UNITED FOR SONGAID
The music and tech industries are coming together to launch SongAid, an ongoing effort to fight the global hunger crisis and support COVID-19 Hunger Relief. Beginning 5/29, SongAid will release new exclusive music weekly from contributing artists who will donate streaming earnings to WhyHunger’s Rapid Response Fund. Distributed through a partnership with The Orchard, all songs will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Amazon Music as well as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
“We’re trying to create a sustained movement for change with music that anyone can participate in,” shares Fred Beteille, Founder of SongAid and Head of Strategy, Audio Initiatives at Facebook. “Our united goal is to leverage the power of music to raise funds and provide direct, ongoing support to those in need. We’re proud to bring these people and industries together to create a sustained movement for change with our partner WhyHunger.”
SongAid’s first playlist features Darryl “DMC” McDaniels & The HellRaisers’ “I Was Born,” Tom Morello’s “Save the Hammer for the Man,” Cindy Blackman Santana & Carlos Santana’s “Imagine” and The Silkroad Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma’s “Take the “A” Train,” among others. In addition to curated playlists, SongAid will be supported by a series of virtual music, gaming and art activations on social media throughout the summer of 2020.
Noreen Springstead, Executive Director of WhyHunger says, ” “Hunger was a global crisis even before the pandemic. Now that millions of people are newly unemployed and without resources for basic human needs, food insecurity is spiking unlike anything we’ve seen in our 45-year organizational history. Thank you to all the artists and companies who have donated to this cause and for the fans who are listening.”
SongAid is a collaboration between ASCAP, Bonsai, The Orchard, Shukat Arrow Hafer Weber & Herbsman, LLP, TrackTribe and WhyHunger, with corporate support from Hard Rock International and EY. All proceeds will be used to expand WhyHunger's national Find Food Database, texting service and hotline as well as support frontline food pantries, small-scale farmers and food chain workers facing hardship during the COVID-19 crisis. For more information, to donate music or to get involved, visit SongAid.com. For more info on WhyHunger, click here.
