1. SAG AWARDS MOVE DATE TO AVOID GRAMMYS CONFLICT: The 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards have moved from January 26 to January 19, to avoid airing at the same time as the Grammys. The 26th annual SAG Awards will air live on TNT and TBS. The Hollywood Reporter: “In addition, organizers said they have extended their deal with TNT and TBS to broadcast the live event. Submissions are being accepted from July 29-October 21, with balloting opening November 14 and closing at 5 p.m. December 8. Nominations will be announced December 11, with voting opening December 17 and closing at noon January 17. While organizers did not cite the Grammys (or any other specific reason) for the move in their announcement, the date change didn't come as a surprise to some observers, as networks look to make the most of the live and special-event programming they have rights to in the Peak TV era.”

2. MUSIC INDUSTRY VETERANS HOPE TO UNSEAT TRUMP WITH 46 CONCERTS IN 46 CITIES: Kyle Frenette and Christopher Moon, two music industry veterans and activists, are launching a new initiative called 46 for 46, a series of 46 concerts in 46 U.S. cities leading up to the 2020 election. The goal of the series is to unseat President Donald Trump, targeting voters in swing states that went to Trump in 2016. Billboard: “Frenette is adamant that 46 for 46 is partisan, and reiterates that his main goal with the campaign is to get people out to vote for the Democratic candidate, whoever that ends up being. As part of this push to boost turnout, the campaign will have fans ‘Pledge 46’ in 2020, whether that means chatting with 46 people in their social circle about the Democratic nominee, donating money to the party or the candidate’s campaign ($4, $6 or $46 are the suggested amounts), or volunteering 46 hours of their time to canvassing, phone banking, and other get out the vote efforts. The pledge additionally includes a commitment to keep working for progressive Democratic candidates up and down the ballot in future elections.”

3. TOKYO 2020 REVEALS OLYMPIC MEDALS MADE FROM OLD ELECTRONICS: The Tokyo 2020 Olympics revealed the design of the winners’ medals on Wednesday, one year before the event's opening ceremony. The medals, created with old cell phones and other electronics, have a pebble-like appearance and measure 8.5 centimeters in diameter. The design was chosen from more than 400 entries in a competition for design students and professional designers. CNN: “Winner Junichi Kawanishi described the use of his proposal as a ‘great honor.’ … According to International Olympic Committee guidelines, silver medals must contain a minimum of 92.5 percent silver, although Tokyo 2020's will be made of pure silver. Gold medals are, in fact, also made largely from silver, though they must each be plated with at least 6 grams of pure gold. Approximately 5,000 of the medals will be produced for next summer's games, which mark the second time the Japanese capital has hosted the event.”

4. ‘THE NEW YORK TIMES’ EDITORIAL LEADS NEW LIVE EVENT PUSH: The New York Times is testing out a new live event strategy led by the company’s editorial team. The live event push begins the Times’ inaugural food festival this fall and provides a new way for the company to make revenue. The Drum: “The paper isn’t a complete stranger to the world of live events, having run a 35,000-delegate New York Times Travel Show since 2005. However, the Food Festival, slated to run across the brand’s hometown in early October, will see it level up to the production values of its rival publishers with its first original live product for consumers—not trade. … Providing the event is an editorial and commercial success, then the Times will begin to invest more in the live events space. What that investment would turn into is unclear currently, but Lisa Howard, the company’s senior vice-president general manager for media, throws around ideas about expansion outside of New York, a bigger festival with wider programming and the creation of new events in other verticals such as travel.”

5. BEACHFRONT CHICAGO MUSIC FESTIVAL CANCELED OVER ENDANGERED BIRDS: Mamby on the Beach, a popular beachfront music festival in Chicago, has been canceled after an endangered bird species made the Montrose Beach venue their home. Festival organizers battled with animal rights activists over keeping the festival venue, but ultimately canceled the event due to rising waters in Lake Michigan. Organizers were unable to find a new venue for the festival, which was slated to take place August 23-24. Chicago Sun-Times: “Organizers said tickets would be refunded within five to 10 business days. The two-day fest was expected to attract up to 20,000 people per day. Jill Niland of the Montrose Lakefront Coalition, which fought to have the festival moved away from the Montrose Beach area, said the decision ‘certainly going forward will be much better for the plovers.’ … In a Chicago Park District meeting this month, festival promoters released a plan to move the festival from the beach to parkland between Wilson and Lawrence avenues, the Park District said in a statement. In announcing the cancellation, organizers said it became too late to move the festival.”