MEDIA RELEASE PR38293
Producer Quincy Jones and Singer/Songwriter Lionel Richie Announce Plans for the International
Release and Distribution of 'We Are The World 25 For Haiti' - Fans Urged To 'Download To Donate'
LOS ANGELES, Feb.11 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
World premiere of video to air exclusively on NBC during coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the
Vancouver Winter Olympics; Fremantle Media Enterprises and GroupM partnered to secure international
distribution for a simulcast airing the following day
Downloads and exclusive content will be available on
Quincy Jones, producer, and Lionel Richie, co-writer, of the iconic 1985
philanthropic anthem "We Are The World," today announced details surrounding
the world premiere and global distribution of the contemporary version of the
song and accompanying video We Are The World 25 For Haiti. Recorded on
February 1st in the same studio as the original 25 years earlier (Henson
Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios) the new version, in which
Jones and Richie serve as executive producers and producers, was created in
collaboration with executive producers Wyclef Jean, Randy Phillips and Peter
Tortorici; producers Humberto Gattica and RedOne; and co-producers Rickey
Minor, Mervyn Warren and Patti Austin to benefit the Haitian earthquake
relief efforts and the rebuilding of Haiti. This production was made possible
through financial support from Visa Inc.
The world premiere of We Are The World 25 For Haiti will air during NBC's
coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics this
Friday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 C.T. Shortly after the premiere,
details about a multi-network international roadblock simulcast will be
announced.
Academy Award-winning writer-director Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar
Baby), whose own personal efforts as well as those of Artists for Peace and
Justice have already saved countless lives in Haiti, filmed the private
recording session to create the accompanying video and "behind-the-scenes"
production, and serves as Film Director and as an Executive Producer with
Jones, Richie, Jean, Phillips and Tortorici.
Following the world premiere, fans will immediately be able to download
the song and view exclusive footage from the recording session on the
official website: WORLD25.org. Downloads will also be available on iTunes,
and through a partnership with YouTube, the video will be viewable on the "We
Immediate donations will be made possible by clicking on the "Donate Now"
button on YouTube or by downloading the song on iTunes.
Commented Jones, "It warmed my heart to see that the experience during
the recording of We Are The World 25 For Haiti embodied the same enthusiasm,
sense of purpose and generosity as the original recording 25 years ago. Every
one of the artists who participated, regardless of genre or generation,
walked into the room with their hearts and souls completely open to coming
together to help the people of Haiti. Through the contributions of their
voices to this new rendition of 'We Are The World,' and with the help of our
partners, the We Are The World Foundation will be the most transparent
not-for-profit foundation ever created."
"When I was first approached about recording a new version of We Are The
World, I was lukewarm because the first effort was so iconic, then Haiti
happened and I realized that this was the kind of crisis for which the song
was originally written," said Richie. "The new version takes the copyright to
a different place while staying true to the iconic nature of the original.
What a better way to help rescue our Haitian brothers and sisters in
distress, bring a heightened awareness to that country's plight and needs,
and bring some of the world's greatest talent together. The result speaks for
itself so DOWNLOAD TO DONATE!"
All proceeds will go to the We Are The World Foundation, a newly created
not-for-profit organization founded by Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie whose
other board members will include Wyclef Jean, Paul Haggis, Randy Phillips,
Peter Tortorici and Ambassador Luis Moreno of the Inter-American Development
Bank. The Foundation is dedicated to raising money and making grants to
charitable organizations with meaningful and efficient relief and development
programs that are responding to the continuing crisis in Haiti. Charities are
currently being identified whose relief programs best fit the Foundation's
vision of marshalling the support of the community for the benefit of the
victims of disaster and poverty. Grants will soon be made and the funds put
to work towards charitable and relief efforts. Until then, The Foundation
will hold and guard the funds dedicated to this important work.
"I am touched by the enthusiasm and support we are seeing from the
entertainment community," said Wyclef Jean. "With the continued efforts of
the global community, we increase our chances of successfully bringing Haiti
much needed relief; and taking the next step in reconstructing a 21st century
Haiti."
