Category Archives: Radio

2019 Holiday Gift Guide: Amazon’s Black Friday Deals Week is Almost Here

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More Deals of the Day and Deeper Discounts Than Ever Before on Buzzworthy Holiday Gifts Across Every Department

Kicking off this Friday, November 22, Amazon’s Black Friday deals week will offer new deals all day, every day from fashion to toys, home, electronics, Amazon Devices and more

Save up to 40% on toys from LEGO, Barbie, Hot Wheels and more; up to 50% on Lands’ End clothing and accessories; $40 off the Echo Show 5; deep discounts on brands including Adidas, KitchenAid, L’Oreal Paris and more; plus exclusive deals from Amazon Brands, Amazon Music, Audible and more

Amazon today shared a sneak peek of top deals for its Black Friday Deals Week, which will offer customers new deals all day, every day totaling thousands of amazing deals across every category, plus more Deals of the Day and deeper discounts than ever before. Starting this Friday, November 22 through November 29 (Black Friday), customers can shop thousands of incredible deals on this year’s most popular gifts, new and trending finds, holiday essentials, and more, across toys, electronics, fashion, beauty, kitchen, home, Amazon Devices and more. All of Amazon’s Black Friday deals can be found by visiting amazon.com/blackfriday or on the Amazon App. Customers can also shop on smile.amazon.com/blackfriday to find the same amazing deals and Amazon shopping experience, with the added bonus that AmazonSmile will donate a portion of the purchase price of eligible products to a charity of your choice.

On top of the wide selection of deals and discounts available throughout Amazon’s week of Black Friday deals, customers can also take advantage of select one-time-only, amazing deals from top-tier and most-loved brands across electronics, home, fashion, toys and more, all at jaw-dropping prices. These deals are expected to sell out, with new one-time only deals launching throughout the day on November 28 (Thanksgiving), November 29 (Black Friday) and December 2 (Cyber Monday).

Whether customers are getting a head start on their gift lists, readying their homes for family festivities or grocery shopping for holiday feasts, Amazon makes the holidays easier than ever with top deals and low prices. In fact, according to a recent Profitero study, Amazon prices were found to be 20% cheaper on average than other online retailers.

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS PREVIEW:

The deals included below – and many more – will be available on various dates and times between November 22 and November 29 (Black Friday), while supplies last, at amazon.com/blackfriday, on the Amazon App, or by simply asking “Alexa, what are my deals.”

Amazon Devices

Amazon Brands

  • Save up to 50% on men’s and women’s clothing from Amazon Brands, including Amazon Essentials, Goodthreads, Daily Ritual, and The Drop
  • Save up to 30% on bedding & bath for the family from AmazonBasics, Stone & Beam and Rivet
  • Save up to 30% on furniture from Rivet and Stone & Beam
  • Save up to 30% on office furniture and supplies from AmazonBasics
  • Save up to 30% on phone accessories from AmazonBasics
  • Save up to 30% on kitchen electrics and housewares from AmazonBasics & Stone & Beam
  • Save up to 30% on luggage and travel from AmazonBasics
  • Save up to 25% on food and beverages from Amazon brands, including AmazonFresh, Happy Belly and Wickedly Prime
  • Save 25% on household supplies and personal care from Solimo
  • Save up to 15% on beauty, vitamins, and supplements from Amazon brands including Belei and Revly

Fashion

  • Save up to 35% on Herschel backpacks, wallets, hip packs, and more
  • Save up to 50% on Oakley & Ray-Ban sunglasses
  • Save up to 30% on Calvin Klein underwear
  • Save up to 35% on the newest Fossil smartwatches
  • Save up to 35% on adidas shoes, clothing, and accessories for the family
  • Save up to 40% on Levi’s for the family
  • Save up to 50% on Lands’ End clothing and accessories
  • Save up to 30% on Tommy Hilfiger clothing
  • Save up to 50% on top watch brands including Daniel Wellington, Movado, and more
  • Save up to 40% on Under Armour for the family
  • Save up to 30% on men’s dress shirts
  • Save up to 30% on Izod clothing
  • Save up to 50% on Samsonite and American Tourister luggage
  • Save 35% on 14K gold diamond stud earrings
  • Electronics
  • Save on Samsung, Sony, and LG TVs
  • Save on Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note 10
  • Save up to 45% on streaming devices and accessories
  • Save up to 30% on select Nintendo Switch Software
  • Save up to 33% on select Nintendo Joy-Con
  • Save on Canon and Nikon cameras
  • Save on Headphones from Bose, Sony and other top brands
  • Save on Nintendo Switch Console with Digital Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  • Save on Xbox One
  • Save on PC gaming laptops, desktops, monitors, components, and accessories
  • Save up to 33% on PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB bundle
  • Save on Oculus Rift S
  • Save on Garmin smart watches
  • Save 30% on select cell phone cases
  • Save on Klipsch speakers
  • Save on Jabra Elite Active 65t Earbuds
  • Save up to 35% on select iOttie Car Mount Phone Holders
  • Save on Garmin Forerunner 235 and DriveSmart
  • Save up to 40% on Corsair gaming products and accessories
  • Save up to 45% on Netgear products
  • Save 40% on Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020
  • Save up to 50% on Brother printers
  • Save up to 60% on HP Deskjet 2622
  • Save $30 on HP Sprocket 2nd Edition
  • Save 30% on MYNT3D Professional Printing 3D Pen
  • Save $50 off Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019
  • Save over 70% on new Norton 360 Premium
  • Save on Kodak and Polaroid photo printers
  • Save on SanDisk and WD
  • Receive a $10 Gift Card with purchase of TurboTax Software

Toys

  • Save 15% on L.O.L. Surprise! Winter Disco Bigger Surprise (Amazon Exclusive)
  • Save 40% on the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon
  • Save 40% on tricycles and the 3-in-1 Wagon from Radio Flyer
  • Save 40% on the KidKraft Cinderella Royal Dream House
  • Save 40% on the Little Tikes Bake n’ Grow Kitchen
  • Save up to 30% on select strategy games
  • Save up to 30% on Glitter Girls fashion dolls and accessories
  • Save up to 30% on Barbie, Hot Wheels and more from Mattel
  • Save up to 30% on select party games

