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GRAMMYs

Lee Ann Womack

Photo: Ebru Yildiz

News
Bid On Exclusive Experiences To Benefit MusiCares bid-exclusive-experiences-lee-ann-womack-david-ellefson-megadeth-halestorm-more

Bid On Exclusive Experiences With Lee Ann Womack, David Ellefson Of Megadeth, Halestorm & More To Benefit MusiCares

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Here's your chance to connect with big-time artists as well as behind-the-scenes music legends like Adam Blackstone, Jimmy Douglass, Larry Klein, Tim Palmer, Tony Visconti & more...
Nate Hertweck
MusiCares
Aug 11, 2020 - 9:08 am

MusiCares and Charitybuzz have teamed up to launch an incredible array of experiences with some of music's biggest artists and most successful producers, engineers and more. Starting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, you can bid on exclusive experiences with Lee Ann Womack, David Ellefson of Megadeth, Hunter Hayes and Halestorm as well as behind-the-scenes music makers and studio pros Adam Blackstone, Jimmy Douglass, Larry Klein, Steve Lillywhite, Giles Martin, Tony Visconti and more. Best of all, proceeds from the auctions will benefit MusiCares' efforts to support music people in need. 

This exciting auction includes private Zoom sessions, virtual lessons, song evaluations, meet and greets and more, providing a rare chance to interact one-on-one with the professionals responsible for some of the most memorable music of all-time, such as GRAMMY-nominated producer/mixer Tim Palmer, who has made music with David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, U2, Robert Plant, Pearl Jam and many more.

"I have been very fortunate to work with many music legends during my career," said Palmer. "On my Zoom call I look forward to sharing stories, experiences, disasters and any wisdom that I may have acquired during the last 40 years. I have lots to tell, so please donate generously and support the very important MusiCares!"

Take a look at the lineup of one-of-a-kind experiences up for auction:

  • Virtual Bass Lesson with GRAMMY winner and Bassist of Megadeth, David Ellefson - Click here
  • Meet GRAMMY Winner Lee Ann Womack and Receive 2 Premium Tickets to a Future Concert - Click here
  • Zoom with GRAMMY nominee Hunter Hayes and Receive Signed Merchandise - Click here
  • Private Lesson in The Art of Coffee via Zoom with Travel Channel’s Todd Carmichael, CEO and Co-Founder La Colombe Coffee - Click here
  • One Hour Zoom Session with GRAMMY-winning Producer Larry Klein - Click here
  • One Hour Zoom Session with World Renowned Mastering Engineer Chris Athens - Click here
  • One Hour Zoom Session with GRAMMY winner and Head of Audio & Sound for Universal Music Group, Giles Martin - Click here
  • One Hour Zoom Session with record producer and GRAMMY winner, Jimmy Douglass - Click here
  • Zoom Session with platinum-selling producer Mike Clink - Click here
  • Private Zoom with GRAMMY winners Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger of Halestorm Click here
  • Zoom with record producer and GRAMMY winner, Steve Lillywhite - Click here
  • Zoom Session with GRAMMY-nominated producer/mixer Tim Palmer - Click here
  • Song Evaluation from GRAMMY-winning producer Tony Visconti via Zoom - Click here
  • Private Bass Lesson and Chat with GRAMMY winner Adam Blackstone, who has worked with Rihanna and Alicia Keys - Click here

"MusiCares was the catalyst for me becoming more active in the Recording Academy, it’s such an important charity and I know some of my friends would not be here without them," added Palmer, who played an instrumental role in making many of these producer experiences for this auction possible. "At this time, we really need to come together and support music and the music makers."

"The whole creative community is finding it hard to make ends meet at this difficult time, and so I feel we need to remember how important music is to our lives and lend a hand," Palmer continued. "On a personal level, I would have no career without all the wonderful musicians I have had the opportunity to work with, so for me personally, it’s a no brainer, it’s the least I can do!"

Place your bids today – but hurry, the auctions will close on Thursday, Aug. 27. 

