GRAMMYs

Duff McKagan  

Photo: Wireimage.com

News

Giving Tuesday: Buy Signed Guitars, Vinyl And More From MusiCares Ebay Auction

Facebook Twitter Email
Purchase items and memorabilia that will help MusiCares support the health and well-being of music people now through Dec. 6
Jennifer Velez
MusiCares
Nov 27, 2018 - 2:30 pm

MusiCares provides much needed assistance to music people during their time of need, covering a wide net of financial, medical and other personal emergencies. On this Giving Tuesday you have the opportunity of continuing this mission by bidding on special items from artists including, GRAMMY winners Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, GRAMMY-nominated Katy Perry and more.

The GRAMMY Charity Online Auctions—Holiday Edition will have autographed items including microphones signed by GRAMMY nominee Cardi B and the All American Rejects' Tyson Ritter, vinyl and guitars from Incubus' Brandon Boyd, Guns N' Roses Duff McKagan, and more. The auction will also give fans and philanthropists the rare opportunity to bid on a ticket to attend the MusiCares Person Of The Year that will honor GRAMMY winner Dolly Parton to be held on Feb. 8, two days before the 61st GRAMMY Awards.   

The GRAMMY Charity Online Auctions—Holiday Edition will run through Thursday, Dec. 6. To take a look at all the items up for bid, visit www.ebay.com/grammy. You can also follow the MusiCares Twitter for more information on the items available at @MusiCares.

P!nk, Shawn Mendes & More To Honor Dolly Parton At MusiCares Person Of The Year

Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood

Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood

Photo: Blue Rose, Inc.

News

Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Miley Cyrus & Katy Perry Added To MusiCares Person Of The Year Honoring Dolly Parton

Facebook Twitter Email
Brooks, Yearwood, Cyrus, and Perry will join an impressive list of performers in paying tribute to the country icon at the MusiCares gala held during GRAMMY Week 2019
Nate Hertweck
MusiCares
Dec 18, 2018 - 7:00 am

Just when you thought the performer lineup for the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year event honoring GRAMMY-winning country icon Dolly Parton couldn't get any better, it has.  GRAMMY winners Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood and past GRAMMY nominees Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry will join the star-studded list of performers paying tribute to Parton in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019.

Brooks, Yearwood, Cyrus and Perry are the latest additions to an already stacked lineup of previously announced artists who will be performing songs from Parton's impressive musical catalog. Previously announced performers include GRAMMY winners Vince Gill, Don Henley, Norah Jones, P!nk, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Mark Ronson, Mavis Staples, and Chris Stapleton, GRAMMY nominees Leon Bridges, Lauren Daigle and Linda Perry and multi-platinum singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes.

To the delight of fans and artists alike, the honoree will be closing out the program with a special performance as well, with GRAMMY-nominated musician Greg Phillinganes serving as the musical director for the evening.

Parton is being recognized as the 2019 MusiCares Person Of The Year, marking the first member of the Nashville music community to receive the honor. She was chosen for her unparalleled contributions to country music and a multitude of charitable causes, including the children's literacy organization she started in 1995, Imagination Library, with which she has donated over 100 million books to kids around the world.

"Dolly Parton has always been and continues to be a courageous trailblazer and indomitable inspiration for creators and artists—so for us to have the opportunity to honor her at our annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala is to pay tribute to a true pillar of strength and someone who we all look up to and cherish," Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said. "Dolly also knows the power of philanthropy and she has used her stardom to contribute to a wide range of causes from natural disasters to education and literacy programs."

MusiCares provides a vital safety net of health and human services programs, and the proceeds from MusiCares annual Person of the Year gala go directly to the charitable organization to continue their much-needed work, which includes helping music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.

The 29th annual gala will open with a reception and silent auction sponsored by Delta Airlines offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests followed by a gala dinner sponsored by AEG complete with a live auction, the tribute concert and the award presentation.

