XM Satellite Radio will broadcast “The Concert for New York City,” featuring dozens of the biggest names in entertainment, live at 7 pm Saturday on both its VH1 and “Special X” channels.
“XM is proud to carry VH1 among its 100 channels of amazing radio, and proud to broadcast Saturday’s benefit concert for New York City,” said XM President and CEO Hugh Panero.
XM will broadcast the five-hour concert live from 7 pm Eastern to midnight on both its VH1 (# 26) and Special X (# 30) channels. XM’s VH1 channel is dedicated to VH1’s programming while Special X is devoted to compelling special topics. The VH1 channel on XM features the best of VH1’s unique programming from music, news and entertainment reports including interviews from top artists to features from their popular shows.
Saturday’s concert will feature an all-star line-up music artists including Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, The Who, Backstreet Boys, Bon Jovi, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, Goo Goo Dolls, Melissa Etheridge, Marc Anthony, Five For Fighting, and India.Arie. Harrison Ford, Selma Hayek, Will Farrell also will join the “The Concert For New York City” along with Jim Carrey, Meg Ryan, Michael J. Fox, Susan Sarandon, David Spade, Julia Stiles, Denis Leary, John Cusack, Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, plus Paul Shaffer as musical director. Bono and Edge of U2, David Bowie, Elton John, Destiny’s Child, and Janet Jackson will be live via satellite.
The concert will benefit the victims of the September 11th attack on New York City and pay tribute to the spirit of New York and the heroism of the rescue workers who worked tirelessly to save others. Five thousand members of New York Fire, Police and Rescue crews and their families will be in attendance as guests.
All proceeds from “The Concert for New York City” will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which was established by the Robin Hood Foundation to meet the immediate and long-term needs of victims of the World Trade Center attacks. In particular, Robin Hood will help lower-income New Yorkers affected by the tragedy, while through its support of the Twin Towers Fund, it will aid the families of police, fire, and rescue workers who courageously gave their lives to help others. Robin Hood’s Board of Directors underwrites all administrative costs ensuring that 100% of the money raised will go to those who need it most.
AOL has made an unprecedented commitment to dedicate its entire U.S. customer service support team, one of the largest in the world, to take calls and Internet donations during the live event. AOL is also providing a webcast, pre-event promotion and information at AOL Keyword: Concert For New York City.
VH1, Cablevision, Miramax Films, AOL and their partners, including Clear Channel Entertainment, will underwrite all costs of the concert and telecast including the facility, production, promotion, travel, and union services to ensure that all money raised will go directly to the organizations listed above.
XM this week expanded its launch of the first U.S. digital satellite radio service across the entire Southern half of the United States, and will complete its national rollout in November.
XM will transform radio, an industry that has seen little technological change since FM, almost 40 years ago. XM is offering its 100 channels of digital-quality, coast-to-coast sound for $9.99 a month’. Leading manufacturers including Sony, Alpine and Pioneer are offering a broad array of XM radios including universal models that will easily enable any existing car stereo system to receive XM service, and new AM/FM/XM systems offering many other great features. In addition, Delphi-Delco systems will roll out initially in Cadillac DeVille and Seville models beginning in November and expand to more than 20 GM models next year.
XM’s strategic investors include America’s leading car, radio and satellite TV companies – General Motors, American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Clear Channel Communications and DIRECTV. XM has a distribution agreement with General Motors to integrate XM radios into its vehicles commencing in 2001. For more information, please visit XM’s web site: http://www.xmradio.com.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include uncertainties associated with demand for the company’s service, the company’s dependence on third party vendors, its continuing need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 2-22-2001. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio’ s Investor Relations Department.