For more information and to place your bids, visit CharityBuzz.com/MusiCares

David Lee Roth (L) and Eddie Van Halen (R)

David Lee Roth (L) and Eddie Van Halen (R)

 

Photo: Robert Yager

News
2021 MusiCares Charity Relief Auction Announced 2021-musicares-charity-relief-auction-additional-items-announced-bid-items-bob-dylan

2021 MusiCares Charity Relief Auction Additional Items Announced: Bid On Items From Bob Dylan, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, David Lee Roth & Many More

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The marquee lineup of items at the 2021 MusiCares Charity Relief Auction, benefitting the MusiCares Foundation, will feature items from ABBA, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire and many others
MusiCares
Dec 23, 2020 - 11:41 am

MusiCares, the leading music industry charity, and Julien's Auctions have announced the marquee lineup of items to be sold at the MusiCares Charity Relief Auction, which takes place live in Beverly Hills and online Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021.

Benefitting the MusiCares Foundation, this official GRAMMY Week event precedes the 2021 GRAMMYs. Proceeds from the auction will benefit MusiCares to provide aid to music people devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. MusiCares provides the music community a support system of health and human services across a spectrum of need, including physical and mental health, addiction recovery, unforeseen personal emergencies and disaster relief.

BTS kicked off the initiative in the previous announcement of their generous offering of their pastel-colored ensembles (estimate: $20,000-$40,000), worn in their 2020 music video for "Dynamite," the global superstars' smash hit and first No. 1 single in the U.S. BTS earned their first GRAMMY nomination for the song in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category at the 2021 GRAMMYs, alongside other pop icons like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Bon Iver, and Justin Bieber and Quavo.

An exciting highlight added to the auction will be a black jacket embroidered with rhinestones worn by music icon and original Van Halen singer, David Lee Roth, on stage performing with Van Halen during their landmark 2007-2008 tour when he reunited with the band for the first time since 1984. The jacket was also featured in a photograph accompanying this lot signed by Roth with Eddie Van Halen taken backstage by photographer Robert Yager. The jacket was seen in Roth's recent tweet with the photo in tribute to the late guitar legend on Oct. 6, the day of Van Halen's passing with the words, "What a Long Great Trip It's Been.." (estimate: $2,000 - $4,000). 

Pete Townsend

Pete Townsend | Photo Courtesy of Artist

Also headlining are two items from the legendary Bob Dylan: a 2018 "MONDO SCRIPTO" print with Dylan's handwritten lyrics to "Like A Rolling Stone" on one side and the drawing on the other signed by Dylan (estimate: $2,000 - $3,000) and a hardcover copy of Bob Dylan's 2004 book "Chronicles," signed on the inside by Dylan (estimate: $800 - $1,200). 

Another exceptional addition to the auction stage will be Pete Townsend's blue boiler suit and long beige linen "kimono" coat (estimate: $4,000 - $6,000) worn by the iconic guitarist while jumping in the air and performing with The Who during their epic shows at the Hollywood Bowl and Wembley Stadium last year.

Making a special appearance is an acrylic and spray on canvas painting of singer and musician Chris Martin performing live with Coldplay by Billy Morrison, the artist and guitarist of Billy Idol's band since 2009 (estimate: $8,000 to $12,000). The mixed media, acrylic and spray on canvas is signed by both Martin and Morrison.

Chris Martin (L) and Billy Morrison (R)

Chris Martin (L) and Billy Morrison (R) | Photo Courtesy of Artists

Other notable items announced are a framed "No Time To Die" single cover lithograph, signed by Billie Eilish, FINNEAS and Daniel Craig, of the GRAMMY-nominated song from the forthcoming James Bond film, No Time To Die; a Lady-Gaga-signed Chromatica vinyl LP; a pink signed guitar from Machine Gun Kelly; Foo-Fighters-signed drumheads and signed Taylor-Hawkins-used drumsticks; a Fender Player Series Stratocaster guitar signed by Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada of the GRAMMY-nominated Black Pumas; Alice Cooper's Welcome To My Nightmare 1975 album lithograph by award-winning movie poster artist Drew Struzan; Nikki Sixx's signed signature J-4 Sixx bass guitar; Marshmello's signed mascot head gear; and forthcoming items from Mark Ronson, The Estate of Chris Cornell offered by Vicky Cornell, The Estate of George Harrison and more.