"Careers are often measured by the positive effect of one's actions on
the human condition, not just by the accumulation of wealth," said Randy
Phillips, President & CEO, AEG Live. "When AEG Live and I were asked to help
squire this effort by Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, we knew this would
leave an indelible mark on our souls and on the rebirth of the island nation
of Haiti. Our mantra throughout the entire process was simply: FOR HAITI!"
Upon its original release, We Are the World quickly became the fastest
selling single in history and in the years that have followed, USA for Africa
has raised and distributed more than $63 million in revenue from the sales of
more than 7 million units of the album, single and cassettes, plus nearly 2
million digital sales and related merchandise. Just over half the total was
spent on emergency relief (food, medicine, and refugee services) and the
balance was used to support more than 500 different relief, rehabilitation
and development projects in 18 different countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
"We at GroupM are honored to provide our support to make We Are the World
a vibrant global platform that shows what the power of creativity, community
and media can do to help the people of Haiti in their valiant recovery from
this tragedy," said Peter Tortorici, CEO GroupM Entertainment Worldwide.
FremantleMedia, the company behind the Idol, Got Talent and The X Factor
TV brands, has generously offered to work with WATW25 on the international
distribution of the full music video to the secure the maximum impact
globally and will coordinate its efforts with GroupM, the world's leading
media investment agency group in distributing the video content WorldWide.
The 25th Anniversary recording will help further the spirit of activism
around the 25th Anniversary of We Are the World that was at the heart of the
original song and movement.
CONTACTS:
Sara Vicendese
(310) 275-3222
vicendese@sunshinesachs.com
Arnold Robinson
(310) 854-8193
arobinson@rogersandcowan.com
Michael Roth
(213) 742-7155
mroth@lakings.com
We Are The World 25
Artist & Creative Roster
WYCLEF JEAN JANET JACKSON
P!NK CARLOS SANTANA
JENNIFER HUDSON JAMIE FOXX
SUGARLAND ADAM LEVINE
JASON MRAZ EARTH WIND & FIRE
NATALIE COLE THE JONAS BROTHERS
T PAIN BRIAN WILSON
JUSTIN BIEBER NICOLE SCHERZINGER
INDIA.ARIE JULIANNE HOUGH
MARY MARY MELANIE FIONA
BEBE WINANS MYA
TYRESE GIBSON ANTHONY HAMILTON
RAPHAEL SAADIQ GLADYS KNIGHT
KERI HILSON JOEL & BENJI MADDEN
HEART BRANDY
KIDADA JONES MUSIQ SOULCHILD
MILEY CYRUS AKON
JORDIN SPARKS CELINE DION
ROB THOMAS KATHARINE MCPHEE
JEFF BRIDGES RANDY JACKSON
BUSTA RHYMES KID CUDI
USHER WILL.I.AM
KANYE WEST LL COOL J
ISAAC SLADE (AKA THE FRAY) SNOOP DOGG
NICOLE RICHIE TREY SONGZ
ETHAN BORTNICK TARYLL JACKSON
TAJ JACKSON TJ JACKSON
VINCE VAUGHN DRAKE
FREDA PAYNE FAITH EVANS
ROBIN THICKE RASHIDA JONES
BARBRA STREISAND JIMMY JEAN LOUIS
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS ZAC BROWN
LIL WAYNE TONY BENNETT
JOSH GROBAN SEAN GARRETT
HARRY CONNICK, JR. AL JARDINE
BONE THUGS AND HARMONY (BIZZY BONES) AR RAHMEN
FERGIE MARY J BLIGE
ORIANTHI MANN
NIPSEY HUSSLE IYAZ
KEITH HARRIS NIKKA COSTA
TONI BRAXTON FARNSWORTH BENTLEY
PLAIN PAT IL TRIO
SOURCE: We Are The World 25 For Haiti
CONTACT:
Sara Vicendese,
+1-310-275-3222,
vicendese@sunshinesachs.com;
Arnold Robinson,
+1-310-854-8193,
arobinson@rogersandcowan.com;
or Michael Roth,
+1-213-742-7155,
mroth@lakings.com
NEWS 