For ticket and table information, please contact personoftheyear@musicares.org.

Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves & More Added To MusiCares Person Of The Year Lineup To Honor Dolly Parton

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson

Photo: David-McClister

News

Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves & More Added To MusiCares Person Of The Year Lineup To Honor Dolly Parton

Facebook Twitter Email
Nelson and Musgraves, along with Vince Gill, Don Henley, Mavis Staples and Linda Perry have been added to the impressive list of performers set to pay tribute to the country icon at the MusiCares gala in her honor during GRAMMY Week 2019
Ana Monroy Yglesias
MusiCares
Nov 29, 2018 - 6:30 am

As the excitement continues to build for the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards in February, the Recording Academy is hard at work preparing another stellar lineup of events for GRAMMY Week. The latest announcement sees several more all-star performers added to the already star-studded lineup for the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year event honoring GRAMMY-winning country icon Dolly Parton. On Nov. 29 MusiCares announced GRAMMY winners Vince Gill, Don Henley, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson and Mavis Staples, along with GRAMMY nominee Linda Perry will be joining the tribute concert to honor Parton's astonishing musical legacy.

Gill, Henley, Musgraves, Nelson, Staples and Perry will join the lineup of previously announced artists in performing songs from Parton's impressive musical catalog; they are GRAMMY winners Norah Jones, P!nk, Mark Ronson and Chris Stapleton, GRAMMY nominees Leon Bridges and Lauren Daigle, and singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes, with even more artists to be announced leading up to the exciting event. The honoree will be closing out the program with a special performance as well, with GRAMMY-nominated musician Greg Phillinganes serving as the musical director for the evening.

More GRAMMY Week: Willie Nelson To Be Honored With 2019 Producers & Engineers Wing Award

Dolly was announced as the 2019 MusiCares Person Of The Year back in September, chosen for her unparalleled contributions to country music and a multitude of charitable causes, including the children's literacy organization she started in 1995, Imagination Library, with which she has donated over 100 million books to kids around the world.

"Dolly Parton has always been and continues to be a courageous trailblazer and indomitable inspiration for creators and artists—so for us to have the opportunity to honor her at our annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala is to pay tribute to a true pillar of strength and someone who we all look up to and cherish," Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said. "Dolly also knows the power of philanthropy and she has used her stardom to contribute to a wide range of causes from natural disasters to education and literacy programs."

The proceeds from MusiCares annual Person of the Year gala, which will mark its 29th year in February, go directly to the charitable organization to continue their much-needed work helping music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need. Their work helps musicians in need receive access to health programs, including addiction recovery support, emergency financial assistance, educational workshops and more. During the last fiscal year, MusiCares provided more than $6.5 million dollars to approximately 8,600 members of the music industry—the largest number of clients served and dollars distributed in a year by the organization. The annual event not only celebrates outstanding musicians like Parton, but allows the charity to continue its work to help keep the music community healthy and thriving.

For ticket and table information, please contact personoftheyear@musicares.org.

P!nk, Shawn Mendes & More To Honor Dolly Parton At MusiCares Person Of The Year

Runner

Photo: BSIP/Getty Images 

News

Learn How Exercise Helps To Reduce Anxiety

Facebook Twitter Email
In the U.S., 18 percent of adults 18 and older suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder, but research shows exercise can help
Jennifer Velez
MusiCares
Aug 23, 2018 - 3:29 pm

When it comes to the mental health state of the country, anxiety levels are high. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million U.S. adults making these some of the most common mental illnesses that affect Americans. In fact, 18 percent of adults 18 and older suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder-- from Generalized Anxiety Disorder to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – often associated with trauma.

Although anxiety disorders are treatable, only 36.9 percent of people get treated, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA.) And while anxiety can be treated medically, there are also natural treatments that don't require a visit to the doctor's office. Exercise, in particular, can help with anxiety and anxiety disorders in ways that medicine can research shows.