Household, Kitchen and Home Furnishings

  • Save up to 30% on SodaStream sparkling water makers
  • Save on Hamilton Beach
  • Save up to 35% on Vitamix
  • Save on Nespresso
  • Save on Dash Appliances
  • Save up to 44% on KitchenAid
  • Save on Instant Pot
  • Save on Conitgo Water bottles, Food Saver and Rubbermaid food containers
  • Save up to 25% on select mattresses
  • Save on Ashley Mattresses
  • Save up to 48% on Degrees of Comfort weighted blankets
  • Save up to 15% on Bissell Lifestyle 220
  • Save up to 19% on Bissell SpotClean Pro
  • Save on Casper Sleep Soft and Supima Cotton Sheet
  • Save up to 37% on Bissell Icon Pet Stick
  • Save up to 41% on Ecovacs N79S
  • Save up to 36% off Ecovacs Deebot 661
  • Save up to 26% Bissell Crosswave
  • Save up to 19% on Bissell SpotClean Pro
  • Save up to 22% on Bissell MyAir
  • Save up to 20% on Oreck Commercial XL Commercial Upright Vacuums
  • Save on AIRMEGA 400S The Smarter App Ena
  • Save on Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Protect Waterproof Mattress Protector
  • Save up to 15% on Bissell Lifestyle 220
  • Save on TEMPUR Adapt Plus Cooling Topper
  • Eureka NEN110A Whirlwind Bagless Canister
  • Save on Sunbeam Cordless or Corded Iron
  • Save up to 50% on Simplisafe 12-Piece Security System
  • Save up to 20% on Kidde products
  • Save up to 30% on Hunter ceiling fans
  • Save up to 30% on DeWalt tools
  • Save up to 30% on select SKIL tools
  • Save up to 25% on BLACK+DECKER drill kit
  • Save up to 15% on Opal Countertop Nugget Icemaker
  • Save 15% on NewAir Dual Zone Beverage Cooler

Smart Home

  • Save on Chamberlain MyQ Garage Hub at $17.98
  • Save on iRobot Roomba 960 at $399.00
  • Save on iRobot Roomba 675 at $199.99
  • Save on the new LG 82″ 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV at $1,699.99
  • Save up to $79.90 on Arlo Technologies products
  • Save on Shark IQ Robotic Vacuum at $399.99
  • Save over 30% on Netgear wifi & routers
  • Save $200 on Sony Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos and Wireless Subwoofer
  • Save up to 39% on ecobee SmartThermostat and Switch bundle

Lawn & Garden

  • Save up to 35% on holiday live plants
  • Save on the Sun Joe SPX4000-PRO Pressure Washer
  • Save 35% on Greenworks 80V outdoor power tools
  • Save up to 30% on Keter Cool Bar & more
  • Save up to 35% on fire pits and patio heaters

Audible, Music, Video & Books

  • Audible: Between November 25 and 27, new members receive a bonus $15 Amazon credit and continue to save 53% on the first three months of an Audible membership at $6.95 a month. Additional offers to be announced through the holiday season.
  • For a limited time, new Amazon Music Unlimited customers can get the best holiday deal in Amazon Music’s history – four months of the premium streaming tier for just $0.99, to enjoy unlimited access to more than 50 million songs, ad-free.
  • With purchase of select Echo devices, new Amazon Music Unlimited customers in the US, UK, Germany and Japan will also receive four months of the premium, ad-free streaming tier for free.
  • Prime Video: Between November 29 and December 5, Prime members can enjoy 50% off to rent or buy on new release movies.
  • The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show, Prime Video’s first foray into the holiday special space, will premiere globally on Friday, November 29. The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show will also be accompanied by an official soundtrack available on Amazon Music and other DSPs beginning November 29. Learn more at amazon.com/kaceychristmas.
  • Get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for free – Enjoy unlimited access to over 1 million books, popular magazines and thousands of books with Audible narration. Offer valid for new subscribers only.
  • Get $10 back in eBook credit when you spend $30 on eBooks (activation required).
  • Save up to 80% on select Kindle best-selling books
  • Save up to 50% on Popular Children Books

Pets

  • Save 33% on Furbo Treat Tossing Wifi Pet Camera
  • Save up 35% on Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Kit
  • Save up to 30% on Frontline Oral Defense Daily Dental Chews
  • Save up to 15% on Nutramax products for dogs and cats
  • Save 30% on PetSafe Smart Feed Automatic Dog and Cat Feeder
  • Save 30% on select Greenies dog treats
  • Save 30% on Temptations cat treats
  • Save 30% on Cesar gourmet dog food

Sports & Outdoors

  • Save up to 40% on the adidas Diablo duffel bag
  • Save up to 35% on select Columbia outerwear, apparel, and shoes
  • Save up to 25% on Thule backpacks and luggage
  • Save more than 25% on golf training aids, including Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors
  • Save up to 25% on Osprey packs & accessories
  • Save up to 20% on best sellers from Coleman
  • Save up to 30% on fishing gear from Abu Garcia, Berkley, Penn, Ugly Stik, and more
  • Save up to 15% on stand up paddle boards from Serenelife
  • Save up to 30% on hunting essentials from Plano Synergy
  • Save up to 15% on Marcy exercise equipment
  • Save on the Bowflex Max Trainer M7
  • Save on Bushnell golf products, including rangefinders, GPS, and watches
  • Save 20% or more on Segway electric scooters and personal transporters
  • Save 20% on Huffy adult and kids bikes
  • Save on Callaway golf balls, headwear, and golf bags
  • Save on JOOLA table tennis tables and more
  • Save more than 15% on select GoSports favorites, including wood premium cornhole set, giant wooden toppling tower, and more

Beauty

  • Save up to 45% on Philips Sonicare appliances and brush heads
  • Save up to 40% on Aquaphor, NIVEA, and Eucerin
  • Save 30% on Panasonic electric razor for men
  • Save 20% on L’Oreal Paris brow stylist definers
  • Save up to 40% on professional and luxury beauty skin care, cosmetics, fragrance, hair and more
  • Save up to 33% on select luxury beauty devices and accessories

Health and Personal Care

  • Save up to 50% on 23andMe DNA tests
  • Save up to $60 on select Fitbit items
  • Save up to 30% on select nutrition and wellness items
  • Save 15% on Body Fortress whey protein powder
  • Save 30% or more on Duracell batteries
  • Save $70 on AncestryHealth Core™ Health + Genetic Ethnicity Test

Automotive

  • Save on Hella Sharptone Twin Horn Kits
  • Save on Camco Yellow Fasten Leveling Blocks

Amazon Payments and Gift Cards

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Cardmembers and Amazon Prime Store Cardmembers with an eligible Prime membership will receive 15% Back on Electronics bestsellers on Amazon.com from now through December 22. They’ll also receive 10% Back on select Amazon devices valid November 28 to December 2 only.

