The Connective Panel Series kicked off in March 2008 in an effort to provide important information to emerging artists from industry veterans and at the same time raise money and awareness for music related charities. 100% of profits are given to charity. New York Partners are Opus 118 Harlem School of Music and WHY (World Hunger Year) Artist Against Hunger and Poverty Program. The panel goes to Atlanta on July 20th and then back to New York and later Los Angeles and Nashville. It is what one woman can do to make a difference and help those who aspire to be in the music industry, which remains self taught. Sonicbids provides 6 month trial subscriptions to this event and Overplay (UK’s leading indie site) ASCAP, and many others have come together to give something back.

Tess, I agree with the premise that for a corporation to be charitable is better than if a corporation isn’t, but I wouldn’t say that the fact that a corporation is charitably responsible has a direct correlation with whether corporations are good or bad so much as the respect they have for (and fair treatment they give to) their employees, customers, and even competitors.

But I’ll admit it’s a tough balance. We want to positively encourage people, organizations, and corporations for the good things they do, but don’t want be quick to say how great they are for doing something they SHOULD be doing anyway.

Thanks for sharing the Billboard article. Interesting stuff!

Oh- my first comment!

Anyway, I kinda hear what Benjy is saying. Oddly enough, some of the larger corporations with bad reps are those that provide the most for their employees. These are also corporations that have a lot of turnover, so they offer more knowing that it won’t all be taken advantage of… but it is there. I guess my experience comes from the banking industry (every teenager has to start somewhere). I worked for a bank in Connecticut that was just, well, miserable? Then I applied to the huge corporate monster that is Bank of America and figured they were going to be just as bad. Quite the opposite. There was your usual run-around you get with large corporations and being kind of “just a number”, but they put a great deal of work into their benefits program, teamwork, and recognition. From the employee perspective, they weren’t so bad after all. And they have a program where they incentivize their employees taking time off work to do a charitable event of their choice, amongst the community investments they make. As Tess said, whether it is for the good of the community or their own reputation doesn’t matter quite as much as it getting done.

Now, as for how they treat customers and everything… that is all up to debate!

Relating it back to music- I have always felt that there is a certain responsibility in being a more privileged musician to give back to music and their community in a positive way as well.

Music For Troops would love to find corporations to help send the gift of music to our Troops. MFT is new ( we are into our second year ) unfortunately our requests to corps have lead to nothing only responses like we don’t donate coffee to our soldiers (from starbucks), we only give computers to schools (from apple), you are doing a nice thing but it doesn’t match our mission or we only support those in our home state ( most other corps ), any and all suggestions are welcomed to try to reach the people and corps who will help.
Thanks for writing your article.
Tom
Music for Troops

Hi,
Here’s our take on this:
As a Christian band (and independent recording label), we feel it important to live what we speak of in our music. We want to show the hope, love, and freedom we’ve found.
In the fall of 2007, we organized a benefit concert with another local like-minded band to be held in the Spring of 2008. So after much planning, preparation, and anticipation the benefit for the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission took place on February 29 of this year.
With the success of this event, we have decided to make these benefits an anual occurance. This fall, we will be planning a two-concert benefit series for Compassion International to be held in the Spring of 2009.
This comment is not intended as a self pat on the back. However, it is meant to encourage anyone who feels they have something to give to a cause or charity they feel is deserving and worthy, go for it!
Hope this helps, and have a great week!

Andy and miranda – In Him

hy, Give something for help the hungry people from Africa or India,
I made this blog about this subject:
in http://tinyurl.com/5qlbzs

Awesome post! Thanks.

Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. Cheers! Sandra. R.