Happenings

Published on November 18th, 2015 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

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A+E Networks and iHeart Media present socially conscious concert for progress on race in America

Some may see this as a front from industry to make a buck and take the steam out of a pressure cooker, but I see it as corporations remembering that they are run by “the people” from execs to the mailroom, to PAs. The world in which we work is so beautifully diverse that how can we NOT have this conversation, in music. Our most powerful voices are the entertainment industry’s global superstars who’ve made it their business to stand with the human race…no separation.

Check out the official announcement below

A+E NETWORKS AND IHEARTMEDIA ADD PERFORMERS, PRESENTERS AND SIMULCAST PARTNERS TO ‘SHINING A LIGHT: A CONCERT FOR PROGRESS ON RACE IN AMERICA’ AND ‘SHINING A LIGHT: CONVERSATIONS ON RACE IN AMERICA’

PREMIERING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 AT 8PM ET/PT

ALOE BLACC, LL COOL J, ANDRA DAY, MARSHALL FAULK, MORGAN FREEMAN, NICK JONAS, ALICIA KEYS, GEORGE LOPEZ, MARIO LOPEZ, NICKI MINAJ, TOM MORELLO, SMOKEY ROBINSON, BIG SEAN, KURT WARNER AND NICK YOUNG JOIN ALL-STAR LINEUP INCLUDING ZAC BROWN BAND, ERIC CHURCH, JAMIE FOXX, RHIANNON GIDDENS, TORI KELLY, JOHN LEGEND, MIGUEL, PINK, JILL SCOTT, ED SHEERAN, SIA, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, STING AND PHARRELL WILLIAMS

AOL to Join Simulcast with A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime, H2, LMN, FYI and 130+ iHeartRadio Stations Nationwide and Globally on Lifetime and A&E Across 135+ Territories

Acclaimed Journalists Michele Norris, Soledad O’Brien and Byron Pitts Join Alicia Keys, John Legend & Pharrell Williams on Journeys to Baltimore, Ferguson & Charleston

Initiative to Benefit the Fund For Progress on Race in America Powered by The United Way Worldwide

A+E Networks and iHeartMedia have added to the all-star lineup for “Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America” on Friday, November 20 at 8PM ET/PT.  The sold out concert will be recorded at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, November 18th.  The two-hour special event will air across the entire A+E Networks portfolio in more than 130 territories globally, including A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime, H2, LMN and FYI, as well as on more than 130 iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations nationwide and the iHeartRadio digital platform.  Additionally, AOL has joined in the simulcast making the historic special event available to anyone with internet access across the globe on AOL.com.

Artists Aloe Blacc, Andra Day, Nick Jonas, Tom Morello, Smokey Robinson and Big Sean join the previously announced performers including Zac Brown Band, Eric Church, Jamie Foxx, Rhiannon Giddens, Tori Kelly, John Legend, Miguel, Pink, Jill Scott, Ed Sheeran, Sia, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Pharrell Williams.  LL Cool J, Marshall Faulk, Morgan Freeman, George Lopez, Mario Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Kurt Warner and Nick Young are among the presenters joining the telecast.  

Alicia Keys has joined John Legend and Pharrell Williams on extraordinary journeys to Baltimore, Ferguson and Charleston, where they met with a diverse group of residents in communities at the center of the national conversation on racial inequality and violence.  Joined by NPR’s Michele Norris with John Legend in Ferguson, award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien with Pharrell Williams in Charleston and ABC News’ Byron Pitts in Baltimore, these visits included intimate discussions and special private performances by each for those most effected.  These incredibly moving, heart wrenching and eye-opening moments will be featured throughout the two-hour concert, as well as in the one-hour special, “Shining a Light: Conversations on Race in America,” airing immediately following the concert on A&E Network and AOL.com at 10pm ET/PT.

The concert will kick off A+E Networks’ campaign to confront issues of race, and promote unity and progress on racial equity, inspired by the response of the Mother Emanuel family members in Charleston and others working for reconciliation and change around the country.

The concert and the ancillary programming will help raise money for the Fund for Progress on Race in America powered by United Way Worldwide (ShiningALightConcert.com).  The fund will provide grant funding to individuals and organizations fostering understanding, eliminating bias, as well as provide support to Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church and the broader A.M.E. denomination. The fund will support efforts to address racism and bias through public policy change, individual innovation, and community mobilization. 

Tickets for the concert on November 18 sold out within 3 hours of the on-sale date raising more than $150,000 to benefit the Fund for Progress on Race in America powered by The United Way Worldwide.

The Fund for Progress on Race in America is under the leadership of an advisory board which includes: Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund; Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of Color of Change; Judith Browne Dianis, Co-Executive Director of the Advancement Project; Jonathan Greenblatt, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League; Rinku Sen, President and Executive Director of Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation; Bishop Vashti McKenzie, incoming chair of the A.M.E. Church General Board; Bishop Reginald Jackson, Social Action Chair for the A.M.E. Church; Mark Rodgers, President and CEO of the Clapham Group; Shawn Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement; Van Jones, President & Co-Founder of #cut50; and Kimberly Gilmore, Senior Historian and Vice President of Social Responsibility, A+E Networks. The Advisory Group will be managed on behalf of A+E by Civic Entertainment Group and Values Partnerships. 

“Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America” is produced by Ken Ehrlich Productions in conjunction with A+E Networks and iHeartMedia. “Shining a Light: Conversations on Race in America” is produced by Lincoln Square Productions and Ken Ehrlich Productions in conjunction with A&E Network. For Ken Ehrlich Productions: Executive Producers are Ken Ehrlich and Rac Clark, Producer is Renato Basile, Writers are David Wild and Phil Gallo, and Director is Leon Knoles. For Lincoln Square Productions: Senior Executive Producer is Jeanmarie Condon and Executive Producer is Roxanna Sherwood. For A+E Networks: Executive Producers are Paul Buccieri, Rob Sharenow, Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro and Dan Silberman.

For more information go to ShiningALightConcert.com. Follow “Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America” via #ShiningALight and on Twitter @ShiningLightNow and Facebook.com/ShiningLightNow.

 


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About the Author

Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.


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