Poison’s Bret Michaels named Ambassador for World College Radio Day 2020

By Christina Giordano

WMSC will lead the celebration of World College Radio Day on October 2. Anabella Poland, President of College Radio Day and General Manager of the station, recruited multi-platinum music icon Bret Michaels to serve as ambassador for the event. Poland’s team at WMSC got the opportunity to interview Michaels for the event’s broadcast.

The mission of World College Radio Day is to harness the combined listenership of hundreds of college radio listeners throughout the world and celebrate the important contribution of college radio by uniting for one day. The College Radio Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit based in New Jersey, organizes the yearly event.

The WMSC team interviewed Michaels for the one-hour simulcast that almost 600 radio stations in 38 countries will air at 2 p.m. on October 2. “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 Michaels.

College Radio Day is one of WMSC’s largest team building and fundraising events of the year and 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the event. Despite the unanticipated challenges of the pandemic, the WMSC team and college radio enthusiasts around the world will unite to take part in Global Solidarity Rocks, the theme of this year’s celebration.

Michaels is instrumental in the event’s fundraising efforts. “Bret is a long-time supporter of college radio, someone whose extraordinary multi-faceted career and philanthropic efforts have already impacted so many people,” said Poland. “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 are deeply inspirational to the students.”

Michaels will donate $10,000 in “Bret Grants” to participating college radio stations around the world through his Life Rocks Foundation, matching the funds raised by the College Radio Foundation. These grants are integral to help struggling college radio stations remain on the air.

“Although there won’t be golf cart karaoke or dad jokes around campus, we are planning to make it equally memorable for the students involved” says Poland. Tag @bretmichaelsofficial and @collegeradioday, using the hashtags #askBret #WCRD2020 #collegeradioday #globalsolidarityrocks.