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Music News: One World concert raises $128 million to fight COVID-19

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones perform on the 'One World' livestream.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones perform on the 'One World' livestream.Getty Images/Getty Images for Global Citizen

by Jay Gabler

April 20, 2020

On Saturday night, many of music's biggest stars showed up online to perform at an eight-hour event with the last two hours airing simultaneously on the three leading broadcast networks. According to NPR, the concert raised almost $128 million overnight to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Curated in part by Lady Gaga, the event was organized by the antipoverty organization Global Citizen at the request of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. That helps explain how the event landed huge names like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, and the Rolling Stones — who provided one of the show's most memorable images as Charlie Watts played air drums on "You Can't Always Get What You Want." (New York Times)

Among other artists pitching in to support antiviral efforts: My Chemical Romance, who are selling fabric face masks originally manufactured to protect fans from dust at a since-canceled desert show. Poignantly, the idea for the masks came from the band's manager Lauren Valencia, who died last year of cancer. All proceeds from the masks will to to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. (Consequence of Sound)

Bassist Matthew Seligman dies of coronavirus

The coronavirus continues to plague the music world alongside every other sector of society. Matthew Seligman, a bassist best known as a member of the Soft Boys and musician on albums by former bandmate Robyn Hitchcock as well as many other artists, has died at age 64, apparently of a stroke after contracting COVID-19. In tribute, Hitchcock shared a quote he attributed to Seligman: "Pop music is about overstating the obvious." (Billboard)

Other artists affected by the virus include "Whole Wide World" singer-songwriter Wreckless Eric, who says he's doing "okay" after experiencing symptoms for about a month. In a Facebook post laced with sarcastic humor, he wrote that "by some miracle" he managed to get tested and it came back positive. (Billboard) Yacht rock star Christopher Cross is also on the mend and says he's looking forward to launching his 40th anniversary tour once he gets back on his feet.

Willie Nelson to celebrate 4/20 with 4:20 livestream at 4:20 p.m.

If today's date, 4/20, has a special meaning to you, you may want to join one of music's foremost marijuana aficionados online at 4:20 p.m. Willie Nelson is promising four hours and 20 minutes of a variety show that will feature cooking tips, comedians, special musical guests, and other "weed-centric moments." Named for an organization that the publication Music Row calls "a rogue cultural collective headquartered in Luck, Texas," Willie's livestream is called "Luck Productions: Come and Toke It." (Consequence of Sound)

Live Nation to match AEG, open window for ticket refunds

Concert promoter Live Nation, under intense criticism from ticketbuyers and lawmakers, has announced that it will follow the example of AEG and offer a 30-day window for customers to request refunds for concerts that have been postponed due to the pandemic. Like AEG's, the Live Nation window opens on May 1. For shows that are canceled, Live Nation is offering customers credits of up to 150% of their tickets' value if they don't request a cash refund. (New York Times)

Charli XCX releases crowdsourced video in at-home album project

Charli XCX is using her social-distance time to make a new album called How I'm Feeling Now, sharing the process with fans via social media. The video for the album's first song, "Forever," is out now, and it's an aptly crowdsourced montage combining glimpses of Charli's sequestered life with looks into her fans' homes — plus some hopeful shots of joyful crowds at a happier time. (Rolling Stone)