Nikki Sixx

Nikki Sixx | Photo Courtesy of Artist

"Partners like Julien's Auctions allow MusiCares to continue to support musicians and industry professionals with our relief efforts," Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares, said. "During GRAMMY Week, we want to encourage everyone to support the thousands of people behind the scenes of the music that are still out of work and struggling through the pandemic."

Highlights from the 2021 MusiCares Charity Relief Auction include (with estimates): 

  • Snoop Dogg's self-portrait dog wearing a "Doggy Style 25" gold chain painting on canvas signed by Snoop Dogg, which was created in commemoration of his 25th Anniversary Doggy Style in 2019 ($1,500-$3,000).
  • A single sheet of partial handwritten lyrics written by HAIM for their 2020 song "The Steps" that includes step-like drawings ($800-$1,200).
  • A purple Meyer The Hatter fedora hat with yellow grosgrain band signed on the inside by Elvis Costello, who has also drawn a caricature next to his signature ($600-$800).
  • Cyndi Lauper's jean jacket with original artwork by artist Lola Arrillaga on the jacket signed inside "Painting by Lola," by Lauper with a heart and piece sign drawing ($1,500-$3,000).
  • Kenny Chesney's signed Epiphone Pro-1 NA acoustic guitar and accompanied by a photograph of Chesney with the guitar ($2,000-$3,000).
  • Brian May's signed black "PS Paul Smith" long-sleeved button-down shirt accompanied by a signed photograph of May performing at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium in London on Aug. 12, 2012 ($1,000-$2,000).
  • Reba McEntire's ballgown satin skirt with tulle and off-shoulder, long-sleeved lace top ($1,000-$2,000).
  • A postcard and music sheet for ABBA's song "Does Your Mother Know," each signed by all four ABBA band members ($800-$1,200).
  • A pair of black leather Linda Farrow Collaborations and Veronique Branquinno sunglasses owned and worn by Yoko Ono ($1,000-$2,000).
  • A champagne-brown velvet jacket with scarf collar worn by Brandi Carlile in a photoshoot for By The Way I Forgive You album and Warner Music Pre-GRAMMY party in New York City on Ja. 25, 2018 ($1,000-$2,000).
  • A framed color photograph of Leon Bridges taken in Brussels in 2018 signed by both Bridges and the photographer ($600-$800).
  • Eminem's red Kangol cap signed "Shady" by Eminem ($600-$800).
  • Tanya Tucker's handwritten lyrics to "Bring My Flowers Now" ($800-$1,200).
  • Joe Walsh's (The Eagles, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, and James Gang) signed Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar with the original Gibson hard shell case donated by Gibson Guitars ($2,000-$3,000).

JULIEN'S AUCTIONS PUBLIC EXHIBITION & LIVE AUCTION LOCATION
Julien's Auctions Beverly Hills
257 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Monday, Jan. 25 –Friday, Jan. 29, 2021
Daily from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
Free to the Public

LIVE AND ONLINE AUCTION 
MusiCares Charity Relief Auction 
An Official 63rd GRAMMY Week Event 

Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021
Session I: 1 p.m. PST

REGISTERING TO BID
Registration is required to bid in this online auction and can be done in person at the exhibition or online before the sale at the Julien's Auctions website. Registration page to bid by phone, proxy or in person, or online at JuliensLive.com to bid live online, or by calling 310-836-1818. For inquiries, please email info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818.

PLACING BIDS
There are four ways to bid in Live Auctions:

  1. Bid with Julien's Auctions online and live in real time at JuliensLive.com or via the iPhone App.
  2. Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative.
  3. Bid in person in the room at live auction events
  4. Bid in advance by absentee bid. Absentee bid forms are printed in the back of each catalogue, and are also available by calling Julien's Auctions or online.

