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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.

Jealous of The Birds perform at Independent Venue Week 2018

Jealous of The Birds perform at Independent Venue Week 2018

Photo: Carrie Davenport/Redferns

News
Independent Venue Week: Independents Day 2020 Info independent-venue-week-announces-programming-independents-day-2020

Independent Venue Week Announces Programming For Independents Day 2020

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The two-day virtual event, taking place July 29-30, will examine the challenges and opportunities within the grassroots live music community, including the "immense impact" the COVID-19 pandemic has made on the live events and concert industry
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Jul 24, 2020 - 12:11 pm

Independent Venue Week, a weeklong series celebrating indie venues across the U.K. and the U.S., has announced the programming for its second annual Independents Day event.

The two-day virtual event, taking place July 29-30 and streaming via StreamYard, YouTube, Facebook and the Independent Venue Week website, will examine the challenges and opportunities within the grassroots live music community, including the "immense impact" the COVID-19 pandemic has made on the live events and concert industry, according to a post on the organization's website announcing the series. 

The 2020 program will also cover topics like minority representation at a grassroots level, applicable actions resulting from the Black Lives Matter movement in grassroots venues, the vital role of livestreaming in live music, venue sustainability, wellbeing and mental health and more. 

Check out the full schedule and list of panels and panelists on the Independent Venue Week website.

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Since early March, the coronavirus pandemic has virtually shut down the worldwide live event and concert industry, forcing many independent venues around the world to close their doors for good. 

Earlier this month, the U.K. government announced a £1.57 billion (approximately $2 billion) support package to help fund the country's arts, culture and heritage industries, including music venues, which have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, NME reports.

Last month, in a survey conducted by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), 90 percent of independent venue owners, promoters and bookers said "they will have to close permanently within the next few months, if they can't get an infusion of targeted government funding," NPR reports.

Read More: 4 Independent Record Stores Across The U.S. Weigh In On Their Struggle To Survive During COVID-19

On Wednesday (July 22), U.S. senators introduced the "Save Our Stages Act," a new relief bill aimed at supporting independent music and entertainment venues that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. (The Recording Academy has endorsed two new bills that aim to support creators, venues and small music businesses: the RESTART Act and the Mixed Earner Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act.)

Launched in 2014, Independent Venue Week is a nationwide initiative championing indie music venues as well as "the people that own, run and work in them, week in, week out," according to the organization's website. In 2018, the event expanded into the U.S. for the first time ever.

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.

Coachella 2019

Coachella 2019

Photo: Rich Fury/Getty Images

News
Report: Coachella Postponed To 2021 report-coachella-postponed-2021

Report: Coachella Postponed To 2021

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As parent company AEG lays off 15 percent of its workforce, the festival's officials are considering a potential limited-capacity event next April or a higher-capacity event in October 2021
John Ochoa
GRAMMYs
Jun 10, 2020 - 12:10 pm

Update Thursday (June 11) at 6:09 p.m. EST: In a press release, Goldenvoice officially announced the rescheduling of the 2021 installments of Coachella and its country music festival counterpart, Stagecoach, stating, "Under the continuing health guidance of the County of Riverside, Coachella and Stagecoach 2020 will not take place this October as previously rescheduled. This is not the future that any of us hoped to confront, but our main focus remains the well-being of our fans, staff, artists, desert partners and everyone involved in the festival." The press release states Coachella is scheduled to now take place across two weekends next April, with the first weekend happening April 9–11, followed by weekend two on April 16–18; Stagecoach will take place the following weekend, April 23–25. According to the announcement, all festivals will feature new lineups and all 2020 passes will be honored for 2021. 2020 ticket-holders will receive an email about refunds or ticket rollovers Monday (June 15).

Update: On Wednesday (June 10), the 2020 editions of Coachella and Stagecoach, both of which are Goldenvoice festival properties, were officially canceled "due to county and state restrictions" related to the coronavirus pandemic, Billboard reports. "I am concerned as indications grow that COVID-19 could worsen in the fall," Riverside Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser wrote in an official statement from Riverside County where both festivals take place. "In addition, events like Coachella and Stagecoach would fall under [California] Governor Newsom’s Stage 4, which he has previously stated would require treatments or a vaccine to enter. Given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward."

After being rescheduled from April to October, this year's installment of Coachella has been postponed once again to 2021, largely due to major financial problems caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

According to Billboard, which broke the news Tuesday (June 9), officials at Goldenvoice, the organizers behind Coachella, are determining whether the festival will return next April, potentially in a limited capacity, or as a higher-capacity event in October 2021; the three-day festival typically attracts 125,000 people per day across two weekends.

At the time of this writing, Coachella has not made an official announcement about the postponement. 

The cancelation follows a major wave of cost-cutting initiatives at AEG, the global concert promoter and parent company of Goldenvoice. On Monday (June 8), AEG laid off 15 percent of its workforce, furloughed more than 100 employees and instituted significant pay cuts, which collectively mark the "deepest staff cuts in the company's history," as noted by Billboard.

"It is clear now that live events with fans will not resume for many months and likely not until sometime in 2021," Dan Beckerman, a chief executive at AEG, wrote in a note to employees ahead of the layoffs, according to Billboard. He also said every employee worldwide "will be impacted in one form or another" by the staff cuts, calling the decision "agonizing" but "necessary" for the company's long-term success. 

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

According to Billboard, approximately 40 percent of Coachella ticket-buyers requested refunds for this year's festival. AEG officials believe they can produce the festival next April at 60 percent capacity, but they will not commit to rescheduling the 2021 event until they know more about the pandemic's trajectory.

The festival's postponement and the company's staff cuts come as the coronavirus pandemic has virtually shut down the global concert business following strict stay-at-home orders and closures of nonessential businesses worldwide that have caused many live music venues and events companies to shut their doors—some permanently.

