI Founders Award honors the architects of this groundbreaking mission, while identifying and supporting future trailblazers of radio broadcasting.”

BMI’s Vice President of Industry Relations, Dan Spears, serves as Director of the competition. In addition to developing new licensing initiatives at BMI and serving on the boards of numerous broadcasters associations, Spears has also worked in the radio industry as a news announcer, program director, and radio station owner. According to Spears, competition entrants must be current students at accredited U.S. colleges or universities, between the ages of 17 and 24, and degree candidates in Broadcast Communications or related majors. Applicants will be evaluated based on their essay response, letter of recommendation, and academic record. Online applications open October 1, 2015 and must be completed no later than February 15, 2016. For more information, please visit bmifoundation.org/broadcast.

About the BMI Foundation
The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to encourage the creation, performance, and study of American music. The Foundation’s programs include competitive scholarships for songwriters and composers, operating grants for nonprofit arts presenters, and support for innovative music education initiatives in schools and communities across the country. For more information, please visit www.bmifoundation.org. For exclusive news and content, follow @bmifoundation on Twitter at twitter.com/bmifoundation and like “BMI Foundation” on Facebook at facebook.com/bmifoundation.

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Media Contact BMI Foundation/ Amanda Charnley/ 212-220-3175/ acharnley@bmifoundation.org