MusiCares Launches "Help For The Holidays" Initiative On Giving Tuesday 2020

Ringo Starr performs at the 50th anniversary celebration of Woodstock in 2019

Ringo Starr performs at the 50th anniversary celebration of Woodstock in 2019

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

News
Ringo Starr Announces Birthday Charity Concert ringo-starrs-80th-birthday-virtual-charity-concert-feature-paul-mccartney-sheryl-crow

Ringo Starr's 80th Birthday Virtual Charity Concert To Feature Paul McCartney, Sheryl Crow, Gary Clark, Jr., And More, Will Benefit MusiCares And Black Lives Matter

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Streaming on Starr's birthday (July 7), the show will feature "at-home performances and unearthed concert footage" from some of his best friends and closest collaborators
John Ochoa
MusiCares
Jul 1, 2020 - 10:19 am

This month, Ringo Starr is commemorating his 80th birthday with a little help from his friends. The former Beatles drummer and nine-time GRAMMY-winning artist is celebrating the big event by hosting Ringo's Big Birthday Show, a virtual charity concert featuring "a mix of at-home performances and unearthed concert footage," according to Rolling Stone, from some of his best friends and closest collaborators, including Paul McCartney, Sheryl Crow, Gary Clark, Jr., Sheila E., Ben Harper and others. 

Streaming on YouTube Tuesday (July 7), Starr's birthday, starting at 8 p.m. EST, the charity concert will benefit MusiCares, Black Lives Matter Global Network, The David Lynch Foundation and WaterAid.

The hour-long show, which will also include chats with the event's guests, will feature the debut of a new, guest-heavy version of "Give More Love," the title track to Starr's 2017 album, which will include Jackson Browne, Jeff Bridges, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson and others, Rolling Stone reports. Artists like Steve Earle, Peter Frampton and Judy Collins will also perform a series of tribute performances, which Starr will debut on his YouTube channel.

Starr's birthday has become an annual celebration of "peace and love" since 2008 when the legendary artist asked his fans to join him in Chicago and say or think the phrase at noon local time.  The "peace and love" celebrations have since spread to "more than 20 countries around the world and on social media, to 'create a wave of Peace & Love across the planet,'" Rolling Stone reports. For his birthday last July, Starr hosted a special "peace and love" celebration at the iconic Capitol Records building, The Beatles' longtime label home, in Los Angeles; the event featured performances from Ben Kyle, The Jacks and Sara Watkins. Starr is once again asking his fans and friends to say, think or share "peace and love" at noon local time on his birthday. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Starr's annual birthday celebration is going digital in 2020. "This year is going to be a little different," he told Rolling Stone. "There's no big get-together, there's no brunch for 100. But we're putting this show together – an hour of music and chat. It's quite a big birthday."

Last November, Starr and his All-Starr Band announced a 2020 tour, which was later canceled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about how you can donate to or apply for assistance via the Recording Academy's and MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Learn more about the financial, medical and personal emergencies services and resources offered by the Recording Academy and MusiCares.

Ed Helms (R) performs with Margo Price

Ed Helms (R) performs with Margo Price

Photo: Elli Lauren Photography

News
Ed Helms Talks New Show "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour" facing-lockdown-ed-helms-spreading-joys-americana-bluegrass-and-comedy-his-whiskey

Facing Lockdown, Ed Helms Is Spreading The Joys Of Americana, Bluegrass And Comedy With His "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour" Online Series

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With the help of special guests and beloved artists from the wider American roots community, the famed actor and established musician is combining his love of music, humor and humans to help raise funds for MusiCares and Direct Relief
John Ochoa
MusiCares
May 4, 2020 - 11:33 am

In mid-March, famed actor and comedian Ed Helms was busy working on his new TV show "Rutherford Falls," an upcoming comedy series, scheduled to debut on NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service, in which he was set to write, co-executive produce and star. The writing for the show had begun, and he and his team were on course to begin production around the third week of the month. Then on March 19, at the height of the early coronavirus pandemic scare, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a sweeping statewide stay-at-home order, essentially shutting down the state, including the Hollywood entertainment complex. Helms was stuck, but he wasn't down for the count.

Now quarantined inside his Los Angeles home with his wife and young child—"We're on toddler watch all the time," he says—Helms is keeping very busy while facing his own version of the "new normal" taking shape around the world. The writers' room for his new show has gone completely virtual since the California lockdown. His production company, Pacific Electric Picture Company, is juggling multiple projects in development. And all day long, he's taking phone calls and video Zoom meetings. Lots and lots of Zoom meetings. 

Still, even with a stacked schedule and a curious toddler eating up his time, Helms felt he needed to do his part to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. So he did what he does best: He strapped on his guitar, turned on the camera and started singing and cracking jokes.