Rumors surrounding Coachella's 2020 postponement first surfaced in early March, just when the COVID-19 pandemic began to severely impact the music industry. Since then, businesses and several U.S. states have begun to open their doors nationwide. The live music industry has since implemented novel ideas, such as drive-in concerts, virtual festivals, and socially distanced events, but large-scale festivals and gatherings are not likely to return this year. 

Read: Lollapalooza 2020 Canceled, Along With Other Chicago Summer Fests, Due To Coronavirus Concerns

AEG could potentially begin to reintroduce concerts across its many venues around the world as early as the fourth quarter of 2020 or early 2021, Billboard reports, which will help the company rehire its furloughed employees once it locks in a timetable and solidifies an approach. 

"It is our responsibility as a management team to protect our company and make sure that we are positioned for long-term success, and we are focused on this critical objective," Beckerman wrote in the note to staff, according to Billboard. "The world is slowly re-opening, and our industry will re-open later and more slowly than most. As a result, our organization and workforce have to adapt and evolve to meet the demands, challenges and economic circumstances we are likely to face when we emerge from this crisis."

The Best Apps & Tools For Recording And Monetizing Music In The COVID-19 Era 

Harry Connick, Jr. (R) and Georgia Connick (L) filming "UNITED WE SING" on location for CBS

Harry Connick, Jr. (R) and Georgia Connick (L) filming "UNITED WE SING" on location for CBS

Courtesy Photo: CBS

News
"United We Sing" Special To Air June 21 On CBS united-we-sing-grammy-salute-unsung-heroes-special-air-june-21-cbs-hosted-harry

"United We Sing: A GRAMMY Salute To The Unsung Heroes" Special To Air June 21 On CBS: Hosted By Harry Connick, Jr. And Featuring Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Queen Latifah And More

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The two-hour star-studded event celebrating the essential workers across America will benefit MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund as well as No Kid Hungry and the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans
MusiCares
May 28, 2020 - 6:30 am

Next month, the Recording Academy and CBS are celebrating the essential workers across America with the "United We Sing: A GRAMMY Salute To The Unsung Heroes" special, a brand-new two-hour event hosted by GRAMMY- and Emmy Award-winning singer and actor Harry Connick, Jr. Airing Sunday, June 21, from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, the star-studded show features Harry Connick, Jr. and his filmmaker daughter, Georgia Connick, as they take a road trip across the nation in an RV to thank and celebrate essential workers who risk their own lives on a daily basis to keep the country safe. 

Connick highlights the contributions of these everyday heroes with the help of his celebrity friends, including Sandra Bullock, Drew Brees, Queen Latifah, Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey and Renée Zellweger, who will deliver surprise messages to America's unsung heroes. The special will also feature performances by GRAMMY winners Harry Connick, Jr., John Fogerty, Jamie Foxx, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Little Big Town, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw and Irma Thomas as well as GRAMMY nominees Jon Batiste, Andra Day, Rockin Dopsie and Trombone Shorty.

https://twitter.com/CBS/status/1266000647419121664

.@HarryConnickJR hosts UNITED WE SING: A GRAMMY® SALUTE TO THE UNSUNG HEROES with performances & appearances by @Oprah @iamjamiefoxx @TheTimMcGraw @JonBatiste @IAMQUEENLATIFAH #BradPitt #SandraBullock & more Sunday, 6/21 at 8pm/7c on CBS & @CBSAllAccess: https://t.co/uuTKmoxlcq pic.twitter.com/mbprif3et4

— CBS (@CBS) May 28, 2020

The Connicks' journey begins at their home in Connecticut, and after stopping in various cities along the way, they reach their final destination of New Orleans, La. At each stop, the father-daughter duo listens to the stories of essential workers in healthcare, food preparation, sanitation, law enforcement, trucking and more to honor their dedication and public service during this unique moment in history.

The show culminates in Connick's hometown of New Orleans, with moving musical performances by Connick, Trombone Shorty and Irma Thomas at iconic locations throughout the city.

The special will invite donors to contribute to charities that support underserved children, such as No Kid Hungry and the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans, as well as to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, a charitable organization of the Recording Academy.

"United We Sing: A GRAMMY Salute To The Unsung Heroes" was filmed with a minimal crew practicing social distancing and with extensive safety precautions in place. 

Harry Connick, Jr.'s career has exemplified excellence across multiple platforms in the entertainment world. He has received GRAMMY and Emmy Awards, as well as Tony nominations for his live and recorded musical performances, his achievements in film and television and his appearances on Broadway as both an actor and a composer. Over the past three decades, Connick has established himself as a musician, singer and composer, a legendary live performer and a best-selling artist with millions of recordings sold around the world. The foundation of Connick's art is the music of his native New Orleans, where he began performing as a pianist and vocalist at the age of 5. Connick has appeared in 19 feature films with actors such as Sandra Bullock, Hilary Swank, Renée Zellweger, Sigourney Weaver and Morgan Freeman. On television, he appeared on "Will & Grace," "South Pacific" and "American Idol." In 2016, he launched "Harry," a national daytime television show, which earned 11 Daytime Emmy nominations, including nominations for best host, and a Critics' Choice nomination for Best Talk Show. On Broadway, Connick received Tony nominations as both a lead actor in "The Pajama Game" and as a composer/lyricist for "Thou Shalt Not." In December 2019, he performed on Broadway in a show he wrote and directed, "Harry Connick, Jr.- A Celebration of Cole Porter."

From Foo Fighters To H.E.R., Chris Martin To Mavis Staples, Here's Who Rocked The GRAMMY Prince Tribute

TikTok logo

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.