The xx Auctions Lightboxes for Amnesty International
Yesterday, The xx put up the lightboxes from their stage show for auction on eBay to benefit Amnesty International.... read more
Celebrities Come Together for Stand Up to Cancer Telethon
On Sept. 10, the myriad celebrities will join forces for Stand Up to Cancer, a live, one-hour telethon to raise money for cancer research. The event will be simulcast commercial-free on all the major networks as well as VH1, HBO, E!, Bio, G4, Showtime and the Style Network at 8 p.m. ET.... read more
Jay Bennett Foundation Offers Kicking at the Perfumed Air for Donation
This May 24 marked the one-year anniversary of the untimely death of Jay Bennett.... read more
My Morning Jacket, The Wrens, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Many More Contribute to Dear New Orleans Comp
Air Traffic Control, a non-profit group that’s been hosting artist activism events regarding Hurricane Katrina, wrangled The Wrens, My Morning Jacket, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and more to pay tribute with the release of Dear New Orleans.... read more
Neil Young Announces Gulf Coast Benefit Shows
Always a champion of the needs of others, Canadian rock demigod Neil Young revealed a string of September benefit shows to aid residents of the Gulf Coast affected by the BP oil disaster.... read more
Jack Johnson to Donate $70k for Oil-Spill Relief
Jack Johnson’s already been working to raise money for conservation and sustainability efforts while touring on his To The Sea album this spring.... read more
Jason Mraz, Ben Harper, Dr. Dog, Mavis Staples, More to Play Life is Good Fest, All Profits to Charity
The Life is Good Festival, held Sept. 11-12 at Prowse Farm in Canton, Mass. (a suburb of Boston), aims to raise $1 million for kids facing life-threatining challenges. The festival is an all-ages, family-friendly event that features big name bands like Jason Mraz, Ben Harper, Dr. Dog, Guster, Mavis Staples, OK Go, Corinne Bailey Rae, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, and Toubab Krewe, as well as children’s artists like The Laurie Berkner Band, They Might Be Giants, and Dan Zanes and Friends.... read more
Pearl Jam Music Video Raises Awareness, Funds for Ocean Preservation
The video for “Amongst the Waves,” the third single from Pearl Jam’s Backspacer, went public a couple weeks ago, on the same day as the band’s Oceans webpage. Both are meant to raise awareness about the need for ocean preservation, a cause that Pearl Jam feels passionate about.... read more
David Bowie Charity Tribute Album Gets a Release Date
Back in January, news broke that an impressive roster of artists joined up to pay tribute to legendary David Bowie on a then-untitled tribute album. Ground control to Major Tom: The album, titled Repetition, is due to drop Sept. 6, and there are a few tracks available for your listening pleasure.... read more
Fairshare Music Makes Downloading Music Feel Good
Music has the power to inspire and motivate. At least, that’s what the folks at FairShareMusic.com believe; they started the website to marry the idea of music as a tool for change with digital distribution, creating a service that donates fifty percent of its profits to one of eleven partner charity organizations. The site launched last month and already boasts a catalog of 8.5 million songs, including recent releases and chart-toppers as well as a more independent-leaning palate.... read more
Kristen Bell, Ryan Gosling, Pete Wentz, Many More Help Invisible Children Pass U.S. Legislation
The cause of documentary filmmakers Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole was first portrayed in 2004 with the release of their 52-minute film, Invisible Children: Rough Cut. Six years later, the trio (who have since established the non-profit Invisible Children Inc.) is now basking in the disbelief of having a bill directly related to that cause signed into law by President Obama.... read more
The Decemberists Help Uninsured Musicians
The Decemberists have had a surge of goodwill in the last few months. The band has donated music for climate change and performed a benefit concert for Jessica Schleif, an uninsured musician who needed financial help after a medical emergency. Now, the group is teaming up with The Jeremy Wilson Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting musicians like Schleif.... read more
Switchfoot to Host Surfing Competition to Benefit Homeless Youth
This Saturday, a smattering of people, surfboards, guitars, tents and stages will cover So-Cal’s Moonlight Beach for the 6th annual Switchfoot Bro-Am surfing competition. The San Diego rock band hosts the free competition and concert every year to raise money for local chapters of StandUp for Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless youth.... read more
Bonnaroo Contributes to Nashville Flood Relief Effort
Many concertgoers will travel through Nashville on their way to nearby Manchester, Tenn., for the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival this June.... read more
Emmylou Harris Talks Music Saves Mountains Coalition
Emmylou Harris is angry, and tonight, she hopes to facilitate change in Nashville with Dave Matthews, Alison Krauss and more... read more
Jack White Auctions White Stripes Marimba for Nashville Flood Relief
Between touring with The Dead Weather and collaborating with Jay-Z, Jack White is one of music’s busiest men. He’s not too busy, though, to help with the flood relief effort in Nashville—the city he now calls home.... read more
Nashville Stars Plan Benefit Concerts for Flood Relief
The devastating Nashville flood left behind an estimated billion dollars of damage, but the people of Music City banded together to begin the process of rebuilding as soon as the waters receded. A telethon held less than a week after the flood raised $1.7 million, with country’s young radio darling Taylor Swift donating $500,000.... read more
Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, Allen Toussaint, More Play Gulf-Aid in New Orleans
Musicians are coming together in New Orleans at Mardi Gras River City this Sunday, May 16, to raise money to help mitigate some of the myriad problems caused by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Called Gulf-Aid, the show’s proceeds will go to local groups working to clean up the coasts and wetlands affected by the spill and to Gulf Coast fishermen and the damaged seafood industry.... read more
Big Star (Ft. Mike Mills and Brendan Benson) to Honor Alex Chilton With Charity Show
Alex Chilton’s sudden death days before his band Big Star was slated to perform at SXSW last March left the music world stunned. This Friday, May 15, the remaining members of Big Star will perform in Memphis for what was meant to be the band’s homecoming show after an extensive spring tour. Proceeds from the show, which will feature special appearances by R.E.M.‘s Mike Mills and Brendan Benson of The Raconteurs, will help bring 50 free concerts to Memphis by supporting Levitt Shell’s free concert series.... read more
Bono and Bob Geldof Guest Edit Canada's Globe and Mail
Even though Toronto’s Globe (which would later become today’s Globe and Mail) has been keeping Canadians informed since 1844, the paper has never featured guest editors—until now. Fellow Irishmen, musicians and activists, Bono and Bob Geldof, were welcomed into The Globe and Mail’s offices last weekend, where they helmed several articles focused on Africa’s future. Doing everything from assigning stories to choosing which art to run, the guest editors were given free reign of the newsroom. (“You guys are in charge,” Editor-in-Chief John Stackhouse told Bono and Geldof. “This is your paper.”)... read more