It's all part of "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour," Helms' newly launched limited web series benefiting MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund and Direct Relief. Launched April 22, the online variety show, streaming every Wednesday now through May 13, invites some of the leading and emerging artists from the wider American roots community to perform intimate shows directly from their homes. (Of course, the show also features hilarious cameos from some of Helms' comedy friends.)

The first two episodes featured big-name artists like Lee Ann Womack, Ben Harper, Yola and Billy Strings, among others, while future guests include Rosanne Cash, Langhorne Slim, Mandy Moore, Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi, Valerie June and more. 

Hosted each week by Helms, a vocal advocate of bluegrass and American roots music and culture and a master banjo player, "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour" is his way of bringing a smile to fellow fans and newcomers during these troubling times.

"I think that what makes the show really fun to watch is the really warm and benevolent energy of these musicians," Helms tells the Recording Academy. "They're just some of the most wonderful people. That is a big part of who we want to showcase, just because we want the show to feel good and to be a really positive experience for anyone."

Amy Reitnouer Jacobs echoes the sentiment. As the co-founder and executive director of The Bluegrass Situation, Helms' own bluegrass- and roots-centric music and lifestyle website and the show's presenting partner, she's worked with the comedy giant to build out the show's diverse lineup week after week. She likens the task of curating an eclectic artist roster to "a beautiful chess game." 

"At the beginning of this process, I was just so happy to be putting my creative energies into a good cause and over the moon to be raising money for these two amazing charities and supporting our artistic community at the same time," she tells the Recording Academy via email. "But over the past few weeks, I've also recognized how rapidly our industry is changing and how different everything is going to look over the next couple of months. It's clear that the way we present and intake live music is going to be one of the biggest paradigm shifts, long after shelter-in-place orders are lifted. So maybe in some small way, what we're starting here can continue to build in the hope of working toward a new, or at least temporary, norm."

The Recording Academy chatted with Ed Helms to discuss the benevolent vision behind "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour," his dream lineup for the show and the new creative challenges, and benefits, he's facing while working in quarantine.

How are you, man?

I am doing really pretty well, all things considered. I'm feeling pretty lucky that my family is healthy, and I'm staying pretty busy.

Speaking of your family, have you or your family been impacted directly by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Yes. I had a TV show about to start production. It's [now] completely on pause except for the writing. So now our writers' room has gone virtual, and that's been an adjustment, but thankfully a successful one. We're getting a lot of work done. My immediate family is all healthy, which I'm extraordinarily grateful for. But I have some very close friends dealing with some really tough situations and it's ... been a bit of a ... reality check or something.

In terms of "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour," how long did the show take to come together, from idea to actual series?

[Laughs] Really fast ... I think part of the emotional toll of this quarantine is a real feeling of impotence ... Amy [Reitnouer Jacobs, co-founder and executive director of The Bluegrass Situation] and I were talking about what we could do. [With] The Bluegrass Situation being a music entity, MusiCares felt like a really natural fit. I hosted their gala a couple of years ago. I'm a big fan of that organization. And then more directly on the medical front, Direct Relief was also just a no-brainer because they're doing incredible work [to make] sure frontline workers are properly protected and supplied.

But then the question was, "Well, how do we do it?" Well, let's just leverage our resources and our network and try to do something that'll get some attention and draw some viewership and then ask for money. And then from that conversation to actually putting it together—Amy started booking the music acts right away, and our first episode was up maybe two weeks later.

Things got really scary in the U.S. in mid-March, with the pandemic and shutdown starting to spread throughout the country last month. "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour" launched April 22. Was there a moment or event that truly sparked the show and pushed you to launch it and get involved?

The Bluegrass Situation is lucky to have a lot of relationships and access to great musicians, and we just wanted to do something. This just sort of gelled as the idea. But as soon as the lockdown happened, it was clear.

If you're looking for that inflection point, I think it would be really when all the news was flooding in about how overwhelmed Italy was and just what we were seeing around the world. So many countries and communities in so much pain and struggling just to deal with this thing, and a feeling that it was right around the corner for all of us here in the United States, and that there's just a need to try to help.

What do you and Amy look for when you're putting together these artist and guest lineups?