Rapper Pouya Talks Living With Anxiety

Why use exercise to cope with anxiety? While the connection between mental and physical activity may not be obvious to some, exercise is one way anxiety can be lowered quickly and has similar effects as medication. According to the ADAA, studies show that exercise can lift many people's depressed mood fast. Effects of exercise may be temporary, but a brisk walk, for example, is similar to taking aspirin for a headache, resulting in hours of relief.  Research shows exercise can improve mental health by helping the brain deal better with stress.

But according to the American Psychology Association (APA) exercise brings long-term effects, too. Researchers have found that people prone to anxiety who work out more become less likely to panic during flight or fight situations, as exercise produces the same physical reactions: heavy perspiration and increased heart rate.

"Exercise in many ways is like exposure treatment," one researcher, Jasper Smits, PhD, Co-Director of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, said. "People learn to associate the symptoms with safety instead of danger."

The APA noted another study in which researchers asked volunteers with different levels of anxiety sensitivity to go under a carbon-dioxide challenge test.. The test often gives the same symptoms people might experience during a panic attack including increased heart and respiratory rates, dizziness and dry mouth.  Researchers discovered that people with high anxiety sensitivity who reported high activity levels were less likely to panic than those did not exercise so often.

"Activity may be especially important for people at risk of developing anxiety disorder," Smits said.

With that in mind, here are some tips from the ADAA on how to start to get started on an exercise routine:

  • 5 X 30: Jog, walk, bike, or dance three to five times a week for 30 minutes.
  • Set small daily goals and aim for daily consistency rather than perfect workouts. It's better to walk every day for 15-20 minutes than to wait until the weekend for a three-hour fitness marathon. Lots of scientific data suggests frequency is most important. 
  • Find forms of exercise that are fun or enjoyable. Extroverted people often like classes and group activities. People who are more introverted often prefer solo pursuits.
  • Distract yourself with an iPod or other portable media player to download audiobooks, podcasts, or music. Many people find it’s more fun to exercise while listening to something they enjoy.
  • Recruit an “exercise buddy.” It's often easier to stick to your exercise routine when you commit to a friend, partner, or colleague.
  • Be patient when you start a new exercise program. Most sedentary people require about four to eight weeks to feel coordinated and sufficiently in shape so that exercise feels easier.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Frank Iero

Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance

Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

News

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

Facebook Twitter Email
Linda Perry with We Are Hear, Brett Young via Levi Strauss' "5:01 Live" series and CMT, with their upcoming star-studded Kenny Rogers tribute special, have also joined the cause
Ana Monroy Yglesias
MusiCares
Apr 6, 2020 - 12:58 pm

Many more artists and companies have come together during this difficult time to support the many music people out-of-work and in-need due to coronavirus, with more fun fundraisers and generous donations to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Today, actor/singer Rita Wilson teamed up with hip-hop legends Naughty By Nature to release a special remix of their classic track "Hip Hop Hooray," featuring none other than Wilson herself throwing down bars. All proceeds from the song will be donated to the Fund. It was released on YouTube today (listen below) and will be available across streaming/digital platforms this Friday. Wilson and her husband, Tom Hanks, contracted COVID-19 while filming in New Zealand; after posting a video rapping "Hip Hop Hooray" on Instagram, the group reached out to her about collaborating on the new version for a good cause.

For the last two weeks, Nashville powerhouse singer/songwriters and power couple Ellie and Drew Holcomb having been performing fun covers ranging from U2 to Kacey Musgraves to John Mayer on their daily Kitchen Covers series, raising money for MusiCares and their out-of-work touring band and crew.

Linda Perry and Kerry Brown's We Are Hear multifaceted music org have launched the On The Air series, in partnership with Roland, featuring music industry talks, performances and more on YouTube. With the platform's donation functionality, they are raising money for the Fund. Halestorm's Lzzy Hale offered some empowering words and music in one of the latest episodes. 

