The phenomenon of mega-events is a unique conjunction of forces that calls into question the fundamental nomenclature of mass culture and the understanding of the nature of political action. Mega-events need the development of a vast range of cultural products, including live performances, global broadcasts, group recordings, and compilation LPs (Garofalo 26). Fundraising is perhaps the most obvious, if not usually the most important, use of mega-events (Garofalo 26). As a result, famous recording artists are in a unique opportunity to focus on the fundraising possibilities of mega-events. Mega-concerts are especially capable of obtaining mega-amounts of money by accessing international audiences (Garofalo 27). Significantly, if the strength of popular music lends itself easily to fundraising, its form is as well-suited to spreading awareness.
Notably, I want to focus on global poverty by organizing a largescale pre-recorded rock concert to increase awareness and raise money to help children in need. According to the World Bank, 9.2 percent of the world’s population, or 689 million people, live in severe poverty on less than $1.90 a day (Peer). Although poverty is frequently considered in terms of cash quantities, the quality of life is also emphasized. As of 2019, 10.5 percent of the population, or 34 million people, in the United States are poor (Peer). Poverty implies a life of struggle and hardship; poverty-stricken children frequently lack access to a decent education (Peer). As a child-focused organization, World Vision views children as a community’s most valuable resource and as fundamental to solving poverty (Peer). Essentially, the money fundraised from the rock concert will be transferred to World Vision.
The concert will engage rock bands that are fighting against global poverty. The first band is Coldplay, well-known for its charitable efforts (Borgen Magazine). For instance, in 2015, Coldplay collaborated with the Global Poverty Project, a Global Citizen project that encourages governments to fund education for girls who cannot attend school (Borgen Magazine). The second band is Maroon 5, the American pop-rock band that has been actively involved in charitable activity for over a decade. One of the band’s most notable accomplishments is #Maroon5Day, an annual event that began in 2016 (Borgen Magazine). The band members encouraged their fans to donate money to UNICEF. These funds aided children in numerous countries who lacked access to healthcare, safe drinking water, and education.
I selected the songs from the recent Maroon 5 and Coldplay albums to attract more people. People would be able to listen to the concert online after purchasing tickets. The amount of money fundraised with be transferred to the World Vision organization to help children who face poverty. Maroon 5 and Coldplay are brilliant examples of rock bands that help fight global poverty. The songs chosen for the concert are listed below:
- Maroon 5 – Memories
- Maroon 5 – Nobody’s Love
- Maroon 5 – Beautiful Mistakes
- Maroon 5 – One Light ft. Bantu
- Maroon 5 – Lost
- Coldplay – Everyday Life
- Coldplay – Cry, Cry, Cry
- Coldplay – Orphans
- Coldplay – When I need a friend
- Coldplay – Humankind
Works Cited
Borgen Magazine. “6 Rock Bands Fighting Against Global Poverty.” Borgen Magazine, 2021, Web.
Garofalo, Reebee. Rockin’ the Boat: Mass Music and Mass Movements. South End Press, 1992.
Peer, Andrea. “Global Poverty: Facts, FAQs, and How to Help.” World Vision, 2021, Web.