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GRAMMYs

Michael McDonald

News
Michael McDonald Crushes IRONMAN, Fundraising Goal michael-mcdonald-crushes-ironman-musicares-fundraising-goal-20-years-sobriety

Michael McDonald Crushes IRONMAN, MusiCares Fundraising Goal & 20 Years Of Sobriety

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"Somewhere deep inside, a seed was planted that finally came to bloom," McDonald said, reflecting on his inspiring journey to the IRONMAN
Ana Monroy Yglesias
MusiCares
Oct 15, 2019 - 1:15 pm

On Sat., Oct. 12, music management veteran Michael McDonald did something he would've never imagined possible in his earlier years as tour manager: complete the IRONMAN race on the 20th anniversary of his sobriety.

And the accomplishment was much bigger than McDonald himself; he raised over $394,000 for MusiCares, where he is Chair Emeritus, and the IRONMAN Foundation. His original fundraising goal was $150,000.

"I vividly remember watching the Kona IRONMAN World Championships on television and crying because I was too hungover to fathom the level of dedication, perseverance, and athleticism," McDonald explained.

"Somewhere deep inside, a seed was planted that finally came to bloom," he added in a press release.

In his training for the big race, McDonald clocked in an impressive feat of athleticism, biking over 3,000 miles, running over 800 and swimming 69. This year not only marks McDonald's impressive first IRONMAN and 20 years of sobriety, but also his 50th birthday, as well as the 30th anniversary of MusiCares, whose addiction services helped him get clean.

"Crossing the finish line in Kona was one of the greatest honors of my life. I am overflowing with gratitude towards all my donors and the IRONMAN Foundation for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity," he recently said.

Read More: Meet The Real Ironman: Michael McDonald To Race On Behalf Of MusiCares

Donations came from Mick Management, the Brooklyn-based music management company McDonald founded, VEGA, ROKA, Brooks Running, Cervélo Cycles, Live Nation, Music That Moves and other orgs and individuals. GRAMMY-winning musician Leon Bridges, who is represented by Mick Management, also generously donated $75,000.

In his fundraising efforts, McDonald joined TEAM IMF, IRONMAN Foundation's fundraising team. The remaining funds are donated to the Foundation, which works with change-making organizations in race communities, including the Kailua-Kona region, where the World Championship is held.

To learn more and support about the work MusiCares does to assist and empower the music community in-need, please visit grammy.com/musicares.

Aerosmith To Be Honored As 2020 MusiCares Person Of The Year

Frank Iero

Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance

Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

News
Rita Wilson, Frank Iero, More Aid MusiCares Fund musicares-covid-19-fund-mcrs-frank-iero-rita-wilson-naughty-nature-ellie-drew-holcomb

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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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."



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From his basement jam room, @frankieromustdie of @mychemicalromance gives a tutorial on his guitar parts for their songs “Ghost of You” and “Welcome to the Black Parade.” Be on the lookout for new Artist Check-Ins coming soon. For each artist that participates in a Fender Check-In, we are making a donation to @musicares who has set up a COVID-19 relief fund to support creators affected during this time.

A post shared by Fender (@fender) on Mar 31, 2020 at 10:19am PDT

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.

https://twitter.com/MusiCares/status/1244750979590795264

Thank you for your support @ThomasRhett ❤️ It means a lot! 🙏 https://t.co/kVv1EUOUOp

— MusiCares (@MusiCares) March 30, 2020

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

GRAMMYs

Michael McDonald

News
Meet MusiCares' Ironman Michael McDonald meet-real-ironman-michael-mcdonald-race-behalf-musicares

Meet The Real Ironman: Michael McDonald To Race On Behalf Of MusiCares

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The music manager and MusiCares Chair Emeritus opens up about being two decades sober and racing the 2019 IRONMAN to benefit the organization he says saved his life
Nate Hertweck
MusiCares
Sep 19, 2019 - 9:49 am

In Fall of 1999, music manager Michael McDonald took the first step in his race toward a new life and, with the help of MusiCares, got sober. Two decades later, not only is he still sober, he's  chair emeritus of the organization and he's training to race in the 2019 Kona IRONMAN World Championships to raise money for the organization he credits with saving his life.

