Philanthropic organization Global Citizen has announced plans for a massively ambitious 24-hour concert special and the lineup of artists who will be performing is truly mind boggling! BTS, Metallica, Andrea Bocelli—yeah, eclectic doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Global Citizen Live is set to broadcast live from six continents on September 25, with the goal of uniting the world to “defend the planet and defeat poverty.” A vast array of artists will perform at simultaneous live music events all over the world for the broadcast, which will air on ABC, Hulu, YouTube, Twitter and other platforms. The first round of headliners includes Adam Lambert, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Christine and the Queens, Coldplay, Demi Lovato, Doja Cat, Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, Lorde, The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes and so many more. If that’s not enough, more artists will be announced in August.
And in case you’re wondering, this won’t be the kind of Zoom-in event we’ve all become so begrudgingly used to over the past year and a half. Variety reports that the majority of the concerts will take place before a live audience, including the full scale 60,000 capacity show in Central Park.
The event is part of Global Citizen’s year-long Recovery Plan for the World campaign, which aims to influence world leaders, including government officials and those in the private sector, to take concrete steps to end the COVID-19 pandemic for everyone, end hunger, advance equality and combat the climate crisis. (Learn more about the campaign here.)
“COVID-19 has drastically reversed the progress toward achieving the United Nations’ Global Goals, pushing upwards of 160 million people back into extreme poverty,” Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans said in a statement. “There are now more than 40 million people on the brink of famine. Progress on climate change has halted, as the majority of the Fortune 500 fail to set science-based carbon reduction targets. We must rectify the damage done and hold world leaders and businesses accountable for ensuring that the entire world recovers from this pandemic together. ‘Equitable recovery’ is not an act of charity—it is the only way we can ensure a fighting chance at achieving a sustainable world free from extreme poverty.”
“It is very important to me to be a part of this historic event to spread awareness and encourage action toward helping the people of Ethiopia during this devastating humanitarian crisis they are faced with,” said The Weeknd. “It’ll be an honor to perform and help bring support to these citizens who are suffering so severely.”
