Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

At the 50th Annual Gracie Awards held on May 20, 2025 (PDT) at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, TBS’s program Thousand Miles, Talks About Music was honored with the award for “Non-English Program – [Radio, Nationally Syndicated Non-Commercial]”, marking the station’s second consecutive international win. This prestigious recognition underscores Taipei’s cultural influence and highlights its growing soft power.

Established in 1975 by the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM), the Gracie Awards honor outstanding achievements by women in media and entertainment. This year’s winners include acclaimed actress Kathy Bates and Cristin Milioti, and rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The star-studded ceremony was hosted by writer and comedian Fortune Feimster.

Following last year’s (2024) win in the “Non-English Program – [Radio-Local]” category with Good Guoyue in Taipei, TBS raised the bar by entering the “[Radio, Nationally Syndicated Non-Commercial]” category. With Thousand Miles, Talks About Music, the station clinched another international award, further affirming the station’s excellence in content production. The award-winning program is hosted and produced by Mali Liu, a professional musician and media expert who has been recognized with four Golden Bell Awards for excellence in broadcasting. The program itself was also the recipient of the 59th Golden Bell Awards for “Best Arts and Culture Program” in 2024.

Long committed to showcasing the work of women composers and raising awareness of gender-related topics in the music world, Liu described her path as “a lonely journey, yet one bound by serendipity and shared purpose.” She believes the value of media lies not solely in ratings or clicks, but in the artistic substance that forms the foundation of a meaningful music program. Thousand Miles, Talks About Music is known for its meticulously crafted content, which includes in-depth interviews, music features, simultaneous interpretation, and even micro radio dramas. Each episode is the product of intensive research and thoughtful curation, delivering a rich and intellectually rewarding listening experience.

Liu shared that the award-winning segment “Music Is a Weapon” took over seven months to prepare and produce. Specially created to commemorate National Women Support Women Day on December 1, the feature aimed to convey the stories and artistic voices of eight Ukrainian women composers in a way that was coherent and deeply resonant—not just a string of soundbites, but a narrative that captured their strength, context, and creativity. “Art, in its essence, is the gentlest yet most powerful call for peace,” Liu emphasized. One of the greatest challenges was the linguistic complexity of the interviews. Notably, an interview with Dr. Karmella Tsepkolenko was conducted in Ukrainian, requiring both English and Chinese translation before it could be shared with audiences—a meticulous and demanding process that exemplifies the program’s commitment to integrity and depth.

Deputy Station Director Pei-Wei Lee, who traveled to the United States to accept the award on behalf of the team, remarked: “Since its debut in 2023, Thousand Miles, Talks About Music has featured inspiring life stories and contributions of musicians from around the globe now based in Taiwan. The program has become a window connecting Taipei to the world.” The award-winning program is also syndicated internationally through “CITYPlus FM” in Malaysia, using the power of music to guide listeners through global issues, demonstrating TBS’s growing connection with global audiences and its continued efforts in arts and cultural outreach. TBS remains committed to stepping onto the international stage and showcasing Taipei to the world.

Thousand Miles, Talks About Music airs every Saturday at 10 PM. Listeners can tune in via the “T Radio” online radio platform at tradio.gov.taipei. For more information, please visit “Taipei Broadcasting Station’s” Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/FM93.1AM1134/.

Host Mali Liu (right) and Deputy Station Director Pei-Wei Lee (left) pose with AWM Director of Awards & Projects LaTonya Jackson (center).

Host Mali Liu, a seasoned music professional and media figure, has been nominated multiple times for Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Bell Awards, and has received accolades such as “Best Arts and Culture Program,” “Best Non-Pop Music Program,” and “Best Non-Pop Music Program Host.”

At the press conference following the 50th Annual Gracie Awards, held at the OCAC in El Monte on May 21, Mark Te-Yuan Chien, the Director of the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles (fifth left) expressed congratulations. 

TBS’s program Thousand Miles, Talks About Music was honored with the award for “Non-English Program – [Radio, Nationally Syndicated Non-Commercial]”, marking the station’s second consecutive international win. This prestigious recognition underscores Taipei’s growing soft power.