"I vividly remember watching the Kona IRONMAN World Championships on television and crying because I was too hungover to fathom the level of dedication, perseverance, and athleticism," he recalls.

But on Oct. 12, McDonald will fulfill his dream and run the exact same race he saw on TV 20 years ago. And thanks to a partnership with the IRONMAN Foundation, he's raising money for MusiCares in the process – a lot of money. The aspiring ironman's charity effort blew past his original donation goal of $150k and has since eclipsed the $200k mark. This money will go a long way toward helping MusiCares deliver the necessary financial and emotional support to anyone in the music community in need.

What makes a person open his heart with this level of generosity, motivation and drive? For McDonald, getting sober has illuminated a path to helping others. "What good is it for me to be sober and not have that benefit someone else?" he asks.

We caught up with McDonald as he prepares for the big race while  balancing  both support for the charity as well as his duties as founder of Mick Management, to talk about sobriety, training for the  triathlon, and what life is really all about: giving back.

Congrats on 20 years of sobriety. What has been the key to lasting sobriety?

The key to lasting sobriety for me has been gratitude for the life I have. I have to constantly remind myself that I wouldn’t be where I am today without my sobriety. The only reason I’m able to do what I do with the people I do is because I no longer drink or do drugs. I also rely heavily on my network of family and friends who have supported me all along. I also have a sponsor that keeps me honest and reminds me to go to more meetings!

Training for the Kona Ironman World Championships, another remarkable feat, must have involved a similar one-step-at-a-time dedication. What can you tell us about your training and preparation regimen leading up to Kona?

I’ve never thought of it like that, but it’s very accurate. I committed to the race about 18 months ago. Had I only focused on the final distances, I would have been overwhelmed. But I just did what I was told by someone who knows more than me. Week by week, I slowly started adding distance. I find when I break things down into smaller goals ("Just focus on the next 5 miles;then we’ll worry about the remaining 50"), I’m able to stay present and not get overwhelmed or dwell on the worst case scenario. Much like the 12 Steps, a lot of it is about mental strength and training. If I thought about the rest of my life being drug and alcohol free the day I decided to quit, I wouldn’t have made it. I took it 24 hours at a time.

Did you know? Approximately 78 cents of a donated dollar goes toward our financial assistance, addiction recovery services and preventative programs. #WednesdayWisdom pic.twitter.com/kTqzbOgRDi

— MusiCares (@MusiCares) September 18, 2019

You’ve credited MusiCares as the organization that saved your life. What does it mean to you to be able to give back to MusiCares so generously?

For me, this is what life is all about; sharing the gifts I’ve been given. What good is it for me to be sober and not have that benefit someone else? That’s a pretty selfish existence. I feel really fortunate to be a part of the music community. The fact that I’ve been surrounded by such incredible art and artists for the past 27 years is beyond my wildest dreams. MusiCares helped me sustain that. It’s my responsibility to help those who helped me. It’s really just that simple.

Lastly, what’s running through your mind as you prepare for October 12? Any hopes, butterflies or predictions?  

Butterflies is an understatement! All I can predict is that I’ll do everything in my power to finish the race. I want to prove to myself that I can have a dream and make it come true. The process has already been a success. Awareness of MusiCares and mental health, addiction & recovery can always use another voice, and this has helped. This will help improve the lives of others. The generosity people have shown with contributions is overwhelming. Truly. The support of the music community further proves that it truly cares about its creators. My friends and family have shown up in ways I never imagined. When I think about the race, I honestly only think about the finish line. 

Donate here to support Michael McDonald's race in the 2019 Kona IRONMAN World Championship on behalf of MusiCares.

READ MORE: Michael McDonald On His Amazing Journey From MusiCares Client To Chair

ASCAP TuneUp Logo

Courtesy Photo

News
ASCAP Launches New Wellness Program: TuneUp ascap-launches-comprehensive-wellness-program-tuneup

ASCAP Launches Comprehensive Wellness Program: TuneUp

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MusiCares joins the first-of-its-kind initiative as a strategic partner to provide recovery-focused support groups across the nation
John Ochoa
MusiCares
Dec 11, 2019 - 1:47 pm

ASCAP, the U.S.-based performance-rights organization (PRO), has launched ASCAP TuneUp, a new comprehensive wellness program for its members. The first-of-its-kind initiative aims to "meet the evolving wellness needs of music creators" by focusing on their physical and mental well-being to bolster the "creativity, life balance and longevity" of ASCAP members, according to an official press release from the organization announcing the program.

