Celebrity iPod Auction Benefits Music Rising

Tonic Introduces Celebrity iPod Auction Series
to Benefit Music Rising

Tonic to Auction off 60+ Autographed iPods from A-List Celebrities from Music, Television, Film and Fashion

New York, N.Y. (February 12, 2009) Tonic, (www.tonic.com) the leading media and ecommerce site focused on effortless activism and social good, announced today the launch of an exciting and extraordinary auction series. Leading celebrities from the worlds of music, film, television, and fashion have contributed an autographed iPod loaded with their personal playlist to be auctioned off by Tonic, with all proceeds benefiting Music Rising, an campaign founded in 2005 to replace lost or destroyed instruments of musicians in the Gulf Coast Region after the hurricane disasters. re of the

Over sixty celebrities will participate in the auction series including U2’s the Edge, former President Bill Clinton, Donna Karan, Warren Buffett, Christy Turlington, Britney Spears, Michael Stipe, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey, Ben Affleck, Ellen DeGeneres, Estelle, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson, Pete Wentz, Randy Jackson, Kevin Bacon, Gisele Bundchen, Marc Jacobs, Ed Burns, Samantha Ronson, Nick Lachey, Petra Nemcova, Mandy Moore and many others.

Each celebrity was given a new iPod which they each autographed and Tonic pre-loaded with a playlist of ten to twenty of the celebrities’ favorite songs. Beginning February 12th between one and five separate iPod auctions will simultaneously launch every week on eBay; playlists will be revealed to the public on both tonic.com and eBay when auctions are launched. To learn more about the series, see the complete list of celebrities and auction calendar, or bid on a current auction, visit www.tonic.com.

“Everyone who has ever wondered what songs their favorite celebrities listen to in their home or on the road won’t have to wonder much longer,” said Pankaj Shah, CEO and Founder of tonic. “We’ve compiled pre-loaded, autographed iPods from countless iconic celebrities to share with the public. By bidding on an autographed iPod, you’ll be helping to aid in the continued rebirth of the Gulf Coast Region. The Celebrity iPod Auction Series is tonic’s first major campaign of 2009 to offer consumers an opportunity to create social good and we’re thrilled to rally people behind a great cause.”

About Tonic:
Tonic is the leading media, ecommerce, and community site focused on effortless activism and social good, making it easy for people to do good things every day. Founded by entrepreneur Pankaj Shah, Tonic is supported by a diverse and impressive Board of Creators including Island Records founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chris Blackwell, son of legendary investor and businessman Warren Buffett and musician Peter Buffett, fashion designer and philanthropist Donna Karan, music industry executive Phil Quartararo, Efficient Frontier Chairwoman Ellen Siminoff and Whitney Williams, Founder & President of Williamsworks.

About Music Rising:
Music Rising, is a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. It has since launched a second phase dedicated to the aid of schools and churches. Music Rising was formed by U2’s the Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus, Juliens Auctions, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause, the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award and the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org

Music Rising is at Sundance Film Festival

Hi All, its been way too long since we posted to the blog here for Music Rising. We wanted to let you know that Music Rising is front and center at the Gibson Lodge this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Sting, Billy Morrison and The Doors stopped by today to sign special edition Music Rising Epiphone guitars which will be auctioned for Music Rising and the proceeds will continue to go straight to the Gulf Coast Region in the campaigns promise to help everyone who needs our aid. Three years after the hurricane disasters we know that there is still work to be done and we are committed to standing the test of time. Take a look at some of the press coming out this week at Sundance and you will see some very special photos and stories on how Music Rising is present there amidst the many musicians and actors who are willing to give us their support. In this new year we are thankful for our many friends who visit this blog and who continue to write and tell us their own personal stories. Make sure to visit often as we will be announcing more news this year. All the best and blessings in 2009!

Music Rising Awarded Heroes of the Storm on 3rd Anniversary

We wanted to let all of you know that last night in Denver as part of the Democratic National Convention festivities, Music Rising was awarded a Heroes of the Storm Award from the Friends of New Orleans who produced a concert event to raise awareness for the help and aid still needed in the Gulf Region. Music Rising was awarded for its continuous efforts to support the Gulf Coast Region and we are happy to report that over 2,700 musicians have been given new instruments to regain their livelihood and Music Rising has also aided over 50,000 students and parishioners to date. Soon we will announce Phase III so stay tuned to the blog. The Music Rising Heroes of the Storm award was accepted on our behalf by legendary musician Allan Touissant, The Meter's Leo Nocentelli and Walter Wolfman Washington. It was an exceptional evening of New Orleans entertainment and a moving moment. For more information on Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibsonfoundation.org. Thanks to all of you for your continued support of our effort and lets not forget on this third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that there are many still in need. Thank you. 

Star Studded Red Carpet at Music Rising Auction News

**NEWS & PHOTO TIP SHEET FOR SATURDAY MAY 31, 2008**


U2’s The Edge Hosts Icons of Music II Auction to Benefit Music Rising
At Hard Rock Cafe New York

Event to Include Star-Studded Red Carpet

WHO: U2’s the Edge to host with special performance by Aaron Neville and appearances by Les Paul, Tiki Barber, Christy Turlington, Petra Nemcova, Joan Jett, “Cry-Baby” Broadway star James Snyder, Earl Slick, Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne, writer May Pang, Donna Karan, legendary producer and Music Rising co-founder Bob Ezrin and many more. Jim Kerr will emcee the auction. Lisa Loeb will be hosting the Auction Network show live from the red carpet.

