BMI Founders Award for Radio Broadcasting

The BMI Founders Award is an annual internship program open to radio broadcasting students nationwide which was established in 2015, so as to honor the group of radio industry leaders who founded Broadcast Music, Inc.

Full Description

Internship opportunities are currently available in fifteen media markets, but the applicants do not have to live in these markets in order to apply. Once selected, the winner will choose one of the following cities for their internship:

  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Seattle, WA
  • Washington, DC
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Boston, MA
  • Las Vegas, NV
  • New Jersey
  • Fayetteville, NC
  • Augusta, GA
  • Fort Myers, FL
  • Tampa, FL
  • Wilmington, DE

Who's eligible?

In order to be eligible for the competition, all applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Currently enrolled full-time at an accredited U.S. college or university.
  • Part-time students and those who have been accepted for future enrollment are not eligible.
  • Broadcasting degree candidates with an academic focus in radio broadcasting.
  • Applicable majors include but are not limited to Broadcast and Emerging Media, Broadcast Communications, Broadcast Journalism, Broadcasting, Broadcasting and Mass Communications, Electronic Media and Broadcasting, and Radio and Television Broadcast Technology.
  • The applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 24.
  • Former winners of the BMI Founders Award for Radio Broadcasting are not eligible to enter the competition.

How to Apply

If you determined your eligibility, you should apply for the award.

The applications must be submitted online no later than April 15, and before submitting the application, you are suggested to read these guidelines:

Applicants must submit an original essay response to ONE of the following questions:

  • Since its founding, BMI has embraced innovation and developed new technologies to benefit music creators around the world. Which recent technological advancements or developments do you think most benefit the radio industry and why?
  • In 2005, BMI introduced “See It Hear First,” the first music industry podcast to be featured in the iTunes directory, highlighting music from new BMI talent. Has the subsequent increase in podcast consumption helped or hindered terrestrial radio? -OR- How will the continued increase in podcast consumption affect terrestrial radio?

All contents of the submitted essay response must be wholly original.

The entry may be submitted in typewritten or video format.

Written submissions must be between 700-1,500 words in length.

Video submissions must be between six and twelve minutes in length.

Applicants are also required to submit a copy of their most recent transcript, demonstrating a minimum 3.0 GPA, and one letter of recommendation from a full-time faculty member at their institution.


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