Multi-platinum music icon Bret Michaels is named as the official 2020 Ambassador for the 10th Annual World College Radio Day, which is happening worldwide on Friday, October 2th, 2020.
“In this difficult time, there has never been a more important year, or a better year, for the hope that college radio brings. It is the future of communications and, in a year like this, communication is key. Music itself is the soundtrack to life and helps drive us through these unprecedented times. When dorms and campuses may be quiet, this should be the time for college radio to be going strong,” says Bret Michaels. His Life Rocks Foundation will be donating $10,000 in personal ‘Bret Grants’ to participating college radio stations around the world, matching the funds raised by the College Radio Foundation. Many college radio stations face severe financial difficulty and these grants will help them stay on the air.
“Bret is a long-time supporter of college radio, someone whose extraordinary multi-faceted career and philanthropic efforts have already impacted so many people,” says Anabella Poland, General Manager of WMSC FM at Montclair State University in New Jersey and President of CRD. “In their early days, Poison received airplay support from college stations that helped songs like ‘Talk Dirty to Me’ get momentum on radio. Bret’s passion and authenticity is deeply inspirational to the students.”
“As an alumni of KCPR college radio and a prime example of college radio being a laboratory for students to learn business, communication and teamwork, I can’t think of a better ambassador than Bret Michaels,” said Bruce Flohr of Red Light Management, which manages Michaels and other artists such as Dave Matthews Band and Phish. “Bret’s entrepreneurship, collaborative spirit and love of new music makes him uniquely qualified to help guide the next generation with his advice, personal stories and experience.”
Some of these early stories are retold in Bret Michaels’ debut book, Auto-Scrap-Ography: Volume 1, which is now in its fourth print run. The book marries the feel of a hardcover book with the immersive engagement of the digital age, sharing untold stories— and never-before-seen photos— from his epic rollercoaster ride of a career and life. Giving back has always been at the forefront, though, as demonstrated by Michaels recently receiving Hollywood’s Humanitarian of the Year Award.
A lifelong Type 1 diabetic, Michaels is known for his unbroken fighting spirit since birth. With over a million injections over his lifetime, a myriad of blood tests and more, he has never let anything stop him. It’s that “bet on yourself” attitude and creative entrepreneurship that made him retain over 90% of his publishing and release his mega-successful albums as an independent label distributed by a major when labels turned down hits like “Talk Dirty to Me” and “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”
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