The BMI Foundation is pleased to announce the opening 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 must be completed no later than February 15, 2016. For more information, please visit bmifoundation.org/broadcast.
