HeadCount
Encyclopedia
HeadCount is a nonpartisan
organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy in the US. It is best known for registering
voters at concert
s – having signed up 175,000 voters since its launch in 2004. It also encourages voter turnout
and general civic participation. Some of its higher profile activity includes the release of public service announcements, a compilation album featuring Pearl Jam
, Wilco
and Phish
, and various activities involving board member Bob Weir
of the Grateful Dead
.
The organization was founded by Marc Brownstein
, bass player for the popular electronic rock band The Disco Biscuits, and his friend Andy Bernstein, author of a series of books about Phish. Bernstein now serves as executive director.
Since its inception, HeadCount has been largely volunteer-driven. It fields volunteer “street teams” in most major U.S. cities. Each consists of a trained team leader who runs the local operations, and a cadre of volunteers. These teams then set up tables at concerts through which they register voters and disseminate information related to political issues and upcoming elections. This approach has allowed HeadCount to keep its operating costs low while reaching a very large number of people. In any given year, the organization sets up these tables at 500 to 1,000 concerts or more. Artists who host this activity include: Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, Wilco, Phish, MGMT
, The National
, John Mayer
and many others.
Beyond concerts, HeadCount has a large presence on the Internet. It’s blog features daily updates on “music, politics and everything in between,” and it uses Twitter
to inform music fans of interesting developments on such topics as human rights, personal liberty, food and farm policy and gulf coast recovery.
HeadCount also produced the documentary A Call to Action, which has aired on cable television
.
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy in the US. It is best known for registering
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
voters at concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s – having signed up 175,000 voters since its launch in 2004. It also encourages voter turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
and general civic participation. Some of its higher profile activity includes the release of public service announcements, a compilation album featuring Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
and Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, and various activities involving board member Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
of the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
.
The organization was founded by Marc Brownstein
Marc Brownstein
Marc "Brownie" Brownstein is the founder and bassist of Philadelphia-based jamtronica band, The Disco Biscuits. He is also a co-founder and co-chair of voter registration group, HeadCount, as well as the host of weekly radio show, "Jamtronica," on Sirius Satellite Radio's jamband channel, Jam...
, bass player for the popular electronic rock band The Disco Biscuits, and his friend Andy Bernstein, author of a series of books about Phish. Bernstein now serves as executive director.
Since its inception, HeadCount has been largely volunteer-driven. It fields volunteer “street teams” in most major U.S. cities. Each consists of a trained team leader who runs the local operations, and a cadre of volunteers. These teams then set up tables at concerts through which they register voters and disseminate information related to political issues and upcoming elections. This approach has allowed HeadCount to keep its operating costs low while reaching a very large number of people. In any given year, the organization sets up these tables at 500 to 1,000 concerts or more. Artists who host this activity include: Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, Wilco, Phish, MGMT
MGMT
MGMT is an American alternative rock band founded by Benjamin Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden. After the release of their first album, the members of their live band, Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman, joined the core band in the studio...
, The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
, John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
and many others.
Beyond concerts, HeadCount has a large presence on the Internet. It’s blog features daily updates on “music, politics and everything in between,” and it uses Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
to inform music fans of interesting developments on such topics as human rights, personal liberty, food and farm policy and gulf coast recovery.
HeadCount also produced the documentary A Call to Action, which has aired on cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
.