Nielsen SoundScan reports that President Obama’s impromptu performance of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” at a January 19 fund-raiser has sparked a 490% weekly sales increase for the song.
Country superstar John Rich has been awarded the first ever ‘Randy Owen Angels Among Us’ Award during the recent Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar in honor of his extraordinary support and fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
The full-length feature documentary, “Paul Simon: Under African Skies,” from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger, follows Paul Simon’s return to South Africa, 25 years after his first visit, where he recorded his landmark album “Graceland.” The film will premiere at Sundance before its limited release.
The Comet favorite, singer-songwriter Cat Power has released “King Rides By,” her first original song since 2006’s “The Greatest,” with all proceeds benefiting the Festival of Children Foundation and the Ali Forney Center. Watch the music video starring world famous boxer Manny Pacquiao here, now!
Singer & songwriter Kevin Devine is known for his political lyrics and passion for social issues. Here he explores the line between songwriter and activist and gives his experience of the Occupy movement.
The incredibly talented, singer-songwriter Robert Schwartzman, also known as the frontman for the Los Angeles-band Rooney, recently released his first solo debut album, “Double Capricorn,” to support the terrific, non-profit humanitarian organization, the Tibetan Healing Fund. Listen to the first single, “Second Chances”!
Academy and Grammy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer has teamed up with collaborator Lorne Balfe to compose an anthem in homage to Amensty International’s 50th anniversary. The single, “One More Voice for Freedom,” will be released on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
Las Vegas-band The Killers will release their sixth consecutive annual Christmas single “The Cowboys’ Christmas Ball” on iTunes, December 1st, with all proceeds benefiting the (RED) organization’s global fight against AIDS.
Henry Rollins will host the upcoming “Drop in the Bucket” benefit concert “Life – Just Add Water” featuring Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, Jane’s addiction guitarist Dave Navarro and members of Rob Zombie‘s band, including guitarist John 5, on November 30 at the Avalon in Hollywood.
Singer & songwriter Kevin Devine, known for his political lyrics and passion for social issues, blogs about teaming with the Musician’s Energy Conservation Alliance (MECA) to help launch their inBloom app, which helps musicians find green estaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets, hotels, and biodiesel stations while on the road.
Musician & activist Tom Morello, of Nightwatchman and Rage Against the Machine fame, lent his voice to Occupy Wall Street in New York City. Check out this video of his latest project, “A Celebration of Woody Guthrie,” where he performs, “Ease My Revolutionary Mind.”
Folk music legend Pete Seeger and `60s folk singer Arlo Guthrie joined Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in their campaign against corporate greed while residents near the protest park encampment pushed to regain some peace and quiet in their neighborhood. The Huffington Post reports.
Blue October’s front man Justin Furstenfeld has launched AnyManInAmerica.com – a website where fathers, mothers and children who have dealt, or are dealing with, the issues surrounding divorce can speak their mind.
What do Shaq, Betty White and Buckcherry Have In Common? A good cause. The unlikely trio have partnered with Childhelp, a national nonprofit dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse, for a “Hope” Public Service Announcement. Watch it now!
News of the controversial church group’s plans to protest the Foo Fighters concert at the Sprint Center Friday night in Kansas City sparked an ingenious, good-natured counter protest by the Foo Fighters. Wearing trucker hats, cowboy boots, beards and wigs, the band boarded a flat-bed truck and sung their ode to same-sex love, “Keep It Clean (Hot Buns),” to a crowd of angry protesters, fans and news crews. Watch it here now!
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Showtime will air “The Love We Make,” a documentary that chronicles Paul McCartney’s journey through the streets of New York shortly after the World Trade Center’s destruction, as well as the benefit, “The Concert for New York City.”
Cary Sherman has been named RIAA chairman & CEO, effective September 1, 2011. He succeeds Mitch Bainwol, who has resigned his post to become CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. In addition, Mitch Glazier has been elevated to senior executive vice president.
Rage Against the Machine proved once again that its anti-corporate America and anti-government oppression message is as true in today’s culture as it was when the band played its first gig twenty years ago. As the curators and headliners of the socially conscious music fest, LA Rising, at Los Angeles’ Coliseum on July 30, Rage fans of all ages moshed, danced and chanted along.
“Any Man In America,” which will be released August 16, is a letter to his daughter, says singer Justin Furstenfeld. It details the hardest period of his life – loosing his rights as a father, a bitter divorce, and the longing for his little girl to know the truth. Plus, check out the new video to “The Chills.”
Following in the footsteps of Lady Gaga, hip-hop diva Nicki Minaj and Latin superstar Ricky Martin have been selected for MAC’s 2012 Viva Glam campaign.
