Music For a Cause
Encyclopedia
Music For a Cause is a record label, founded in 2003, and located in Los Angeles, New York, and Gainesville, Florida. Using the power of song, they help to raise awareness and funds for worthy charities. By combining philanthropy with entertainment, they provide a benefit to both those in need and those who contribute. Music for a Cause is an example of the new and successful trend called social entrepreneurship
, in which for-profit companies partner with non-profits to harness the power of the marketplace to help accomplish charitable goals.
The Music for a Cause catalog includes the Patriotic Country
series which has sold over 350,000 copies. This chart-topping compilation series of three albums (including three “top ten” Billboard
releases) features American patriotic-themed country music. The series reached a status of #1 selling CD on Amazon.com, and garnered positive press in USA Today, Fox, CNN, ESPN, Armed Forces Radio, Country Weekly, GAC, CMT, and many other outlets.
In line with the Music for a Cause mission, a portion of the proceeds from sales of these albums benefit the USO, the Armed Services YMCA, and Our Military Kids.
Music for a Cause worked with Universal
, Sony
and EMI
on an installment of the world’s most successful compilation brand, the Now That's What I Call Music!
series (this collaboration produced a #7 charting Billboard album).
In June of 2011, Music for a Cause worked with Disney Records to release and album for multi-platinum recording artist, Billy Ray Cyrus
called I'm American
.
, CMT
, and GAC
. Specials have included America United: In Support of Our Troops, a prime-time special that received over 4 million viewers and featured Janet Jackson
, Toby Keith
, Jessica Simpson
, Snoop Dogg
, Pamela Anderson
, ZZ Top
, Clint Black
, Joe Nichols, Carlos Mencia
, Jordin Sparks
, Rickey Minor
, Kathy Griffin
, Ne-Yo
, DL Hughley, Ali Landry
, Holly Madison
, Bridget Marquardt
, Kendra Wilkinson
, Sean Merriman, and more. Music for a Cause also produced the Patriotic Country show on GAC and the Billy Ray Cyrus: I'm American TV specials.
, Sony BMG, EMI
, Sony
, Universal
, Disney Records, and Razor & Tie
.
Social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is the work of social entrepreneurs. A social entrepreneur recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a venture to achieve social change . While a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a...
, in which for-profit companies partner with non-profits to harness the power of the marketplace to help accomplish charitable goals.
The Music for a Cause catalog includes the Patriotic Country
Patriotic Country
Patriotic Country is a series of three albums featuring American patriotic-themed country music. The series, which has sold over 300,000 copies, is part of Music For a Cause, a record label committed to using the power of song, to help raise awareness and funds for worthy charities...
series which has sold over 350,000 copies. This chart-topping compilation series of three albums (including three “top ten” Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
releases) features American patriotic-themed country music. The series reached a status of #1 selling CD on Amazon.com, and garnered positive press in USA Today, Fox, CNN, ESPN, Armed Forces Radio, Country Weekly, GAC, CMT, and many other outlets.
In line with the Music for a Cause mission, a portion of the proceeds from sales of these albums benefit the USO, the Armed Services YMCA, and Our Military Kids.
Music for a Cause worked with Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
and EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
on an installment of the world’s most successful compilation brand, the Now That's What I Call Music!
Now That's What I Call Music!
Now That's What I Call Music! is a series of various artists compilation albums released in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Polygram /EMI/Sony Music/Virgin Records ; spinoff series were later introduced in South Africa and many other countries worldwide, including the United States...
series (this collaboration produced a #7 charting Billboard album).
In June of 2011, Music for a Cause worked with Disney Records to release and album for multi-platinum recording artist, Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus
William "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon...
called I'm American
I'm American
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic, gave the album a three-out-of-five star rating. Erlewine said that Cyrus "sounds like a ruminative, mumbling Bruce Springsteen, so Billy Ray muscularly strums his guitar while rhapsodizing about the downtrodden working class." He also went on to say that I'm...
.
Television production
Music for a Cause has produced television content and prime-time specials for network and cable TV including on ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, CMT
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
, and GAC
Great American Country
Great American Country , is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music cable television network.-History:The station launched December 31, 1995 and Garth Brooks' video "The Thunder Rolls" was the first video to air on GAC....
. Specials have included America United: In Support of Our Troops, a prime-time special that received over 4 million viewers and featured Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
, Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990...
, ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
, Clint Black
Clint Black
Clint Patrick Black is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and occasional actor. Signed to RCA Records in 1989, Black made his debut with his Killin' Time album, which produced four straight Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country...
, Joe Nichols, Carlos Mencia
Carlos Mencia
Carlos Mencia , born Ned Arnel Mencia, is a Honduran-born American comedian, writer, and actor. His style of comedy is often political and involves issues of race, culture, criminal justice, and social class...
, Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
, Rickey Minor
Rickey Minor
Rickey Minor is a music director, composer and music producer, now best known as musical director and bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno after Kevin Eubanks left. Minor was born in Monroe, Louisiana to parents Cole and Goldie Minor and was raised in South Central Los Angeles, CA...
, Kathy Griffin
Kathy Griffin
Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin is an American actress, stand-up comedienne, television personality, New York Times best-selling author and an LGBT rights advocate. Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom...
, Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, DL Hughley, Ali Landry
Ali Landry
Ali Germaine Landry is a former Miss USA , model and actress. She is perhaps best known as the Doritos Girl from her 1998 Super Bowl commercial, and for her portrayal of Rita Lefleur on the UPN sitcom Eve. In 1998, she was named by People magazine as one of 50 most beautiful people in the world.-...
