MTV – One of the highlights of “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief,” airing Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT, will undoubtedly be when Jay-Z and Rihanna join U2’s Bono and The Edge onstage in London for a group performance. The star-studded collaboration is just one of many sure to make the George Clooney-led effort a must-see event and bring much-needed aid to Haiti.
Fans salivating for the music won’t have to wait long. Beginning Friday, iTunes customers will be able to exclusively pre-order the “Hope for Haiti Now” full-performance album ($7.99) and the full two-hour video telecast ($1.99). Pre-orders will be delivered in the days following the telethon. Individual audio performances will also be available for purchase and download for 99 cents each in the days following the telethon. Apple, the record labels and the artists will donate their share of the proceeds to Haiti relief funds managed by “Hope for Haiti Now” charities, including the Red Cross and Wyclef’s Yele Haiti foundation. Performances will also be available for purchase in the days following the event through Amazon’s MP3 service and Rhapsody, through distribution provided by INgrooves.
Other artists scheduled to perform during “Hope for Haiti Now” include Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Sting and Wyclef in New York. Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Steve Wonder and Taylor Swift will be in Los Angeles, with Kid Rock, Keith Urban and Sheryl Crow joining forces for a group performance.
Beyoncé and Coldplay will take the stage in London, in addition to Jay-Z, Rihanna and the two U2 stars.
George Clooney, who helped organize the event with MTV Networks, will helm the proceedings in Los Angeles, while Wyclef Jean and CNN’s Anderson Cooper will join in from New York and Haiti, respectively. All donations will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF and Wyclef’s Yele Haiti foundation. The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and United Nations World Food Programme will also benefit from the telethon’s efforts, as aid will be split evenly among each organization’s relief programs for the ravaged island.
Join George Clooney and Wyclef Jean for MTV’s “Hope for Haiti” telethon, airing commercial-free Friday, January 22, at 8 p.m. ET.
