May 11, 2020
BMI Presents “A Salute to the Songwriters,” with Co-Host Luke Bryan
To Air on More Than 100 Stations Across the Country May 16 at 7PM
(NEW YORK, NY- May 11, 2020) Local radio broadcasters Cox Media Group (CMG), Alpha Media, Beasley Media Group, Hubbard Radio, Neuhoff Media and Townsquare Media announced today that they will join BMI and some of country music’s top songwriters for a radio concert to benefit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief fund. “A Salute to the Songwriters,” presented by BMI, will feature country music superstar Luke Bryan as a special guest co-host alongside several local DJs throughout the event airing nationwide on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 7PM local time. Proceeds will go directly to the special MusiCares fund created by BMI, ASCAP and SESAC to support songwriters affected by the pandemic.
The commercial-free three-hour concert will be broadcast on more than 100 country stations across all six broadcast groups and will feature some of the songwriters behind country music’s biggest hits straight from their living rooms and home studios. The line-up includes Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander, Luke Dick and Jeff Hyde, Brandon Kinney and Clint Daniels, Barry Dean and Natalie Hemby, Dylan Altman and Wynn Varble as well as Rhett Akins. These acclaimed music creators will take audiences behind the scenes and into the writing rooms with stories of how their hit songs were created. In addition, the show will spotlight several songwriters on the rise as they discuss how this difficult time has directly affected them and their livelihoods.
“We’re proud to partner with the country’s leading local radio groups to support the songwriters whose music brings us together in good times and in bad,” said Mike O’Neill, President & CEO, BMI. “Songwriters are often considered the smallest of small businesses, and like so many small businesses, they are deeply impacted by this pandemic. We’re so grateful that some of BMI’s top country music creators are lending their voices to support this incredibly important cause.”
BMI songwriter and current judge on ABC’s American Idol, Luke Bryan will share hosting duties with Christi Brooks (93Q, Houston, TX), Fitz (98-9, The Bull – Seattle, WA), Jeff K (102.7 Coyote Country – Las Vegas, NV), Brian & Crissy (WGNA – Albany, NY), and Josh Roberts (104.5 WFMB – Springfield, IL).
“Like so many others, songwriters have been deeply impacted by COVID-19 and the temporary closure of bars, restaurants and live music venues.” said Tim Clarke, VP of Content and Audience for Cox Media Group. “Broadcasters have outstanding relationships with this community, and we are honored to join together in creating this special to celebrate and support these talented individuals who are the heart of country music.”
To donate to the MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund for songwriters, listeners can text SONGWRITERS to 41444 or click here to give online. To learn more about the featured performers and for more information on the concert, please visit www.SaluteToTheSongWriters.com.
ABOUT ALPHA MEDIA:
Alpha Media is a diverse, multimedia company that owns or operates 199 radio stations and 200+ websites serving 44 markets across the United States. In addition to the stations and websites, Alpha Media owns the intimate performance venues, in Portland, OR; San Antonio, TX; and Kenosha, WI. www.alphamediausa.com
ABOUT BMI:
Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 15 million musical works created and owned by more than one million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.’s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.
ABOUT BEASLEY MEDIA GROUP:
Beasley Media Group (BMG), LLC, a subsidiary of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., is a multiplatform media company providing advertising and digital marketing solutions across the United States. BMG owns 64 radio properties located in large and medium markets across the country, as well as offers capabilities in audio technology, esports, podcasting, ecommerce and events. Beasley Media Group reaches more than 20 million consumers on a weekly basis. For more information, please visit www.bbgi.com.
ABOUT COX MEDIA GROUP:
Cox Media Group (CMG) is an industry-leading media company with dominant brands, award-winning content, and exceptional people. CMG provides valuable local content to diverse audiences in the communities in which it serves. The company’s operations include 33 market-leading television stations in 20 markets, 54 award-winning radio stations in 10 markets and numerous multi-platform streaming video and digital platforms. Cox Media Group’s portfolio includes affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and MyNetworkTV, as well as several valuable independent stations. Additionally, Cox Media Group operates the National Advertising Platform businesses of CoxReps and Gamut; and offers a full suite of local and regional advertising services with Local Solutions. For more information about Cox Media Group and its businesses, please visit www.coxmediagroup.com.
ABOUT HUBBARD BROADCASTING, INC:
Started in 1923, Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. is an American television and radio broadcasting corporation based in Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota. Launched by Stanley E. Hubbard, Hubbard Broadcasting operates radio stations and television stations in ten states. In addition to radio and television stations, other Hubbard Broadcasting companies include the satellite and cable network ReelzChannel, F&F Productions and 2060 Digital. For additional information on Hubbard Radio visit https://corporate.hubbardradio.com/.
about musicares:
A friend and ally of the music community, MusiCares was established by the Recording Academy to safeguard the health and well-being of all music people. A four-star charity and safety net in times of need, MusiCares offers confidential preventive, recovery, and emergency programs to address financial, medical, and personal health issues. Through the generosity of our donors and volunteer professionals, our dedicated team works across the country to ensure the music community has the resources and support it needs.
For more information, visit www.musicares.org, “like” MusiCares on Facebook, and follow @MusiCares on Twitter and Instagram.
The Recording Academy® and its affiliated charitable foundation MusiCares® have established the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help people in the music industry affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and subsequent cancellation of multiple music events. From hotel and bar gigs to major music festivals, COVID-19 is deeply impacting live music events, and the creative community behind it all.Administered through MusiCares, the COVID-19 Fund will be used to directly support those in the music community with the greatest need. If you wish to support our efforts to assist music people in need, visit: https://www.grammy.com/MusiCares/CoronavirusReliefFund. See here for our social outreach tools: SOCIAL TOOLS LINK
ABOUT NEUHOFF MEDIA: Neuhoff Communications was founded in 2003, with a mission to create engaging and entertaining local content and events in the communities we serve. That’s really a fancy way of saying great local radio, cool digital sites that allow you to interact with your favorite personalities, and events in your backyard you don’t want to miss. We call it “Media Made Locally,” and though it’s no secret, treating people the way we like to be treated is our secret sauce.
Neuhoff Communications has twenty radio stations, sixteen locally focused digital music, information and entertainment sites, and serves over a million consumers from Illinois into Indiana. www.neuhoffmedia.com
ABOUT TOWNSQUARE MEDIA, INC:
Townsquare is a radio, digital media, entertainment and digital marketing solutions company principally focused on being the premier local advertising and marketing solutions platform in small and mid-sized markets across the U.S. Our assets include 321 radio stations and more than 330 local websites in 67 U.S. markets, a digital marketing solutions company (Townsquare Interactive) serving approximately 14,500 small to medium sized businesses, a proprietary digital programmatic advertising platform (Townsquare Ignite) and approximately 200 live events with over one million attendees each year. Our brands include local media assets such as WYRK, KLAQ, K2 and NJ101.5; iconic regional and national events such as the Taste of Country Music Festival, WE Fest, Country Jam, the Boise Music Festival, the Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival and Taste of Fort Collins; and leading tastemaker music and entertainment websites such as XXLmag.com, TasteofCountry.com and loudwire.com. For more information, please visit www.townsquaremedia.com, www.townsquareinteractive.com, and www.townsquareignite.com.
CMG Media Contact:
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BMI Media Contacts:
Jodie Thomas
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Courtney Craun
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