Small Businesses on Amazon Handmade and Amazon Launchpad

  • Save 20% or more on Amazon Handmade products from around the world – shop deal and the gift guide at www.amazon.com/handmadegiftguide.
  • Save up to 35% on top selling iOttie Wireless accessories
  • Save on Dash appliances
  • Save up to 35% on select party games for grown-ups including Exploding Kittens
  • Save up to 44% on Geekee True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
  • Save 15% or more on select LuminAID Solar phone chargers and lanterns

Grocery

  • Save 25% or more on select Jack Link’s beef jerky
  • Save up to 30% on select Victor Allen’s coffee packs
  • Save 15% on select TAZO K-Cup pods
  • Save 20% on select Soylent meal replacement shakes and protein bars
  • Save 35% on Tea Forte tea gifts for the holiday season

Whole Foods Market

  • Amazon and Whole Foods Market are offering special savings on organic and classic turkeys in celebration of Thanksgiving. All customers can choose from select organic ($3.49/lb) and classic turkeys ($2.49/lb), and Prime members will save even more on turkeys ($2.99/lb for organic and $1.99/lb for classic). The offer is valid until November 28, while supplies last. Prime members can also receive exclusive deals on organic jewel sweet potatoes ($1.29/lb), organic cranberries ($2.69/12-oz bag), and Bonafide frozen broths and soups (35% off).

DISCOVER THE SEASON’S HOTTEST GIFTS

Customers can also shop Amazon’s biggest-ever selection of curated gift guides and exclusive storefronts this year, which offer gifting inspiration and more:

MORE WAYS TO SHOP

In addition to amazon.com/blackfriday, customers can shop Amazon’s week of Black Friday deals in the following ways:

Amazon.com in Spanish: Customers can visit Amazon.com/espanol or use the Amazon App to shop, browse and search for millions of products, view their carts, and place orders in Spanish.

  • Amazon App: The Amazon App allows customers to conveniently shop for their holiday needs – anytime and anywhere – and never miss a great deal. Customers can use the Watch a Deal feature to “Watch a Lightning Deal” and receive a notification on their mobile phone when the deal is about to start. Additionally, first time app users have an opportunity to save big this holiday. New customers will receive $10 the first time they sign-in to the Amazon App and an additional $15 when they make their first purchase on the app.
  • Alexa Shopping: Customers can add to their Amazon wish list with Alexa by saying, “Alexa, add headphones to my wish list” and track packages and confirm your delivery date with Alexa by saying, “Alexa, where’s my stuff?”
  • Amazon Business: Save big when shopping for work with deals on everything you need for your business. Find deals on supplies for the office holiday party, employee and client gifts, and items for community donation drives. Stock up for the new year with savings on the business essentials you need. Visit amazon.com/holidayforbusiness, For more information and to sign up for a free business account, visit amazon.com/business.
  • Amazon Books: Whether customers want to discover a new book for the holidays, test-drive a device, or purchase Amazon Gift Cards, Amazon Books offers gifts for everyone. To find the store nearest you visit: www.amazon.com/stores.
  • Amazon 4-star: Designed around Amazon.com customers, Amazon 4-star stores feature products that are 4 stars and above, top sellers, new and trending, and most popular from top categories including devices, consumer electronics, toys, games, books, kitchen, and home. To find the store nearest you visit: www.amazon.com/stores.
  • Amazon Live: Watch Amazon Live’s shoppable Black Friday livestream throughout the day on November 29 for demonstrations on top deal products and cameo appearances from celebrities you love. Tune in starting at 4am PST by visiting www.amazon.com/live.
  • Treasure Truck: Discover great gifts you never thought of on Treasure Truck. Opt-in by texting ‘TRUCK’ to 24193 and receive notifications for same-day offers – order the item and pick up at the truck the same day. This Black Friday, gift givers who act fast will find an incredible deal on a holiday-must-have tech item on the truck in select cities, while supplies last.
  • Whole Foods Market: Prime members who shop at Whole Foods Market have access to a number of benefits year-round, like deep discounts on dozens of select popular products each week and an additional 10 percent off hundreds of in-store items. Additionally, Prime members in thousands of cities and towns can shop their local Whole Foods Market store using Amazon.com or the Amazon App.
  • Woot! offers daily deals on customers’ favorite brands and free shipping for Prime members. Visit woot.com from November 24 through November 29 or download the Woot! App for great deals.

GIVE BACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, AND BEYOND

Amazon is committed to making holiday giving and giving back easier than ever.

  • AmazonSmile: To jump right into holiday shopping and support your favorite charitable organization at the same time, simply visit smile.amazon.com/blackfriday. By starting with smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the same Amazon experience, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price of eligible products to a charity of your choice.
  • Charity Lists: Charity Lists give charitable organizations an easy way to create wish lists of products needed, while providing a convenient way for customers to donate these essential items directly to the causes. Customers are able to contribute items that are truly critical, to charities they care about, no matter how big or small. Customers can shop thousands of Charity Lists by visiting smile.amazon.com/charitylists, with new charities joining all the time.
  • ( RED) Shopathon: For the third year, Amazon is teaming up with (RED), the charitable organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, to fight AIDS. Amazon is providing customers a single destination to shop more than 150 (RED) products, including the exclusive (RED) edition of the all-new Echo, which will be available for a limited time. For every all-new Echo (RED) edition sold, Amazon will donate $10 to the Global Fund. Plus, customers interested in donating to support (RED)’s fight can do so on any Echo device by simply asking, “Alexa, donate to (RED).” (RED) products will be available starting today at amazon.com/red.

