Posted on 09/04/2005 2:10:29 PM PDT by Issaquahking
Wilson and Mellencamp Among Performers Scheduled for Sept. 10 TV Special
CMT, MTV and VH1 have announced the first stage of an ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief campaign -- a multi-artist, multi-genre, multi-platform live performance special set to air across all three networks on Sept. 10. Gretchen Wilson and John
Mellencamp are among the artists scheduled to perform from locations in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Nashville.
The special will seek to raise much-needed funds for the American Red Cross and similar organizations as they continue their relief efforts. The campaign will also seek to activate the diverse audiences across CMT, MTV and VH1 to drive volunteerism, donations and general awareness.
"In the face of a tragedy of this scope, we simply have to do everything in our power to offer support, comfort and hope to all the people directly impacted by the hurricane," MTV Chair and CEO Judy McGrath said Wednesday (Aug. 31). "This is always the first and best instinct of all our millions of viewers and the artists we know so well. If we can offer a platform to contribute in some meaningful way, all of our MTV Networks brands will be there. Our goal is to join forces on every medium to get involved, to volunteer, to contribute in any way we can."
"There's been an outpouring of support and concern and a desire to help from the artist community, our audiences and our employees," said MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler. "We feel fortunate to be able to provide a forum to channel all of this energy and good will and to let the people in the affected states know that we're there for them. Many of the artists across our channels are from the affected areas and have a strong connection to the South. We are looking to activate every hip-hop, rock, country, R&B and pop music fan out there to get involved and help support the relief efforts."
The ongoing relief campaign will kick off with a live programming block featuring Wilson, Mellencamp, Ludacris, Green Day, Usher, Alicia Keys, the Dave Matthews Band, Rob Thomas, David Banner, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington and others. The special will be simulcast across all three networks, as well as MTV2, mtvU, VH1 Classic, plus MTV Overdrive and VSpot, the broadband video networks. Additional details will be announced shortly.
Starting immediately, all CMT, VH1 and MTV platforms will begin an awareness campaign to provide information to viewers on how to get involved and participate in the relief efforts. Viewers and users will be directed to Web sites and phone numbers where they can make donations of money, clothing, equipment and anything else that may help the affected areas.
Viacom, MTV Networks' parent company, is making a $1 million cash contribution to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Effort and is also instituting a worldwide employee matching gift program for employee donations.
The American Red Cross is asking people to help by making an online contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW to donate, signing up with a local chapter to volunteer or making a blood donation.
For more information, visit One Country.
I notice that Kanye West is not among the performers, so it will be left to Alicia Keys to let the audience know that George Bush hates Black people and wants Black people to die.
ping
???
Now that they actually have a reason to raise money. Usually they have to secondhand an issue when there's nothing else to complain about- African Poverty (Let's give money to dictators) or Tsunami relief (Let's help the child sex trade rebuild itself).
Friday night, all the NBC affiliates (MSNBC, CNBC, et al.) had a concert to benefit the hurricane victims. Kanye West, a rapper and producer (he has been the producer for Alicia Keys) went into an unscripted tirade about how George Bush hates Black people (do a FR search for Kanye West).
Mike Myers of Austin Powers fame stood next to this Kanye dope, and even he seemed a bit taken aback by the idiotic rantings.
And there's no doubt that if Bush had immediately ordered in troops then he would have been accused of racism for unleashing the military on poor black people just trying to scavenge for food and water.
West is clearly one of those "Bush stole Florida by suppressing the black vote" type of people.
He mentioned that he had spoken with his "business manager" during his tirade regarding how much money he had to give to relief efforts. I suspect that he and his "business manager" certainly had his speech scripted, albeit not the official NBC script.
It's funny that Bush would hate black people since he surrounds himself with minorities on his cabinet choices. Oh, I forgot, they're "the wrong minorities".
wonder if the "First Black President" will be on any of these celebrity shows? lol
Pretty damn hard to put up a post without some one wanting to be a hate monger. Thought perhaps if people realized that CMT was going to be involved that it was going to be civil.
I am the ultimate Bushbot, Bush-toady, Bush-defender. I was being sarcastic which I thought was quite obvious.
I'm glad to see Rob Thomas among those who are performing to benefit Katrina victims. I had tickets to see him at the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi in late October, before Katrina blew those plans away.
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