by kerriebrynn
MusiCares® provides assistance to those in need in the musical community while The
GRAMMY Foundation® was created in 1989 to further the “understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture.” Together, these two wonderful organizations double the goodness to form The GRAMMY Charities.
The GRAMMY Charities are in the middle of one of their fantastic online auctions this week (check it out, it ends soon!), and the GRAMMY Awards are coming up January 31st, so Kristen Madsen, Senior Vice President of both the GRAMMY Charities is a very busy woman right now. Lucky for us, she took the time to fill us in on all that’s happening!
Kristen Madsen, Sr. Vice President of both the GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares®.
First of all, tell people about the VIP experiences you guys have up for auction right now, especially the chance to actually attend the GRAMMY Awards. Exciting!
Right now, we’re offering people a chance to bid on luxury packages to both the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on January 31st and our 20th annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala, which is held two nights before the GRAMMYs and this year honors Neil Young. Some of the fantastic musicians who will be performing on the tribute include, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Sheryl Crow, Everest, Patty Griffin, Josh Groban, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Lady Antebellum, k.d. lang, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Ozomatli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leon Russell, James Taylor, Wilco, and Host Jack Black.
The GRAMMY Charities run online auctions all year round, always with amazing VIP experiences and celebrity signed goodies up for bids. How do you guys always get the coolest stuff?
We are incredibly lucky to have developed a great network of support from the artist community for our programs. One of the easiest ways for them to give back is to open their closets, carve out time on their calendars for fan opportunities, or simply sign unique items for us to auction.
The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards are coming up. What are you looking forward to about the awards?
The GRAMMY Awards show is truly the greatest night in music. It’s a showcase that overflows with the most compelling music of the year. But one of the best moments that happens each year is off-camera, when an artist you would never expect to be sentimental arrives backstage, GRAMMY in hand, and gets emotional in his phone call home to mom. It happens every year.
What do you think it is about music & charity that bring people together?
Musicians are an amazingly philanthropic group of people. They are the first in line to use their craft as a way to help. Think about the billions of dollars that have been raised by mass concerts like Farm Aid and Live Aid combined with the extraordinary grass roots efforts undertaken by local musicians in small towns across America performing for local benefits, and you realize that musicians are incredibly generous and willing to help. Add to that the power of music itself is a healing agent that brings people together in times of need, and you have an undeniable force for good.
I genuinely agree with Kristin. Music uplifts and energizes us. It touches us emotionally and can bring us together no matter what other differences we might have. As a former (and proud!) choir geek, I especially appreciate all that the GRAMMY Charities are trying to do. Find out more about how you can help by visiting www.musicares.com or www.grammyfoundation.com.
The GRAMMY Awards broadcast is the greatest music show on television. And guess who gets to go? Yours truly!! Yup, that’s right! This weekend, 