I think that what makes the show really fun to watch is the really warm and benevolent energy of these musicians. They're just some of the most wonderful people. That is a big part of who we want to showcase, just because we want the show to feel good and to be a really positive experience for anyone. So it's just people who are great, who also play great music, if I had to summarize it.

Read: Cosmic Americana Duo Mapache On 'From Liberty Street,' Honoring Neal Casal & (Briefly) Going Electric

Has it been difficult to get artists and guests to participate in the show?

Not at all. People are so eager to jump onboard and pitch in. Honestly, it's so moving to me [to see] the eagerness that people bring to it and just the enthusiasm. And people are putting a lot of time into these segments. They're shooting themselves in their homes and just getting really great recordings and great performances. I don't know if you've watched the last two episodes, but they just feel so personal and natural and intimate. I've been just incredibly moved by all the participation.

I wasn't sure how it would feel to watch people do a show like this, where people are just playing by themselves and shooting themselves in their homes and at a very lo-fi way. But when I watch the episodes, there's an immediacy there. There's an intimacy to these performances that I think is incredibly special and charming and endearing and uplifting. It's turned out better than I could have hoped. It's so, so fun to do, and I think it helps everyone feel invigorated to be part of a communal effort and a community that's trying to help.

https://twitter.com/edhelms/status/1250503240275292161

ANNOUNCING: #WhiskeySourHappyHour!! I'm hosting an online music variety show to raise money for @musicares and @directrelief. Tune in every Wednesday, starting 4/22 at 5p PDT / 8p EDT and DONATE! pic.twitter.com/zV5s8ik3AC

— Ed Helms (@edhelms) April 15, 2020

While the bluegrass and American roots music community may not be huge, it does seem tight-knit. Have you seen the bluegrass and roots community banding together during this crisis?

Yeah. Our show is just one example. I think there are so many performers out there that are raising money in all different kinds of ways and supporting each other. We don't pretend to be the definitive voice of Americana, roots—we're just proud to be part of a larger community.

I agree with you. [The community] doesn't have quite the scale of some other music genres, but I think it makes up for that in a really exciting and dynamic vibe internally.

Do you see yourself extending the show beyond the May 13 window? Is this something you would perhaps expand after the quarantine and pandemic?

Well, it's a little early to know. It's a lot of work, and I still have a lot of other projects churning in the background as an actor and producer. But I'll just say this: I love doing this. It has been incredibly fun and meaningful to me, so I think anything is possible.

Besides producing "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour," how are you spending your time in quarantine?

I have a two-and-a-half-year-old, so we're on toddler watch all the time. I have a TV show that's going to be on [NBCUniversal's streaming service] Peacock, and we were supposed to start production the week of the quarantine, so that has paused. But the writing of that TV series is still going full speed ahead. I'm in writing meetings multiple days a week, and those are very long meetings in the virtual writers' room.

Then my production company, Pacific Electric Picture Company, we just have a ton of projects in development and at various stages, and so that's a process of keeping up with scripts and giving notes and lots and lots of phone calls and Zoom meetings. So there's plenty going on, and it's been an adjustment and quite a rapid learning curve trying to figure out how to juggle all this.

But [it] seems to be going really well. Like I said, I couldn't be happier with how "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour" has turned out and the kind of production pipeline that we're still figuring out, but it seems to be dialing in. It's obviously a very simple production, but we just want to make it as good as we can. We're learning as we go [and] trying to have some fun, too.

Has the quarantine or the pandemic affected your creativity or how you approach your art and various projects?

I think working from home on all these things has been both a challenge and a little bit of an exciting stimulant for me, creatively. Whether it's writing a TV show or shooting these little interstitials for "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour," I'm so used to just being in a room with other people [and] collaborating on these things. That produces a certain kind of result that I'm very used to. But being by myself and really just having to crank a lot of this stuff out on my own, it's exhilarating.

A lot of times I wish I had someone to bounce some things off of in a more immediate way before I commit to them. [Laughs] But I don't, so you just have to power through. I think it's an exciting challenge. I do firmly believe that necessity is the mother of invention, and this new paradigm is forcing everyone to be innovative and creative in new ways. It's a terrible situation, but there are some interesting and beautiful things emerging out of it.

Who would be your dream guest(s) to book on "Whiskey Sour Happy Hour"?