HOLIDAY DELIVERY MADE EASY

In addition to free delivery on more than 100 million items for all Amazon customers, Amazon has expanded its fast, free, and convenient delivery options for Prime members and customers this holiday season:

  • Fast and Reliable One-Day and Same-Day Delivery. Throughout the season, Prime members in the U.S. can shop a selection of over 10 million items for Prime Free One-Day Delivery and millions of items available for Same-Day Delivery in 46 major metropolitan areas. Not a Prime member yet? Join Prime or start a 30-day free trial at www.amazon.com/prime.
  • Ultrafast and FREE grocery delivery: Now Prime members get free and fast grocery delivery from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market. Selection includes a variety of products for all your holiday needs, from meat to seafood, produce, snacks, and household essentials, with options for fast one- and two-hour delivery windows. Prime members who live in one of the more than 2,000 cities and towns where grocery delivery is available can request an invitation to shop Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market delivery. Learn more at amazon.com/grocery.
  • Pickup and delivery on your terms: This holiday season, customers can pick up their packages at a number of Amazon Hub locations including thousands of in-store staffed Counter pickup points across the U.S. within Rite Aid, GNC and Stage stores, as well as at Health Mart independent pharmacies. Additionally, tens of millions of products can be easily and conveniently delivered to 900 cities and towns across the country via Locker or Locker+. To find an Amazon Hub location, visit amazon.com/Hub. In addition, Prime members in 50 U.S. cities and surrounding areas can also enjoy secure, convenient package delivery with Key by Amazon (amazon.com/key).

Profitero Study Methodology

Each day, Profitero monitors prices and other data on more than 450 million product pages at more than 8,000 online retailers. For this study, Profitero analyzed daily prices collected from July 8, 2019 to September 30, 2019 across 19 leading online retailers. Categories analyzed included Appliances, Baby, Beauty, Electronics, Grocery, Home Furniture, Household Supplies, Music & CDs, Office Supplies, Pet Supplies, Sports & Outdoors, Tools & Home Improvement, Toys & Games, and Video Games. The study only compares prices collected on the same day, with both retailers in-stock. Amazon prices reflect 1P only on Amazon.com, exclusive of Fresh and Prime Now. The other retailer online prices studied could reflect promoted prices, but exclude coupons, other discounts that require additional shopper action, or special prices available through retailer-specific programs such as Target REDcard.

Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Announces Nominees For 2020 Induction

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35th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony To Take Place On May 2, 2020 At Public Auditorium In Cleveland, Ohio

Fans can cast their vote for Inductees at Google, Rockhall.com, or the Museum.

All Images courtesy of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2020 induction logo

The Rock and Rool Hall of Fame (1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Phone: 216.781.7625) today announced the nominees for 2020 Induction, and the list includes previous nominees and first-time nominees. Nominees for induction into the Class of 2020 are:

Pat Benatar Promotional Photo, 1984, from album “Tropico”
  • Pat Benatar
  • Dave Matthews Band
  • Depeche Mode
  • The Doobie Brothers
  • Whitney Houston
  • Judas Priest
  • Kraftwerk
  • MC5
  • Motörhead
  • Nine Inch Nails
  • The Notorious B.I.G.
  • Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
  • Todd Rundgren
  • Soundgarden
  • T.Rex
  • Thin Lizzy

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. Nine out of 16 of the Nominees are on the ballot for the first time, including Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Motörhead, The Notorious B.I.G., Pat Benatar, Soundgarden, T.Rex, Thin Lizzy, and Whitney Houston.

Whitney Houston

Inductees will be announced in January 2020. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, takes place at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio on May 2, 2020. The Ceremony is preceded by Induction Week, which includes a special dedication of the 2020 Inductee exhibit, Celebration Day, and other events and activities at the Museum and around town! Ticket on-sale information will be announced later.

Depeche Mose

Nominee ballots are sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry. Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration.

Nominees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020, top to bottom: Kraftwerk, MC5, Motorhead, Nine Inch Nails, T.Rex

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame offers fans the opportunity to participate in the induction selection process. Beginning today and continuing through 11:59 p.m. EST on January 10, 2020, fans can go to Google and search “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or any nominee name plus “vote” to cast a ballot with Google, vote at rockhall.com, or at the Museum in Cleveland. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2020 inductees.

Above, The Dave Matthews Band (top) and Todd Rundgren (bottom)

Nominees were announced live on SiriusXM VOLUME channel 106’s “Feedback” morning show today with hosts Nik Carter and Lori Majewski along with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President & CEO Joel Peresman.

The Notorious B.I.G

Rock Hall donors and members get exclusive Induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by January 31, 2020 to be eligible. Visit rockhall.com/support to learn more.

Rufus, featuring Chaka Khan

Klipsch Audio, a leading global speaker and headphone manufacturer, is a strategic partner and presenting sponsor of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, its Induction Ceremony events and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Main Stage. Klipsch’s renowned products deliver the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience throughout the iconic museum.

Black and white promotional photograph of Thin Lizzy, 1991

Follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter and Instagram (@rockhall) and join the conversation at #RockHall2020.

iHeartMedia Rings in the Holiday Season With the Return of Its Iconic 2019 National “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One®”

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Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, BTS, Jonas Brothers, Camila Cabello, Khalid, Sam Smith, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, 5 Seconds of Summer, Niall Horan and More Top Artists Lead All-Star Lineups in Major Cities Across the U.S. Including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and Dallas/Ft. Worth

“The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One” Will Broadcast on December 19 as an Exclusive Network Television Special on The CW Network

More than 20 years ago, New York’s Z100, the most listened to pop radio station in the country, introduced Jingle Ball—a holiday concert with the year’s top artists performing their #1 hits. The show quickly became the most anticipated holiday tradition with tickets selling out in minutes and has since grown into a globally recognized phenomenon–now a sold-out multi-city national tour–and a must-stop appearance for the world’s biggest artists to get face-to-face with thousands of their most passionate fans.

iHeartMedia will celebrate the 2019 holiday season across the nation with its annual “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One” – the season’s spectacular music event, which captures the music and holiday spirit of the iHeartRadio app with performances by this year’s biggest artists. The 2019 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One will stop in Tampa; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Philadelphia; New York; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Atlanta and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale.

The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Capital One Cardholder Pre-Sale begins on Monday, October 7 at 10:00 a.m. local time and runs through Wednesday, October 9 at 10:00 a.m. local time, or while supplies last. Tickets will also be available at iHeartRadio.com/CapitalOne.

  • All other tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, October 11 at 12 p.m. local time and will be available at www.iHeartRadio.com/JingleBall.

The 2019 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour Presented by Capital One Schedule Includes:

Tampa Bay, Fla. – Sunday, December 1, at 7:00 p.m. EST – 93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at Amalie Arena

  • The star-studded lineup features: Sam Smith, Lizzo, Normani, French Montana, Why Don’t We, MAX and AJ Mitchell.

Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas – Tuesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. CST – 106.1 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at Dickies Arena

  • The star-studded lineup features: Camila Cabello, Sam Smith, Charlie Puth, Lizzo, Lauv and Why Don’t We.

Los Angeles, Calif. – Friday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. PST – KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at The Forum

  • The star-studded lineup features: Katy Perry, BTS, Billie Eilish, Sam Smith, Camila Cabello, Halsey, French Montana, Lizzo and Normani.

San Francisco, Calif. – Sunday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m. PST – WiLD 94.9’s FM’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at The Masonic

  • The star-studded lineup features: Charlie Puth, Lil Nas X and Quinn XCII.

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. – Monday, December 9, at 7:30 p.m. CST – 101.3 KDWB’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul

  • The star-studded lineup features: Katy Perry, Camila Cabello, 5SOS, Why Don’t We, Monsta X and Lauv.

Philadelphia, Pa. – Wednesday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. EST – Q102’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at Wells Fargo Center

  • The star-studded lineup features: Halsey, 5SOS, Niall Horan, Lizzo, Monsta X, Why Don’t We and Lewis Capaldi.

New York, N.Y. – Friday, December 13, at 7:00 p.m. EST – Z100’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at Madison Square Garden

  • The star-studded lineup features: Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, Camila Cabello, Halsey, 5SOS, Niall Horan, Lizzo, Dan + Shay, Monsta X, Lewis Capaldi and Fletcher.
  • Z100’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One will air as a television special on The CW Network on Thursday, December 19 at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST. The CW Network will also video stream the mega-concert live exclusively on CWTV.com and The CW App.

Boston, Mass. – Sunday, December 15, at 6:00 p.m. EST – KISS 108’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at TD Garden

  • The star-studded lineup features: Halsey, 5SOS, Niall Horan, Charlie Puth, Lizzo and Why Don’t We.

Washington, D.C. – Monday, December 16, at 7:30 p.m. EST – Hot 99.5’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at Capital One Arena

  • The star-studded lineup features: Halsey, Khalid, Charlie Puth, Niall Horan, French Montana and Lewis Capaldi

Chicago, Ill. – Wednesday, December 18, at 7:30 p.m. CST – 103.5 KISS FM’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at Allstate Arena

  • The star-studded lineup features: Jonas Brothers, NF, Niall Horan, French Montana, Why Don’t We, Zara Larsson and Lewis Capaldi.

Atlanta, Ga. – Friday, December 20, at 7:30 p.m. EST – Power 96.1’s Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at State Farm Arena

  • The star-studded lineup features: Jonas Brothers, Khalid, Niall Horan, French Montana, Why Don’t We, Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson.

Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Fla. – Sunday, December 22, at 7:00 p.m. EST – Y100 Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at BB&T Center, Ft. Lauderdale

  • The star-studded lineup features: Jonas Brothers, Khalid, Niall Horan, French Montana, CNCO, Why Don’t We and Zara Larsson.

“The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour represents the best in hit music,” said Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer for iHeartMedia. “Virtually every pop superstar over the past 20 years has done the show, and this year is no different.”

Each year, iHeartMedia stations across the country host Jingle Ball concerts in local cities that feature performances by the year’s most iconic artists as well as emerging talent. (As previously mentioned, Z100’s Jingle Ball in New York on Friday, December 13 will be carried live across the country on 100 iHeartRadio CHR stations and will livestream exclusively via The CW App and CWTV.com. In addition, The CW Network will broadcast the event as an exclusive nationwide television special on Thursday, December 19 at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST.)

“Jingle Ball is the one time anywhere when the biggest hitmakers of the year all join together on one night, on the same stage,” said John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises for iHeartMedia. “Fans will be able to hear the show live across America on iHeartRadio stations and watch exclusively on The CW Network.” Sykes continued, “We also want to welcome back Capital One as a presenting partner of the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball for the fifth consecutive year. They share our mission of delivering once in a lifetime entertainment experiences for customers and fans.”

For the fifth straight year, Capital One will be the national presenting partner for the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour. Capital One cardholders will be the first to get exclusive access to high demand tickets through a special Capital One Cardholder Pre-Sale in each city.

Capital One cardholders have the exclusive opportunity to add on Capital One Access Passes to any ticket purchase in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York during the Capital One Cardholder Pre-Sale, while supplies last. The Capital One Access Pass gives cardholders access to an exclusive VIP Capital One Cardholder event before the show with a private performance by an iHeartRadio Jingle Ball artist, backstage tour and more. To learn more about these exclusive cardholder opportunities, visit www.iHeartRadio.com/CapitalOne.

“We are excited to offer our cardholders the exclusive opportunity to once again have early access to pre-sale tickets to the holiday season’s most anticipated concert series,” said Byron Daub, Vice President of Sponsorships and Experiential Marketing at Capital One. “We know how much our customers look forward to attending concerts like this, and we are happy to be able to continue to provide unique access to events that customers are passionate about.”

Every year, the Jingle Ball Tour gives back to the community to celebrate the holiday season. This year’s official charity for the Jingle Ball Tour is the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. $1.00 of each ticket sold will be donated to the non-profit organization, which is dedicated to inspiring today’s youth through entertainment and education focused initiatives.

Smithsonian Launches Kickstarter for Culture-Defining “Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap”

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Unique Collaboration Between the Hip-Hop Community, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Smithsonian has launched a 30-day Kickstarter campaign today for the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, a powerful cultural statement told through an unequaled combination of music, text and stunning visuals. The compilation, to be produced and released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, includes nine CDs, more than 120 tracks and a 300-page book with extensive liner notes, essays by artists and scholars, and never-before-published photographs from the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s collection. This campaign allows dedicated fans the chance to be a part of the community that helps bring this landmark project to life—and into their homes.

(Kickstarter has enabled the funding of more than 132,00`0 projects with the support of more than 13 million backers pledging over $3.3 billion since it began in 2009.)nmaahc-national-museum-of-african-american-history-and-culture

“The Kickstarter campaign to produce a hip-hop and rap anthology is one of the most important projects on contemporary history that the Smithsonian will ever undertake, because it shows that Smithsonian’s work is as much about today and tomorrow as it is about yesterday,” said Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “Hip-hop is a musical revolution that embodies the voice of an entire generation and that’s why it’s important for the museum to partner with the hip-hop community and Folkways Recordings to tell this story. Hip-hop helps us to understand the power of black music and the impact of African American culture on the world.”

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Smithsonian Launches Kickstarter for Culture-Defining “Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap”

Going into its 70th year, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the “National Museum of Sound,” makes available close to 60,000 tracks in physical and digital format as the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian, with a reach of 80 million people per year. A division of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the non-profit label is dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among people through the documentation, preservation, production, and dissemination of sound. Its mission is the legacy of Moses Asch, who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document “people’s music” from around the world.

The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap will be the first collection to include music from every major label and dozens of independent label recordings. The anthology explores important issues and themes in hip-hop history, and it provides a unique window into the many ways hip-hop has created new traditions and furthered musical and cultural traditions of the African diaspora.

“We have always been passionately committed to documenting and celebrating music with strong social impact,” said Huib Schippers, director and curator of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. “Hip-hop began in the 1970s as a distinctly African American urban culture that has since become a global phenomenon. This box set is a perfect addition to our catalog.” Continue reading →

Clive Davis and The Recording Academy® to Honor BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee During 2017 Grammy Week in Los Angeles

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Lee is to Receive The GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons® Award at the 2017 Pre-GRAMMY® Gala

Annual Celebration Will Take Place On Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, At The Beverly Hilton Hotel On The Eve Of The 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards®

Clive Davis and The Recording Academy® will present the annual Pre-GRAMMY® Gala on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., the evening preceding the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. As part of the celebration, BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee will be recognized as the 2017 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons® honoree for her significant contributions to the music industry.grammy_logo

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and recording professionals dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture.

Sponsored by Hilton, Mastercard, JBL by HARMAN, and Delta Airlines, the invitation-only Pre-GRAMMY Gala has long been one of the music industry’s most prestigious events, having hosted the industry’s top leaders and welcomed the world’s most talented artists on its stage. For nearly 10 years, the gala has also included a presentation to honor industry luminaries through The Recording Academy’s GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons Award. Past recipients include Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, Irving Azoff, Martin Bandier, Sir Richard Branson, Clive Davis, Ahmet Ertegun, David Geffen, Berry Gordy, Lucian Grainge, Doug Morris, Mo Ostin, and Antonio “L.A.” Reid.

Debra Lee

BET Networks Chairman and CEO Debra L. Lee

Continue reading →

Long Island University Announces 67th Annual George Polk Awards In Journalism

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Coverage of Heroin Addiction, Human Rights, and Sexual Assault Among 17 Winners in 16 Categories

On February 14th, Long Island University (LIU) announced the winners of the 67th annual George Polk Awards in Journalism, honoring reporters who advanced vital national conversations on race and gender relations with their masterful investigative reporting in 2015. The George Polk Awards are conferred annually to honor special achievement in journalism. The awards place a premium on investigative and enterprising reporting that gains attention and achieves results. They were established in 1949 by Long Island University to commemorate George Polk, a CBS correspondent murdered in 1948 while covering the Greek civil war.polk-logo-white 2

The winners of this year’s George Polk Awards reported on such momentous stories as the deadly use of force by police, the re-segregation of America’s public schools, and the difficulties women face in pursuing accusations of rape, subjects that made headlines across the country this past year. 

Other winners among the 17 awards in 16 categories showed how companies sidestep class action suits by consumers and how foreign workers inAsia are brutally conscripted to work in the seafood industry on ships and on a remote island.

Reporting by the recipients also upended claims from a new, heavily invested company about an innovative blood test, exposed a drug lab’s profiteering from deceptive marketing of dubious pain creams and highlighted the agonizing situation of heroin addicts denied access to a proven treatment. Still other winners documented little control or accountability in a celebrated American military unit and snapped front-line photos of damage done to an Afghani hospital by a U.S. airstrike.

Winners of the 2015 awards will be honored at a luncheon ceremony at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan on Friday, April 8. The journalist and author Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who will read the award citations, will also moderate this year’s David J. Steinberg Seminar of the George Polk Awards, “Reporting on Race in America,” Thursday evening, April 7 at LIU Brooklyn’s Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts. She will be joined by three 2015 George Polk laureates, Wesley Lowery, national reporter for The Washington Post covering law enforcement, justice, race and politics; Nikole Hannah-Jones, a reporter specializing in education who won the award for a report on “This American Life” and is now on the staff of The New York Times magazine, and Jamie Kalven, writer and human rights activist who has reported extensively on police abuses in Chicago. The seminar, which starts at 6:30, is free and open to the public.

“We received a record 580 nominations from news organizations,” said John Darnton, curator of the George Polk Awards. “Many were about police killings and police misconduct across the board.” Darnton also noted, “Another striking element common to several of the winners was that the story they came up with was not the one they set out to find. A reporter following up on the death of a man in police custody in Baltimore is diverted to an investigation of ‘structured settlements.’ Another trying to discern why heroin addiction is so prevalent in a small town in Kentucky winds up with a national story about how addicts are denied effective treatment. And a TV producer checking back on a pharmacy scandal tied to unsafe injections stumbles on another involving fraudulent profiteering. These awards speak well of journalists who ply their craft with open eyes — and open minds.“

Below are the winners of the 2015 George Polk Awards:

The award for Foreign Reporting will be shared by a team of four reporters from the Associated Press,Margie Mason, Robin McDowell, Martha Mendoza and Esther Htusan, for a series on the Thai fishing industry, “Seafood from Slaves,” and Ian Urbina of The New York Times for “The Outlaw Ocean,” a six-part series that portrayed a largely unchecked pattern of lawlessness on the high seas.

The AP reporters documented the plight of impoverished men from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailandlured into captivity, locked in cages, beaten, and forced to perform dangerous work with little sleep to catch and process seafood destined for U.S. consumers and their pets. They found the graves of some workers who did not survive, buried on a remote island under false names. As a result of the AP reporting, more than 2,000 captives were released, ships were seized, and businesses closed, American companies faced calls to cease selling slave-tainted seafood, and authorities in Washington, at the United Nations, and across Asia began seeking new ways to confront and control the abuses. 

