PLAY ON:
Celebrating the Power of Music to Make Change
A Primetime Broadcast Concert Special
Benefiting the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. and WhyHunger
Hosted by Kevin Bacon and Eve
To Air on CBS on a New Date and Time
Tuesday December 15 at 8/7c
Exciting Additions to the Musical Performance Lineup Will Include
LL COOL J featuring DJ Z-Trip, Sara Bareilles, Emily King and Pedrito Martinez
Special Guest Appearances by
Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and Ringo Starr
L-R: LL COOL J featuring DJ Z-Trip (Erik Voake/CBS);, Maren Morris (Michael Weintraub/CBS), Jon Batiste (Michele Crowe/CBS)
NOVEMBER 25, 2020 – New York, NY – On Tuesday December 15 (please note new date) music fans will be able to tune in to an extraordinary benefit concert broadcast amplifying awareness for transformational racial, social and food justice. The primetime one-hour special, PLAY ON: Celebrating the Power of Music to Make Change, will air on the CBS Network at 8/7c (please note new time), available to stream live on CBS All Access and will also be available streaming on YouTube at 9:00pmPT. The benefit concert special will raise funds for two long standing and vital philanthropic organizations, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and WhyHunger, through the Play On Fund created by SixDegrees.Org. During the broadcast, viewers can donate to the organizations by texting the code “PLAYON” to 44-321. PLAY ON will be co-hosted by Golden Globe-winning actor, musician, philanthropist and Founder of Sixdegrees.Org Kevin Bacon and Grammy Award-winning rapper, actress and current “The Talk” host Eve. The show is executive produced by Bacon, iconic international fashion designer John Varvatos, Rock the Bells founder and CEO LL COOL J, esteemed CBS This Morning anchor Anthony Mason, and prominent benefit concert producers Greg Williamson and Nicole Rechter. Celebrated Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Steve Jordan will serve as music director for the concert special. The broadcast will also include special guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and Ringo Starr.
This memorable concert special will feature three stellar music lineups spanning genres from country and rock to hip hop and jazz/funk, with more exciting artists just added to the performance lineups in New York City and Los Angeles. The famed Troubadour in Los Angeles will feature Gary Clark Jr., Ziggy Marley with Andra Day and newly added LL COOL J featuring DJ Z-Trip taking over the hip hop portion of the lineup in what will be a magnetic performance. The legendary Apollo Theater in New York City will showcase an electric performance by Machine Gun Kelly, and Jon Batiste who will be joined by Sara Bareilles, Emily King, Pedrito Martinez and Steve Jordan for a powerful and moving collaboration. The NYC segment of the concert special will also include an exclusive performance from Bon Jovi. The historic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville will feature some of today’s most acclaimed contemporary female artists including Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow, and genre-bending British singer-songwriter Yola performing “Hold On” featuring The Highwomen.
“As hard as it seems right now, we have all of the ingredients for transformation but that is going to require follow through, and that means it doesn’t end after the election, or after the inaugurations, or when all the votes are tallied. It requires us all to lean in,” said Sherilynn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF). “More than voting, it’s your activism, grassroots activations, joining organizations, marching, protesting, letting your voice be heard. This is one of the essential ingredients of change in this country.”
“I’m excited to be back on stage with my band for two great causes, and I always say yes when it’s John Varvatos asking,” said Machine Gun Kelly. “PLAY ON brought me back to The Apollo, which I’m stoked for fans to see.”
“Given the challenging year this has been, we felt strongly that using the power of music as a means to address critical issues we are facing including racial and social injustice would be extremely impactful,” said PLAY ON executive producer Nicole Rechter. “Music has the power to unify and bring people together and we are hopeful that PLAY ON will deliver that message and bring more awareness to the incredible work that our partners, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. and WhyHunger, are doing every day.”
PLAY ON: Celebrating the Power of Music to Make Change is being made possible by many generous partners. Bloomberg Philanthropies is proud to support PLAY ON, the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., and WhyHunger as the Title Sponsor. Hard Rock International and Ford Foundation have partnered to support PLAY ON along with many others including Frito-Lay, Mary Kay Inc, Southern New Hampshire University, GNF Marketing, Unqork, and The Krim Group. Media sponsors include Rock the Bells, Condé Nast and YouTube.
For more information on the concert event and partner organizations please visit PlayOnLive.org.
About NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization. LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Follow LDF on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
About WhyHunger
Founded in 1975 by the late musician and activist Harry Chapin and radio DJ Bill Ayres, WhyHunger believes a world without hunger is possible. We provide critical resources to support grassroots movements and fuel community solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial and economic justice. A four-star rated charity by Charity Navigator, with highest ratings for excellence in fiscal management accountability and transparency, WhyHunger is working to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food in the U.S. and around the world. 86 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to programmatic work. Learn more at whyhunger.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About SixDegrees.Org
Golden Globe-winning actor, musician, and philanthropist Kevin Bacon launched SixDegrees.Org (Sixdegrees) at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT. The nonprofit has partnered with institutions like the University of Maryland and Stanford University to launch projects that promote giving for a variety of causes. SixDegrees makes it easy for celebrities to give a small amount of their time and lend their influence for good. The charity has coordinated countless drop-ins and surprise pop-ups to amplify causes with direct impact at the community level. SixDegrees also launches social media campaigns through their initiative “6Tag” which engages celebrities to ignite viral attention and a show of support to our Nation’s most pressing issues. The organization continues to gain involvement from a growing list of stars. Follow SixDegrees on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
For press inquiries:
Aliza Rabinoff
DKC