The newly launched TuneUp, which confirms ASCAP as the first U.S. PRO to focus on its members' physical and mental well-being, will offer various benefits and services focused on innovative wellness services, recovery support, wellness events and content initiatives.

Under the program's wellness services, TuneUp offers ASCAP members access to and discounts on apps and services supporting mental health, mindfulness, exercise and nutrition via several strategic partners, including Aaptiv, an audio-based fitness app; BetterHelp, an online counseling platform; Daily Burn, an app-based health and fitness platform; Motiv, a fitness and sleep tracker; and Shine, a self-care app.

Read: Meet The Real Ironman: Michael McDonald To Race On Behalf Of MusiCares

As part of its recovery support program, ASCAP TuneUp is partnering with MusiCares, The Recording Academy's charitable arm and nonprofit organization focused on the health and welfare of the music community, to launch recovery-focused support groups across the nation, in addition to a digital support group. Additionally, MusiCares is also serving as an official advisor on ASCAP's recovery and mental health programs.

ASCAP TuneUp will also host wellness events in multiple U.S. cities throughout the year, with the inaugural events series launching at ASCAP's New York City headquarters on Jan. 6, 2020. ASCAP is hosting wellness events in Los Angeles and Nashville next year, in addition to a dedicated wellness programming track taking place at the 2020 ASCAP Experience in Los Angeles next April.

On the content side, ASCAP is launching a new wellness-focused initiative, which includes #WellnessWednesday, a cross-platform social media campaign featuring advice and inspiration, as well as wellness activities from ASCAP members. As part of the content initiative launch, the organization recently debuted a bonus episode of its new "VERSED: The ASCAP Podcast" program, featuring an interview with ASCAP Chairman Of The Board and President Paul Williams discussing recovery and wellness as related to music creators.

Read: The Evergreen Career Of Paul Williams

The programs and services offered via ASCAP TuneUp are based on the findings from an annual extensive research survey ASCAP launched and commissioned this year. Dubbed "The US Music Creator Wellness Study," the inaugural report found that music creators: experience health and wellness needs that significantly exceed those of the general population; do not feel they have good access to wellness services; and are almost a third more likely than the general population to feel that their wellness has a major impact on their career, among other findings.

Learn more about ASCAP TuneUp via the organization's official website.

Aerosmith To Be Honored As 2020 MusiCares Person Of The Year

GRAMMYs
News
Vault Opened For MusiCares & GRAMMY Museum Auction musicares-grammy-museum-open-vault-charity-auction-guitars-box-sets-vinyl-more

MusiCares & GRAMMY Museum Open The Vault For Charity Auction: Guitars, Box-Sets, Vinyl & More

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Peruse dozens of new auction items, including music collectibles and one-of-a-kind signed items, up for auction on eBay with proceeds benefitting MusiCares and the GRAMMY Museum
Nate Hertweck
MusiCares
Jul 15, 2019 - 5:38 pm

Music fans, now's your chance! MusiCares and the GRAMMY Museum have opened their vault for a new eBay auction offering a wide array of unique items, signed instruments, box-sets, vinyl, magazines, photos and much more.

For instance, musicians and instrument collectors will love guitars signed by the likes of Slash & Kirk Hammett, Tony Alva and The Wanted, microphones signed by P. Diddy and James Bay, and even a signed Roland Vocoder and drum machine.  

The auction also includes an array of limited edition vinyl, box-sets and CDs from Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Migos, The Smiths and many more, plus photos, magazines, sheet music and more - over 80 items in all!

Proceeds from the auction will benefit MusiCares and the GRAMMY Museum. MusiCares provides health and human services for music people and the GRAMMY Museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music, the creative process, the art and technology of the recording process and the history of the GRAMMY Awards. 

Items start at just $9. Browse the auction now at ebay.com/grammy. 

Dave Navarro & Billy Morrison Announce Above Ground 2 Benefit Concert

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy 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.