The Special Olympics and Clear Channel Communities, the community engagement brand of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment and iHeartRadio, has launched a multiplatform campaign commemorating 25 years of the “A Very Special Christmas” album series. The effort has generated approximately $109 million in royalties to support Special Olympics.
The iHeartRadio digital radio platform is launching a dedicated station that features the entire collection of “A Very Special Christmas,” with songs by U2, Madonna, Sting, Bon Jovi, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Wyclef Jean, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, No Doubt, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Vanessa Williams, Bryan Adams, who have all contributed to previous albums. The station will also include all-new songs from this year’s two-album releases, “A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary ‘Joy To The World’” on Big Machine Records and “A Very Special Christmas ‘Bringing Peace on Earth’” on Word Records.
The new digital station will be promoted across Clear Channel’s radio stations with public service announcements that combine Special Olympics athlete stories with information on how to access the station. The spots also use celebrities and recording artists, including Ryan Seacrest, Martina McBride, Train, Hunter Hayes, Michelle Kwan and Vanessa Williams. In addition, a 30-minute public affairs radio special is set to air across multiple formats during December, featuring audio from Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver and Special Olympics athletes and others.
“Our on-air holiday campaign will encourage listeners to visit iHeartRadio, where they can find and enjoy the holiday songs they love, and be inspired to purchase this year’s 25th anniversary albums in support of Special Olympics,” said Jessica King, director of community engagement for Clear Channel.