WHAT: U2’s the Edge, will host the star-studded Icons of Music II Auction at Hard Rock Cafe New York to benefit Music Rising, a campaign founded in 2005 to support musicians, students and parishioners of the Gulf Coast Region affected by the hurricanes. Music Rising has since aided over 2,700 professional musicians and nearly 50,000 students and parishioners and will soon launch Phase III of the campaign. The event will be conducted by world renowned Julien’s Auctions (www.juliensauctions.com). The exclusive event will include a performance by legendary musician Aaron Neville and a star-studded red carpet. Auction Network, the first 24/7, multimedia network solely dedicated to auctions, will conduct a live webcast in real-time streaming video of The Icons of Music Auction II hosted by Lisa Loeb.

For more information about how to register to bid, etc. please visit www.juliensauctions.com or call (310) 816-1818. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

WHERE: Hard Rock Café New York
1501 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

WHEN: 5:30 PM Media Check-In
6:00 PM Red Carpet
6:30 PM Performance
7:00 PM Auction

MEDIA RSVP: Caroline Galloway Maureen O’Connor
Music Rising/Gibson Guitar Rogers & Cowan
440-338-3469/615-423-4904 310-854-8116
Caroline.galloway@gibson.com moconnor@rogersandcowan.com

About Music Rising
Music Rising, a campaign launched in 2005 to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Region. It has since launched a second phase dedicated to the aid of schools and churches. Music Rising was formed by U2’s the Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. Partners of the campaign represent the most diverse partnership in the entertainment industry and include MusiCares, Guitar Center, Musician’s Friend, Live Nation, Kennedy/Marshall, Ticketmaster, Hard Rock International, VH-1, MTV, Real Networks, ABC News Now, The NFL, Rolling Stone, Mr. Hollands Opus, Juliens Auctions, ACT and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Music Rising is the recipient of the prestigious 2005 HALO Award for Cause Marketing and the 2006 Billboard Humanitarian Award, the 2008 PRISM Award and has been recognized around the world by various media organizations. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation. For more information go to www.musicrising.org and www.gibsonfoundation.org

Tickets on Sale for Music Rising Icons of Music II

As noted before, the Icons of Music II to benefit Music Rising will take place on May 31, 2008 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square in NYC. A limited number of tickets are on sale with 100% proceeds going to the charity. The tickets, $250 each, are available at Ticketmaster or at Hardrock.com. Tickets include food and beverage, commemorative catalog and entry into the private affair where celebrities will mingle amongst the world's greatest rock memorabilia. Tickets are available now and can be charged via the sites above. For more information check back at MusicRising.org or Hardrock.com.  Thanks for your support of Music Rising, rebuilding the Gulf Coast Region note by note. 

Icons of Music Sale 2 Announced

Music Rising has announced that the 2nd Icons of Music Sale to be held at Hard Rock NYC Times Square will be held on Saturday May 31,2008. Juliens Auctions will host a day full of rock n roll memorabilia in a star studded auction event that will benefit Music Rising. Tickets to the event will go on sale next week via Ticketmaster or HardRock.com. The day will begin at 10am and last well into the evening. Juliens will be offering three sessions and special entertainment in the evening. For more information check back here regularly or check out www.juliensauctions.com . We will continue to update you on all the great things around this event. And as always we thank you for your continued support.

The Music Rising Team

Music Rising Shines at the Grammys 2008

Gibson, U2, artists come together to support charity at the Grammys
by Jim Dalrymple
Feb 10, 2008 3:17 pm

Behind the glitz and glitter of the 50th annual Grammy Awards, there is something special going on to help victims of the 2005 hurricanes in the Central Gulf region. Founded by U2’s the Edge, Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Music Rising is an organization dedicated to replacing musical instruments lost in the devastating storms.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unique musical heritage that is New Orleans,” said U2’s the Edge. “So much has come from that part of America. From the birth of jazz, the roots of R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll, to the traditional celebrations in the streets, New Orleans has provided all of us with so many traditions.”

When the artists are finished with their Grammy rehearsals they go to a special area where they can relax and talk to some of the companies attending the event. This is where Gibson set up its area with several Music Rising Les Paul guitars available to be signed.

After explaining to each artist what the guitars and Music Rising project were all about, each gladly sat down and the signed the guitars. The guitars will be up for auction on May 31, 2008 in the second Icons of Music Sale in NYC, where some of the worlds great rock memorabilia will be up for grabs. All proceeds will go to Music Rising — last year the group raised $2.4 million.
Artists that signed the Music Rising guitars include Ringo Starr, Foo Fighters, John Paul Jones, Plain White T’s, Blair Underwood and Brad Paisley, to name just a few.

“When we created Music Rising in 2005 we had a mission which was to preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf Region by replacing the instruments that were lost or destroyed in the storms,” said producer and co-founder Bob Ezrin. “We will continue to do that until the region is rebuilt and the music is restored no matter how long it takes.”
In phase one of the project Music Rising has helped 2,700 musicians gain back their livelihood by making sure they had new instruments. Phase two of Music Rising focused on replacing musical instruments for schools and churches — so far 40,000 parishioners and students have been aided from the project, but the work continues.

“We continue to support Music Rising as a cofounding partner and will do so in every effort to help restore the rich musical heritage which originates from New Orleans,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “With the support of the Gibson Foundation we plan on staying the course until the region is rebuilt ‘Note by Note.’”