Music Aid supports and funds important work at The Hardman Institute for Consciousness Studies. This pioneering organization works to research the true nature of human consciousness and seeks an answer to the fundamental question that has been asked by thinkers for thousands of years: What is human consciousness and does a conscious individual soul or self  continue to exist after physical death. The Institute offers large financial prizes and awards to support and encourage research and investigation into finding conclusive veridical scientific proof this question, a question that perplexes neuroscientists, psychologists, mental heath workers and philosophers and is often referred to as the "hard problem".  Music Aid believes that this is a fundamental issue facing humanity that needs answering and is proud to support this work.   

Visit the Hardman Instiitute for Consciousness studies here.

Music Aid International has supported children in need since it was founded in 1998. Sales and exhibitions of artwork, signed guitars and album covers from some of the biggest names in music at our launch event funded direct field work providing schooling and support for families in rural SE Asia. This was followed by years of work together with the United Nations World School House Project providing schooling for over 85,000 underprivileged children worldwide.

We continue to promote and support children in need and especially extend support to UNICEF - The United Nations International Children´s Emergency Fund. UNICEF is active in over 190 countries and territories saving children’s lives and defending their rights. It works to help them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We ask all musicians and industry professionals to join Music Aid in supporting this work. Visit the official UNICEF website to discover more about UNICEF´s work. There is a large amount of information there to help you and guide you, and also a direct UNICEF donate button on their website. 

FUNDRAISE FOR UNICEF
Music Aid supports all musicians and businesses that raise funds for UNICEF – The United Nations International Children´s Emergency Fund. If you release a benefit track or album, stage a benefit event, donate income from live streams or sell merchandise to benefit UNICEF, Music Aid can provide you with free support, advice, expertise, promotion and resources.  Find out more here on this website.

The annual Giving Tuesday event takes place each year in November. The 2024 dates are still to be announced. Join Music Aid in an event where millions of people give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Giving Tuesday is based on the idea that every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give, whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbour or stranger, or showing up for an issue or people we care about. You can get involved with Music Aid as a participating music artist, fan or supporter. Look out for updates as the day approaches. Participate with some of your time, a donation, a musical contribution or the power of your voice in your own local community.

ARTISTS AND SONGWRITERS
Join Music Aid on Giving Tuesday and reach new audiences and fans on this global event day. Visit Giving Tuesday here.

The UKSC is a prestigious international songwriting event that is rated very highly by the music industry. It was formed with The BRIT Trust (the BRIT Awards charity) and other music industry professionals and bodies to discover and encourage new songwriting talent. All songwriters from every country are welcome to submit songs. Full details and entry forms are online at UK Songwriting Contest.

The contest judges are leading music professionals and include Platinum Album awardees, members of The Grammys selection panels, globally successful songwriters, music academics, top music producers and the Head of Songwriting and Music at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute. The UKSC is well known for its supportive and friendly community of fellow songwriters and many entrants have gone on to international success. Every song entered is carefully examined and receives a Star Rating from the judges. Entrants also receive an Award Certificate with the position reached in the event. Visit the UKSC website for full details and the entry form and see the many genuine testimonials from participants.

Music Aid UK was involved in the formation of the UKSC in 2002 and we recommend this long running songwriting competition as the most supportive and helpful for new songwriters. We thank the UKSC for donating part of every entry fee to help and support Music Aid International and its causes.

Website:  UK Songwriting Contest

We are pleased to announce our special partnership with Amazon USA. When you shop at Amazon USA from this link every purchase supports our work and the causes on this website. Click on the image above or the button below to support The Music Aid Foundation and its work every time you shop at Amazon.

Music Aid supports The African Childrens Choir. Find out more about them here..

PROMOTERS & SUPPORTERS
You can book the African Childrens Choir for a concert in your town or at your benefit event during this tour. For full details on how to book this incredible choir during this trip contact [email protected]

MUSIC AID SUPPORT
Music Aid International has been a fan and a supporter of the choir for many years and we are happy to promote and support the choir at every opportunity. Contact us if you have an ACC event to promote.  See the African Childrens Choir Music Aid Page for more details and links here.

The Milagro Foundation was established by Carlos Santana and his family in 1998 to help vulnerable children around the world. The foundation makes grants to organizations that work with children in the areas of education, health and the arts. Milagro means “miracle” and refers to the image of children as divine miracles of light and hope for the future.

The Foundation's work is supported by funds generated by concert ticket donations, Santana licensed products, philanthropic partners and individual donors. Using these funds Milagro supports children and youth in the San Francisco Bay area, across the United States and in countries around the world. The Milagro Foundation is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children and Music Aid International is a big fan of their work.