During the year and a half reporting the stories, Urbina traveled through Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, much of that time spent on fishing ships, chronicling a diversity of crimes offshore, including murder of stowaways, intentional dumping, illegal fishing, stealing of ships, stranding of crews, and murder with impunity. Talking his way onto fishing ships at considerable risk, he also related firsthand stories of the plight of indentured Cambodian boys, a deckhand shackled by the neck, and Filipinos living in squalor who endured beatings, lost fingers to infection, and were forced to swallow amphetamines to work longer hours. Urbina secured and investigated a video of four men shot to death at sea before dozens of witnesses, including some who then celebrated and posed on camera. The reporting also took readers aboard a ship operated by environmental activists in the culmination of a 10,000-mile chase leading to the sinking of a notorious pirate trawler that had eluded Interpol and other authorities for a decade. The series spurred Congressional hearings and testimony, class-action litigation against the seafood industry, and, abroad, a criminal investigation and convictions. 

The award for National Reporting will go to The Washington Post for an exhaustive study of killings by police officers. The project found that 990 people were shot and killed by on-duty police officers in the U.S. in 2015 and also produced a trove of original data. After discovering that FBI statistics on deaths at police hands were unreliable and incomplete, the Post assigned staffers from across the newsroom to compile and analyze their own list. Post reporters found that most of those who died were armed white men shot under threatening and sometimes heroic circumstances, but also uncovered some troubling indicators. A quarter of those killed were suicidal or had a history of mental illness, more than 50 of the officers had killed before and while only 9% were not armed, unarmed black men were seven times more likely to die at police hands than unarmed whites.

Jamie Kalven of Invisible Institute will be honored with the award for Local Reporting for “Sixteen Shots,” published online by Slate Magazine last February. Operating on a tip about the October 2014 police shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, Kalven located a witness who said McDonald was not lunging at them with a knife as Chicago police reported but “shying away” and that an officer repeatedly fired into his immobilized body. After learning from a source close to the medical examiner’s office that McDonald had been shot 16 times, Kalven obtained the boy’s autopsy report and pressed for release of a video of the incident. “An autopsy tells a story,” his 2,000-word story began, concluding with great prescience: “The McDonald footage will come out, but a great deal turns on how it comes out… If the city resists releasing the video until legally compelled to do so, outrage at what it depicts will be compounded by outrage that the city knew its contents (and the autopsy results) in the immediate aftermath of the incident yet withheld that information from the public. The fate of Laquan McDonald — a citizen of Chicago so marginalized he was all but invisible until the moment of his death — has thus become entwined with that of Mayor [Rahm] Emanuel. It presents his administration with a defining moment.” Continue reading →

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES 98th ANNUAL PULITZER PRIZES IN JOURNALISM, LETTERS, DRAMA AND MUSIC

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The 98th annual Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music, awarded on the recommendation of the Pulitzer Prize Board, were announced today by Columbia University.

The Pulitzer Prize Board made its recommendations for the 2014 prizes when it met at Columbia on April 10 and 11 and passed them to President Lee C. Bollinger. It announced that the awards would be presented at a luncheon on May 28 at Columbia
University. Randell Beck, Robert Blau, Joyce Dehli, Steven Hahn and Keven Ann Willey were re-elected to membershippulitzer_prize_medal_a_p on the board.

In any category in which board members have an interest due to the action of the various nominating juries, those members do not participate in the discussion and voting and leave the room until a decision is reached in the affected category. Similarly, members of nominating juries do not participate in the discussion of or voting on entries in which they have an interest.

The winners in each category, along with the names of the finalists in the competition, follow:

A. PRIZES IN JOURNALISM

1. PUBLIC SERVICE

For a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper or news site through the use of its journalistic resources, including the use of stories, editorials, cartoons, photographs, graphics, videos, databases, multimedia or interactive presentations or other visual material, a gold medal.

Two Prizes of a gold medal each:

Awarded to The Guardian US for its revelation of widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency, helping through aggressive reporting to spark a debate about the relationship between the government and the public over issues of security and privacy.

and

Awarded to The Washington Post for its revelation of widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency, marked by authoritative and insightful reports that helped the public understand how the disclosures fit into the larger framework of national security.

Also nominated as a finalist in this category was: Newsday, Long Island, N.Y., for its use ofin-depth reporting and digital tools to expose shootings, beatings and other concealed misconduct by some Long Island police officers, leading to the formation of a grand jury and an official review of police accountability. Continue reading →

73rd Annual Peabody Awards Winners Announced

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A record 46 recipients of the University of Georgia’s 73rd Annual Peabody Awards were announced today on CBS This Morning and www.peabodyawards.com. The winners, chosen by the Peabody board from almost 1,100 entries, comprise the best in electronic media for the year 2013. The Peabody statuettes will be formally presented on May 19 at a luncheon ceremony at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. Ira Glass, host and producer of This American Life, which now boasts five Peabodys, will be the emcee. (See complete list of 2013 recipients below.)

The Peabody Awards, the oldest in electronic media, are considered among the most prestigious and selective prizes. The Peabodys

A record 46 recipients of the University of Georgia's 73rd Annual Peabody Awards were announced today on CBS This Morning and www.peabodyawards.com.

A record 46 recipients of the University of Georgia’s 73rd Annual Peabody Awards were announced today on CBS This Morning and http://www.peabodyawards.com.

recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, webcasters, producing organizations and individuals. The 16-member Peabody Board is a distinguished panel of television critics, industry practitioners and experts in culture and the arts. Selection is made by the Board following review by special screening committees of UGA faculty, students, and staff.

Established in 1915, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers undergraduate majors in advertising, digital and broadcast journalism, magazines, newspapers, public relations, publication management and mass media arts. The college offers two graduate degrees, and is home to the Knight Chair in Health and Medical Journalism and the Peabody Awards, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious prizes for excellence in electronic media.

 

The latest Peabody recipients include a pair of high-profile political melodramas, Netflix’s corrosive House of Cards and ABC’s juicy Scandal; A Chef’s Life, a stereotype-cracking nonfiction serial about a farm-to-fork gourmet restaurant in North Carolina’s low country; Burka Avenger, an animated Pakistani series aimed at empowering girls; A Needed Response, a YouTube viral video created by two University of Oregon students that succinctly criticizes rape culture and champions r-e-s-p-e-c-t for women; and two distinctive probes of the dangers of brain injury in professional football, FRONTLINE‘s League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis and ESPN’s Outside the Lines: NFL at a Crossroads: Investigating a Health Crisis.

“The quality of storytelling in electronic media continues to increase year-after-year, across platforms, producing organizations and nations,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Jones, director of the Peabody Awards. “The unprecedented number of awards we gave this year reflects this fact. There simply are a larger number of stories that deserve our attention as citizens and consumers. And what a wonderfully rich and satisfying set of stories we’ve called attention to this year!”

