top jazz artists of the day. While mostly consisting of modern jazz, the blues, R&B, and Latin are also programmed. Radio plays In 2012, ICRT teamed up with a Taipei-based drama group, Red Room Radio Redux, to begin production of radio plays. The inaugural production was Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which aired on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Planned future productions include Orson Welles’ The War of the Worlds. Events ICRT Bike Day ICRT regularly holds "bike days": public events in which hundreds of people gather to cycle on scenic routes across Taiwan. The events are curated by station DJs. ICRT held its first bike day in Tainan in June 2009. Since then, each year a bike day event is held in Northern, Central and Southern Taiwan respectively. In the four years since its inception, the ICRT Bike Day has been held 11 times. Battle of the Bands The ICRT Battle of the Bands event has been held six times, beginning in 2007. Local bands are invited to compete in front of a panel of judges and a live audience. The winning band receives a cash prize, musical equipment and the chance to be championed on ICRT. Previous winners of the competition have included High Tide (2008), who went on to perform at the Fuji Rock festival; I.O. (2009), later nominated for "Best Band" and "Best Newcomer" at the Golden Melody Awards; and most recently Trash (2012). Sources Fox, Butterfield (22 May 1979). Taiwan Radio in English Beams Assurances on US Ties. The New York Times, p. A2. Kristof, Nicholas D. (4 January 1992). The Voice of Taiwan Speaks English. The New York Times, p. 4. Leonard, Andrew (July 1992). Taiwan Twist. Columbia Journalism Review, p. 16. Phipps, Gavin (16 May 2004). A Quarter Century of Community Radio. Taipei Times, p. 18. References External links Taipei Times article on ICRT Mass media companies of Taiwan Radio stations in Taiwan American Forces Network Taiwan–United States relations Radio stations established in 1979