The Milagro Foundation was an official recommended beneficiary cause for World Concert Day between 2020 and 2023 and World Concert Day participants were encouraged to promote and raises funds for the foundation to support its work. Artists, fans, producers and everyone involved in benefit events are recommended to consider Milagro as their cause should visit and make use of the promotional material, resources and detailed information at The Milagro Foundation website.

CARLOS SANTANA AND MUSIC AID
Guitar legend Carlos Santana played an interesting role in the formation of Music Aid. The story starts in Brazil during the week long Rock in Rio 2 event in Rio de Janeiro where Music Aid's  founder and Carlos Santana discovered that they were both interested in starting music organizations. They shared ideas and plans during that week while chatting backstage at the Maracanã Stadium or at the Copacabana Palace Hotel. When the men returned to their own countries Carlos formed the Milagro Foundation in California and Music Aid launched in Central London. Both were formed and launched at the same time, in 1998 – and both celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2023. Read more on the About Page on this website

Join MusicAid™ at World NGO Day on February 27, 2024. This takes place in over 90 countries on six continents and you can join us and other Music Aid supporters and musicians as we represent the global music community and music lovers and support great causes. There are many ways to get involved in this worldwide event: as a musician, as a fan, and as a supporter. Look out for exciting news and updates about how you can be part of this and as the day approaches.

Visit World NGO Day here.

World Concert Day was the global music event from Music Aid International that raised funds for the World Health Organization's Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund, local hospices and many other causes during the Covid-19 Pandemic years. It was live on every April 26th in 2020, 2021 and 2022 with participating artists supporting and fundraising for UNICEF The United Nations Children´s Emergency Fund, The Breathe Life Campaign, Amazon Watch, Doctors Without Borders, Save The Children, the British National Health Service NHS, and the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The event also showcased and raised funds for many local charities, causes, hospices and community projects. Below is a montage of some of the many artists who participated in World Concert Day.

It was intended that the event would only run during the Covid Pandemic years and there is no event this year in 2023.  But a number of artists and organizations are now asking if the event can be brought back in future years and have expressed interest in taking part or staging something similar. If you have any thoughts on this contact us or leave comments on Music Aid International´s Facebook or Twitter pages.

Read more about World Concert Day, the causes and the artists here.

 
APRIL 26
In the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 , April 26 was a day for musicians, artists and fans to support causes they care about. During these three years there was an emphasis on UNICEF, health issues, children´s charities, war victims and local charity projects and hospices. On this day fans shared their favorite artists, artists performed live and promoted their releases, activists campaigned for a cause, fundraisers supported local charities and hospices and people around the world organized concerts and streamed live performance from kitchens, gardens, living rooms and music studios. Events were shared using the hashtag #worldconcertday with dedicated websites at worldconcertday.org and worldconcertay.com

Read more about the event and the many artists involved here.

Copyright theft happens every day and copyright registration may provide the insurance that you need to help you protect your valuable creative work and enforce your legal rights.

​The following information is taken from Music Aid's resources and services partner, The SCO Song Copyright Organization. For more details about copyright laws, registration forms, and tips about protecting your songs visit SongCopyright.org.

The international laws relating to song copyright state that your songs are your creative work and your property. This legal principle of ownership means that the writer controls and owns all rights relating to the use and reproduction of the song - including the right to sell or assign the copyright and ownership to another individual or company. This is the law under international legal agreements and it is the basic principle of copyright that is accepted throughout the world. Most countries have formalised the principles of copyright outlined above by signing up to an international agreement known as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. It was first adopted in 1886 as an agreement to honour the rights of all authors who are nationals of countries that are party to the convention. The current version of the convention is the Paris Act of 1971. The convention is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). A search on the internet will show a number of sites with up to date lists of the countries that have signed. This international agreement provides legal protection to the authors of original works where these works have been presented in a tangible, fixed and physical form of expression.This agreement makes it very clear that as soon as your song, music or lyrics are written down, or recorded as a sound recording, they are automatically copyrighted and the writer(s) has/have full legal ownership. This is a very important point. It is not enough to compose a song in your head and keep it in your memory - it must also exist in a physical and tangible form, a form that others can see or hear, for the copyright rules to apply. So under the Berne Convention you officially and legally own the copyright in your work as soon as you express it in a tangible and verifiable form. This protection applies to both published and unpublished works.

For more information about copyright for songwriters, the legal issues, practical advice and tips, visit the SCO at SongCopyright.org.