Read More: Troye Sivan, Yoshiki, Father John Misty, Selena Gomez & More Donate To MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund

On Wednesday, April 8, CMT will be airing a special star-studded tribute show to the late country king Kenny Rogers to benefit MusiCares. "CMT Giants Kenny Rogers: A Benefit for MusiCares" will feature at-home performances by Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires, Lady Antebellum, Vince Gill, Michael McDonald, Rascal Flatts and more.

Later this week, on April 11, the Human To Human 2020 festival on Facebook Live will feature live music from Alec Benjamin, Tayla Parx, Skylar Grey, Richard Marx, Cyn, Grouplove, Jewel, Lauren Daigle and more. They will be raising money for the Plus1 COVID-19 Relief Fund, which has partnered with MusiCares and the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.

Until April 9 (it began April 2), the UnCanceled Music Festival is bringing tons of live sets from artists around globe by pairing with local venues and brands to curate digital stages. The massive online event is hosted on the StageIt platform and requires "attendees" to donate in a pay-what-you-can model to watch. Fender's stage has featured alt faves like Waxahatchee, Cautious Clay and The Marias, while Los Angeles venue Hotel Cafe has tapped VINCINT, Colbie Caillat, Molly Tuttle and more. All money raised is donated to the venues' staff, the artist community and MusiCares.

Fender has been finding several creative ways to collaborate with artists and contribute to the MusiCares Fund. With the Fender Artist Check-In series on IGTV, they've tapped bad-ass guitarists including My Chemical Romance's Frank Iero, John 5, Isbell, and more and are donating on behalf of each artist that participates. In Iero's recent Check-In, which you can watch below, he shares a guitar tutorial for two MCR fan-favorites, "Ghost of You" and "Welcome to the Black Parade."

For those seeking a little retail therapy for a good cause, live music photographer Jacob Blickenstaff and pop star Troye Sivan have you covered. Blickenstaff has partnered with some of the artists he's photographed over the years, including Isbell, Dawes, Yola and Hiss Golden Messenger, selling gorgeous prints with a portion of the proceeds going to the Fund. Sivan, who had shared he would be supporting both MusiCares and the WHO's coronavirus relief efforts, recently released merch for his new single, "Take Yourself Home." All the profits from the three t-shirts will be donated to the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and Spotify's COVID-19 Music Relief project, which supports MusiCares and several other charities.

Last Fri., April 3, Light In The Attic & Friends Live brought live sets from Ben Gibbard, Jim James, Fred Armisen, Barbara Lynn, Devendra Banhart and more on their YouTube and Twitch accounts. All donations were directed to MusiCares. "Lo-Fi" singer Haley Reinhart recently did a performance on Billboard's Live At-Home series, choosing MusiCares as her charity of choice.

Explore: GRAMMY Museum To Debut Never-Before-Seen Content From Billie Eilish & FINNEAS, Brandi Carlile, Yola & Much More

Denim purveyors Levi Strauss have launched a star-studded 5:01 Live IGTV music and chat series to benefit COVID-19 relief efforts from MusiCares and the WHO. So far, it's featured a stellar squad including Snoop Dogg, Questlove, Burna Boy, Moses Sumney and Brett Young. Young, who performed last week, donated his performance fee to MusiCares. Additionally, the country star's past GRAMMY Museum is also being featured in the Museum's exciting digital offering rollout, going live on April 29.

On March 30, his birthday, country star Thomas Rhett released a new song benefiting MusiCares, called "Be A Light." Featuring none other than Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin, all of the artists' proceeds will be donated to the cause. Joining the growing coalition of companies supporting the Fund, the Country Music Association and its philanthropic arm, the CMA Foundation, announced a $1 million donation last week.

As more members of the music community rallying around a unified cause, we'll keep you posted right here on musicares.org.

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. 

How Kevin Griffin Of Better Than Ezra Raised Over $40K (And Counting) For MusiCares In Just An Hour On Facebook