, Holly Madison
Holly Madison
Hollin Sue Cullen, professionally known as Holly Madison, is an American model, showgirl and television personality. She is widely known for being one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends on the reality television series The Girls Next Door...
, Bridget Marquardt
Bridget Marquardt
Bridget Marquardt is an American television personality, model, and actress. She is best known for her role on the reality television series The Girls Next Door, which depicts her life as one of Playboy magazine publisher Hugh Hefner's girlfriends...
, Kendra Wilkinson
Kendra Wilkinson
Kendra Leigh Baskett , professionally known by her maiden name, is an American television personality and glamour model...
, Sean Merriman, and more. Music for a Cause also produced the Patriotic Country show on GAC and the Billy Ray Cyrus: I'm American TV specials.
Partnerships/Strategic alliances
Music for a Cause has partnered or strategically aligned with numerous major record labels, including BMGBMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, Sony BMG, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, Universal
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, Disney Records, and Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
.
Music releases
Music For a Cause's debut release Patriotic Country reached #9 on Billboard's "Top Country Albums" Chart. The follow-up album Patriotic Country 2 peaked at #6 on the "Top Compilation Albums" Billboard Chart, and Patriotic Country 3 reached #8 on "Top Compilation Albums". NOW That's What I Call the USA: The Patriotic Country Collection reached #7 on Billboard's "Top Country Albums" Chart.- Patriotic CountryPatriotic CountryPatriotic Country is a series of three albums featuring American patriotic-themed country music. The series, which has sold over 300,000 copies, is part of Music For a Cause, a record label committed to using the power of song, to help raise awareness and funds for worthy charities...
- Now That's What I Call the USA: The Patriotic Country CollectionNow That's What I Call the USA: The Patriotic Country Collection-Chart performance:...
- I'm AmericanI'm AmericanStephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic, gave the album a three-out-of-five star rating. Erlewine said that Cyrus "sounds like a ruminative, mumbling Bruce Springsteen, so Billy Ray muscularly strums his guitar while rhapsodizing about the downtrodden working class." He also went on to say that I'm...
Billy Ray Cyrus
- Patriotic Country (2004)
- Patriotic Country2 (2005)
- Patriotic Country3 (2008)
- NOW USA: Patriotic Country Collection (2010)
- I'm AmericanI'm AmericanStephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic, gave the album a three-out-of-five star rating. Erlewine said that Cyrus "sounds like a ruminative, mumbling Bruce Springsteen, so Billy Ray muscularly strums his guitar while rhapsodizing about the downtrodden working class." He also went on to say that I'm...
Billy Ray Cyrus (2011)
Philanthropy
Music For a Cause is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for worthy charities through the power of song. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the following charities from the Patriotic Country Series and NOW That's What I Call the USA: The Patriotic Country Collection.USO
The USO is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to our men and women in uniform.Armed Forces YMCA
For more than 140 years, ASYMCA has provided essential support services to the families of junior enlisted military service members & the individuals on the front lines defending nation.Send a CD to a Soldier
Patriotic Country was included in the ASYMCA “Send a CD to a Soldier” campaign. The CDs were included in Care Packages and distributed to the troops by the Armed Services YMCA. The gifts were given to a service-member randomly chosen by the Armed Services YMCA. Thoughtful gifts, reminders of home, and inspirational patriotic music are sure to lift the spirits of active-duty troops, making this program in line with Music For a Cause’s mission.Our Military Kids
Our Military Kids provides tangible support to the children of deployed and severely injured National Guard and Military Reserve personnel through grants for enrichment activities and tutoring. These activities nurture and sustain the children during the time a parent is away in service to our country.Special Operations Warrior Foundation
For 30 years, the top-rated Special Operations Warrior Foundation has provided support to the families of fallen and wounded Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel. The foundation has two primary programs: College scholarships for children of fallen special operations troops and immediate financial assistance for families of severely wounded special operations personnel.Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service members, to help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL.Celebrity Comments
Many artists feel especially proud to partake in Music For a Cause's mission and projects.- "This is my tip of the hat to our military…my way of giving back and saying thank you to them for the gift of freedom they have given to this great country." - Billy Ray CyrusBilly Ray CyrusWilliam "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon...
- “We are all blessed to live where we do and I’m glad to have “I’m From the Country” be a part of this project. God bless our military, their families who sacrifice so much and the USA,” - Platinum-Selling Country Star Tracy Byrd
- “We are proud to have a #1 hit with this song, ‘My Front Porch Looking In’, which is a song about the most important thing in life – family. Our Lonestar family supports and salutes our military for their many sacrifices.” - LonestarLonestarLonestar is an American country music group consisting of Richie McDonald , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater , Dean Sams , and Michael Hill . McDonald left the band in November 2007 for a solo career before returning in 2011...
's Dan Sams
- “We are so blessed in America. Here’s a nice way to say thank you to the people who guarantee our freedom, and to remember the enormous sacrifices their families make.” - Aaron TippinAaron TippinAaron Dupree Tippin is an American country music artist and record producer. Initially a songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music, he gained a recording contract with RCA Records in 1990...
- “I feel so strongly about this. We have to do everything we can to support the families of our men and women in uniform.” - John ConleeJohn ConleeJohn Conlee is an American country music singer. Between 1978 and 2004, Conlee charted a total of thirty-two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and recorded eleven studio albums...