I mean, we have a dream lineup. I'm just so overjoyed with everyone that we've got. It's funny because I immediately go to bands. I think of bands like Del McCoury or The Infamous Stringdusters or Steep Canyon Rangers or so many more. But bands can't perform together right now.

So we're kind of having to readjust how we approach booking ... And not every artist wants to perform without their band, or if they're a part of a band. There's nothing that's not happening that I wish were happening on these shows. I think we have unbelievable lineups, and I'm super proud of how it's all coming together. That's a nonanswer for you. [Laughs]

The Rebellious Brilliance Of Lucinda Williams

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TikTok logo

Photo: Mustafa Murat Kaynak / Anadolu Agency

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TikTok Donates $2 Million To MusiCares tiktok-donates-2-million-musicares-covid-19-relief-fund-we-want-help-support

TikTok Donates $2 Million To MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund: "We Want To Help Support The Community That Keeps Us Entertained"

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The donation is part of the social media app's larger charity initiative toward COVID-19 relief efforts, which totals to $375 million
John Ochoa
MusiCares
Apr 9, 2020 - 9:32 am

TikTok, the viral video-sharing social media app, is stepping in to support the artist and creative community that thrives on the platform. Today (April 9), the company donated $2 million to MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund, which provides help to the people and professionals in the music industry affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the subsequent cancellation of multiple music festivals and events and venue closures.

"At TikTok, creativity is our heartbeat. And music is often part of many forms of self-expression that we see on TikTok; often in the background of hilarious moments, cinematic storylines, and for dropping like it's hot," Corey Sheridan, head of music partnerships and content operations for TikTok US, wrote in a statement. "We know that musicians, artists, and those working in the industry have seen countless gigs canceled because of this pandemic. And we want to help support the community that keeps us entertained. Today we donated $2M to MusiCares®, an organization supporting artists, songwriters, technicians, crew, and other music professionals whose livelihoods have been severely impacted as a result of cancelled performances and work. While we know this won't replace being on tour, we hope it can help working artists and music industry professionals through this challenging time."

Read: Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

The donation is part of TikTok's larger charity initiative toward COVID-19 relief efforts, which includes $250 million in cash contributions to aid healthcare workers and their needs; diverse communities, including musicians, artists, nurses, educators, and families; and education and creative professionals, including educators, professional experts and nonprofits. 

TikTok is also donating $125 million worth of advertising credits on the platform, which includes $100 million in ad credits for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well as $25 million in prominent in-feed ad space to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), health sources and local authorities who are informing users on important health issues and practices related to the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. 

Altogether, TikTok's coronavirus aid donations total a whopping $375 million. 

Read: Pickathon's 60 Concerts in 60 Days: Margo Price, Drive-By Truckers, Tank And The Bangas, Ex Hex & More

"COVID-19 is giving all of us a new perspective, and in the face of this unprecedented crisis, we are collectively seeking moments of joy and inspiration," TikTok President Alex Zhu said in a statement. "Sometimes that means dancing and having fun where we can. Sometimes that means experiencing the comfort and warmth that comes through simple human connection in the face of adversity. The TikTok community is uplifting one another, caring for one another, and lending a hand to one another. This may be a serious time, but on TikTok it can still be joyful – and deeply inspiring. 

"We are committed to playing our part in that global outpouring of mutual support and giving. We want to magnify all we are seeing across our community and translate it into concrete relief for those most affected by this crisis."

Since the coronavirus pandemic virtually shut down the global concert and live events industry in early March, TikTok has become a go-to resource for musicians and artists to connect with fans experiencing isolation and social distancing. Several major artists, including Alicia Keys, Megan Thee Stallion, Dolly Parton and many others, have taken to TikTok to host digital at-home concerts and other various online projects. Teens and young users, for their part, are using TikTok to cope with the coronavirus pandemic and to create unique self-isolation content.

TikTok itself has launched its own digital initiatives to help users deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, including the #HappyatHome: Live! livestreaming series and the newly launched Live Sessions series in the U.K.

MusiCares COVID-19 Fund: MCR's Frank Iero, Rita Wilson & Naughty By Nature, Ellie & Drew Holcomb & More Support With Livestreams & Beyond

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy and its Affiliates lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates.