ABOUT MUSIC AID
Music Aid International launched in 1998 with an event in London attended by over 100,000 people. Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood and other famous friends donated personal items in support, Carlos Santana helped to shape the direction with his ideas and suggestions, and the sale of signed guitars, album covers and memorabilia from major artists funded the work and projects.
Music Aid worked closely with the United Nations UNV program managing hundreds of UNV Volunteers while working on aid projects worldwide as a music partner. After the launch it operated as a government registered charity for over six years and in 2005 officially switched to became an independent "non-governmental organization" (NGO). Since launching we have worked with many organizations, partners and events including The United Nations, UNV, UNICEF, The BBC, Net Aid, Al Gore´s Live Earth event, Rock In Rio, World Concert Day, World NGO Day and many more. Who is the founder? See the FAQs below.
BEGINNINGS
The Music Aid Organization and its main website musicaid.org were created in 1998 with one simple mission: "to make the world a better place through music". USA Today described its launch as "the most exciting new project in music and media" and awarded musicaid.org "Website Of The Year". Musicians and supporting friends involved in the launch event included Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood who donated his original artwork. The sale of memorabilia, artworks, signed guitars and album covers from many artists including Paul McCartney, John Lee Hooker, Oasis, Prince, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and Bono funded the organization´s early work with the United Nations and NetAid. The launch event - "The Art of Music Festival" - was sponsored by AOL, Whitely´s of London and Tower Records. It occupied the entire top floor of the large Whitley's Center in central London and ran for a full week with over 100,000 visitors who enjoyed seven days of art exhibits, live music and dance shows. The launch event holds the record for the largest exhibition of music related art staged anywhere in the world, with many valuable original art works on display by Andy Warhol, John Lennon, Peter Max and others. Funds raised at the launch directly provided schooling and aid for poor rural village children in SE Asia and for the following six years Music Aid operated as an official UK Government Registered International Charity working with the United Nations UNV online volunteer program and the UN Net Aid initiative in the areas of poverty relief and education.
MUSIC SCHOOLS PROGRAM
The Music Aid Schools Program is a global free music school and aid network. It builds on Music Aid´s early work with NetAid and the "NetAid World Schoolhouse" program which provided schooling to over 85,000 children in developing countries. The Music Aid Schools Program is designed to provide free music classes, teachers and resources to all children, underprivileged communities and underfunded schools that request this. The program nurtures, supports, educates and gives hope and joy where it is most needed. In addition, the program is also gateway to other services, counseling, local charity and aid projects, music therapy, government schemes and general support. Learn more about the program and get involved here.
MUSICAID.FM
The music player musicaid.fm is an online music platform where everyone can discover and stream new music together with the world´s most famous artists and composers. 100% of all proceeds from this non-profit venture support Music Aid charities, projects and causes. Music Aid FM is free to use and instantly streams on any device from phone to smart TV to laptop. It was built to be the most complete free music service available with instant access to millions of tracks and includes song lyrics, artists bios, Wikipedia entries plus the official music video for each song in association with YouTube Music and Vevo.
PARTNERS, CHARITIES AND CAUSES
Music Aid work with Child Aid programs and supports childrens´ charities, causes and local projects. We provide educational resources and scholarships and we have helped thousands of music students. We have provided school shoes, study materials, uniforms and aid to many children and families in our rural SE Asia programs; we were official project manager for hundreds of United Nations Volunteers worldwide with the UNV and NetAid; we distributed free musical instruments with the "Instrument Amnesty" in partnership with The BBC and Youth Music, and we provide free music lessons and free teaching resources to underprivileged communities and schools worldwide. Other partnerships have included retail partnerships with iTunes, Amazon and other commercial music websites, music contests and services. Our music contests and award events support good causes worldwide with over $500,000 in career sponsorship prizes awarded to participants.
EVENTS
Music Aid has worked with many large music events including Al Gore's Live Earth Event and festivals including Rock In Rio. Our events have funded aid projects on five continents. We also regularly support benefit music events that raise funds for UNICEF - the United Nations International Childrens Fund. Global annual international events that we work with include World NGO Day, Giving Tuesday and World Concert Day and with these events we promote, support and fundraise for many charities and causes worldwide including local hospices, UNICEF, The Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund, the NHS, Dementia UK, the Breathe Life Campaign, IMPACT, Amazon Watch and many more.
The MusicAid logo ™ is trademarked under international law and blockchain registered at musicaid.nft
BEGINNINGS
The Music Aid Organization and its main website musicaid.org were created in 1998 with one simple mission: "to make the world a better place through music". USA Today described its launch as "the most exciting new project in music and media" and awarded musicaid.org "Website Of The Year". Musicians and supporting friends involved in the launch event included Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood who donated his original artwork. The sale of memorabilia, artworks, signed guitars and album covers from many artists including Paul McCartney, John Lee Hooker, Oasis, Prince, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and Bono funded the organization´s early work with the United Nations and NetAid. The launch event - "The Art of Music Festival" - was sponsored by AOL, Whitely´s of London and Tower Records. It occupied the entire top floor of the large Whitley's Center in central London and ran for a full week with over 100,000 visitors who enjoyed seven days of art exhibits, live music and dance shows. The launch event holds the record for the largest exhibition of music related art staged anywhere in the world, with many valuable original art works on display by Andy Warhol, John Lennon, Peter Max and others. Funds raised at the launch directly provided schooling and aid for poor rural village children in SE Asia and for the following six years Music Aid operated as an official UK Government Registered International Charity working with the United Nations UNV online volunteer program and the UN Net Aid initiative in the areas of poverty relief and education.
MUSIC SCHOOLS PROGRAM
The Music Aid Schools Program is a global free music school and aid network. It builds on Music Aid´s early work with NetAid and the "NetAid World Schoolhouse" program which provided schooling to over 85,000 children in developing countries. The Music Aid Schools Program is designed to provide free music classes, teachers and resources to all children, underprivileged communities and underfunded schools that request this. The program nurtures, supports, educates and gives hope and joy where it is most needed. In addition, the program is also gateway to other services, counseling, local charity and aid projects, music therapy, government schemes and general support. Learn more about the program and get involved here.
MUSICAID.FM
The music player musicaid.fm is an online music platform where everyone can discover and stream new music together with the world´s most famous artists and composers. 100% of all proceeds from this non-profit venture support Music Aid charities, projects and causes. Music Aid FM is free to use and instantly streams on any device from phone to smart TV to laptop. It was built to be the most complete free music service available with instant access to millions of tracks and includes song lyrics, artists bios, Wikipedia entries plus the official music video for each song in association with YouTube Music and Vevo.
PARTNERS, CHARITIES AND CAUSES
Music Aid work with Child Aid programs and supports childrens´ charities, causes and local projects. We provide educational resources and scholarships and we have helped thousands of music students. We have provided school shoes, study materials, uniforms and aid to many children and families in our rural SE Asia programs; we were official project manager for hundreds of United Nations Volunteers worldwide with the UNV and NetAid; we distributed free musical instruments with the "Instrument Amnesty" in partnership with The BBC and Youth Music, and we provide free music lessons and free teaching resources to underprivileged communities and schools worldwide. Other partnerships have included retail partnerships with iTunes, Amazon and other commercial music websites, music contests and services. Our music contests and award events support good causes worldwide with over $500,000 in career sponsorship prizes awarded to participants.
EVENTS
Music Aid has worked with many large music events including Al Gore's Live Earth Event and festivals including Rock In Rio. Our events have funded aid projects on five continents. We also regularly support benefit music events that raise funds for UNICEF - the United Nations International Childrens Fund. Global annual international events that we work with include World NGO Day, Giving Tuesday and World Concert Day and with these events we promote, support and fundraise for many charities and causes worldwide including local hospices, UNICEF, The Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund, the NHS, Dementia UK, the Breathe Life Campaign, IMPACT, Amazon Watch and many more.
The MusicAid logo ™ is trademarked under international law and blockchain registered at musicaid.nft
FAQs
How can I support Music Aid?
You can support Music Aid in a number of ways:
1. Share on your social pages and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
2. Use musicaid.fm for your msic streaming, playlists, music searches etc. And share this with others.
3. Join us on international event days: World Concert Day, World NGO Day, Giving Tuesday etc.
4. Donate. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a real difference.
5. Subcribe to musicaid.fm. This supports our work. Or buy a subscription as a gift for a friend or relative. This makes a great Birthday or Christmas gift for any music fan.
Can I work with Music Aid?
Positions for internships, volunteers, fundraising partners, festival workers etc are posted on the official musicaid.org website. Check this site for current listed opportunities. Look for the Music Aid ™ logo and check the .org suffix to be sure you are on the official organization website.
Is Music Aid an NGO?
We are both a Social Enterprise Organization (SEO) and also an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) operating with very similar legal status, model and structure to other well known SEOs and NGOs. As an NGO we participate in a number of international events including World NGO Day and Giving Tuesday.
Who founded Music Aid?
The Music Aid Organization was founded by a well-connected member of the international music community who wishes to remain anonymous, and many famous artists and musician friends were involved in the launch. The organization grew from private conversations between the founder and guitarist Carlos Santana in Rio de Janeiro during the Rock In Rio Stadium concerts. Between shows during this week-long event the two men discussed ideas for creating organizations that use music to do good. Carlos Santana returned home to the USA and launched the Milagro Foundation in California, and MA´s founder, a UK based music professional, launched Music Aid at a major event in London with support from friends in the music industry. Both organizations were launched in the same year - 1998.
Is Music Aid a USA 501(c) organization?
501(c) registration is a tax exemption status registration in the USA and it is only applicable to USA resident organizations. Donations to Music Aid International may be tax deductable in some countries in the same way as donations to a US 501(c), and Music Aid partners with US projects and services. However, Music Aid operates internationally and its head office is in europe, so it does not require or seek 501(c) registration in the USA.
How can I support Music Aid?
You can support Music Aid in a number of ways:
1. Share on your social pages and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
2. Use musicaid.fm for your msic streaming, playlists, music searches etc. And share this with others.
3. Join us on international event days: World Concert Day, World NGO Day, Giving Tuesday etc.
4. Donate. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a real difference.
5. Subcribe to musicaid.fm. This supports our work. Or buy a subscription as a gift for a friend or relative. This makes a great Birthday or Christmas gift for any music fan.
Can I work with Music Aid?
Positions for internships, volunteers, fundraising partners, festival workers etc are posted on the official musicaid.org website. Check this site for current listed opportunities. Look for the Music Aid ™ logo and check the .org suffix to be sure you are on the official organization website.
Is Music Aid an NGO?
We are both a Social Enterprise Organization (SEO) and also an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) operating with very similar legal status, model and structure to other well known SEOs and NGOs. As an NGO we participate in a number of international events including World NGO Day and Giving Tuesday.
Who founded Music Aid?
The Music Aid Organization was founded by a well-connected member of the international music community who wishes to remain anonymous, and many famous artists and musician friends were involved in the launch. The organization grew from private conversations between the founder and guitarist Carlos Santana in Rio de Janeiro during the Rock In Rio Stadium concerts. Between shows during this week-long event the two men discussed ideas for creating organizations that use music to do good. Carlos Santana returned home to the USA and launched the Milagro Foundation in California, and MA´s founder, a UK based music professional, launched Music Aid at a major event in London with support from friends in the music industry. Both organizations were launched in the same year - 1998.
Is Music Aid a USA 501(c) organization?
501(c) registration is a tax exemption status registration in the USA and it is only applicable to USA resident organizations. Donations to Music Aid International may be tax deductable in some countries in the same way as donations to a US 501(c), and Music Aid partners with US projects and services. However, Music Aid operates internationally and its head office is in europe, so it does not require or seek 501(c) registration in the USA.