International Peabody winners include the Philippines’ GMA Network for coverage of the assault and aftermath of Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan); The Returned, an eerie, elegant supernatural drama from France; the realistic, compelling Danish political serial Borgen; and BBC World News’ in-depth reporting from Inside Syria’sWar.

Local Peabody recipients included  CBS-owned WBZ-TV and WBZ Newsradio for their peerless extended coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings and the ensuing dragnet; KING-TV in Seattle for its revelations about nuclear-waste leaks and mismanagement at a Hanford, Washington, storage facility; Nashville station WTVF-TV‘s reports about Tennessee officials’ involvement in shady business deals; and an exhaustive investigation of Louisiana political contributions – who gives, how much, and what does it buy – that combined the resources of New Orleans station WVUE-TV, The Times-Picayune and http://www.NOLA.com.

Other entertainment series honored included AMC’s Breaking Bad, which earned a second Peabody for its riveting final season; Netflix’s complex, character-driven prison drama Orange Is the New Black; Comedy Central’s racially shrewd sketch showcase Key & Peele; F/X’s The Bridge, an intense, cross-cultural crime drama set on and around the border between Texas and Mexico; and two distinctly different BBC America offerings: the naturalistic mystery Broadchurch and the wildly fanciful Orphan Black, a bioethical thriller about clones.

Web-based winners included Hollow (www.hollowdocumentary.com), an imaginative,  interactive site devoted to a struggling county in rural West Virginia, and A Short History of the Highrise (www.nytimes.com), a clever, highly visual tour of “vertical living.”

Issues of race and ethnicity were explored in several impressive recipients: The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross with Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Latino Americans, both shown on PBS, traced the history and the ongoing influence of peoples whose presence here predates the forming of the United States. Ken Burns’ The Central Park Five, also on PBS, revisited a infamous New York rape case that wrongly sent five black and Latino teenagers to prison. National Public Radio reporter Michelle Norris’ The Race Card Project used six-word summations of listeners’ thoughts about race as the basis of remarkably telling feature reports.

A trio of documentaries addressed difficulties facing students and educators in poor, high-crime communities.This American Life‘s two-part Harper High School on radio and PBS’s 180 Days: A Year Inside an American High School provide richly nuanced stories of students coping with challenges from child-rearing to gun violence. Best Kept Secret, also shown on PBS, took viewers inside a poor Newark school with an unexpectedly exemplary program for autistic and other special-needs students.

Culture and the arts were represented by such Peabody winners as TCM: The Story of Film, which combined a 15-part retrospective with telecasts of more than 100 classic movies, and Great Performances: Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy, a tuneful celebration of the influence of composers such as Irving Berlin, Oscar Hammerstein III and Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim had a documentary all to himself as well: HBO’s Six by Sondheim, which combined his ruminations on composing with archival and fresh performances of some of his greatest songs. CNN’s Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown was recognized for its unique recipe for blending culinary and cultural reporting.

The rich array of documentary winners included HBO’s tender Life According to Sam, the story of a teenager dealing with an accelerated aging disease, and the cable network’s Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, an frank report about a Catholic priest who abused more than 200 students at a Milwaukee school for the deaf.

Other documentary winners included The Law in These Parts, a POV film exploring the alternative legal systemIsrael developed for governing its occupied Palestinian territories, and three Independent Lens productions:How to Survive a Plague chronicled the crucial role AIDS activists and organizations like ACT UP played in saving lives and hobbling the epidemic. The House I Live In took stock of what we have to show for our 40-year “war” on drugs, and  The Invisible War assessed the shameful problem of rape in the U.S. military and why it persists.

A pair of documentaries from Al Jazeera America‘s Fault Lines series demonstrated its broad reach and aggressive journalism. Haiti in a Time of Cholera examined the epidemic that has erupted since the 2010 earthquake and underscored the likelihood that U.N. peacekeepers are the source. Made in Bangladesh found evidence of prominent American retailers turning a blind eye to the dangerous practices of foreign subcontractors, practices that led to horrible tragedies like the clothing-factory fire in Bangladesh that killed more than 100 people.

Awards in news included a personal citation to Tom Brokaw, author and former anchor of NBC Nightly News,and another to the current NBC team for In Plain Sight: Poverty in America, an ambitious multi-platform assessment of poverty’s many faces and forms today. A Peabody went to One-on-One with Assad, a CBS This Morning segment in which co-host Charlie Rose civilly but persistently pressed Syria’s president for explanations of his war against his own countrymen. And the public radio series Reveal was honored for The VA’s Opiate Overload, a shocking report about overdose deaths at Veterans Administration hospitals.   Continue reading →

4TH ANNUAL TASTE AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT

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The 4TH ANNUAL TASTE AWARDS is pleased to announce this year’s award winners. Award Winners were announced via livestream, and will receive their awards at the TASTE AWARDS RED CARPET GALA AND RECEPTION in Los Angeles on JANUARY 17TH, which will be filmed for later broadcast.

The TASTE AWARDS Medallion. (PRNewsFoto/TasteTV)

The TASTE AWARDS Medallion. (PRNewsFoto/TasteTV)

The ANNUAL TASTE AWARDS (also known as the TASTY AWARDS) in Hollywood celebrate the year’s best in Food, Fashion, and Lifestyle programs on Television, in Film, Online, and on Radio. In honor of their achievements, SCHILTZ FOODS ROAST GOOSE is providing complimentary holiday goose to winners of the Best Food Program: Television, Best Food Travel Series: Television, Best Food Travel Series: Web, Best Green or Organic Program, Best New Series, Best Food Program: Web, Best Film or Documentary, and Best Comedy categories. This gourmet roast goose will also be served at the January 17th Hollywood awards event. Additional award winner partner perks will be announced shortly.

The TASTE AWARDS RED CARPET GALA AND RECEPTION will feature a star-studded lineup of food and fashion TV celebrities, and has—in the past—included appearances by stars, celebrities, producers and executives from networks and other media platforms such as the FOOD NETWORK, THE STYLE NETWORK, BRAVO, THE COOKING CHANNEL, TLC, DISCOVERY, LIFETIME, E! ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION, PBS, NBC, ABC, THE CW, HGTV, THE TRAVEL CHANNEL, HD NET, HULU, YOUTUBE, SONY PICTURES, and more. Continue reading →