U2, Jerry Seinfeld, Mary J. Blige, Drew Barrymore, Chris Rock, R.E.M., Courtney Love and Amazon.com Join The Red Hot Organization as It Commemorates Ten Years of Fighting Aids

Business Wire, Feb 28, 2001

Business, Entertainment, Music Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2001

Year-long Aids Awareness and Fundraising Efforts Feature

Two New Albums, Celebrity Auction and Groundbreaking

Digital Fundraising Initiatives

The Red Hot Organization, the entertainment industry's leading organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through popular culture, announced today the commemoration of its 10th anniversary by joining forces with Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), Rolling Stone photographer Mark Seliger and the stars of the entertainment world to increase efforts towards fighting AIDS.

RHO, known for its ground-breaking series of albums and television specials uniting musicians, filmmakers and other celebrities to fight the AIDS epidemic, plans a series of high-profile events this year, including a first-of-its-kind online celebrity auction, an innovative digital music fundraising drive and two new Red Hot AIDS benefit album releases.

Visit http://www.amazon.com/music-redhot

Downloads For Donations @ Amazon.com

Red Hot is working with Amazon.com, the No. 1 online music store, to offer content for the site's new Free Music Downloads area, which launched today and features "virtual tipping" technology which enables users to leave a voluntary, online donation or tip after listening to a free, full length song download. The promotion includes 36 MP3 files from the Red Hot catalog of critically acclaimed songs recorded in the last ten years. Among the 36 available tracks are several "outtakes" never released on Red Hot CDs, including Shelby Lynn performing "Amazing Grace," and an exclusive George Michael remix of his song "Too Funky" entitled "Too Jazzy." John Carlin, President and Founder of The Red Hot Organization, said, "We are excited that Amazon.com and Red Hot have come together to explore ways in which new media can support pro-social issues. Red Hot's music is meant as a positive form of propaganda that enriches our lives as we enjoy its entertainment. Enabling people to download this music is a wonderful new way to get Red Hot's message across to Amazon.com's worldwide customer base while allowing people to donate through virtual tip jars will help Red Hot to continue its mission."

Celebrities Join Online AIDS Benefit Auction

Between February 28th and April 11th, Amazon.com will host a star-studded RHO Benefit Auction, which features rare Red Hot memorabilia and the work of acclaimed Rolling Stone photographer Mark Seliger, whose book and exhibition, Physiognomy: The Mark Seliger Photographs, features photos of a wide range of well-known entertainers. The auction will feature a number of signed original artist proofs from Seliger's work, along with an exclusive Red Hot Series of 50 autographed Physiognomy books, each containing its own one-of-a-kind set of celebrity signatures. Participating artists include Drew Barrymore, the Beastie Boys, Jerry Seinfeld, Ashley Judd, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Me'Shell N'degeOcello, Charlize Theron, Richard Ashcroft, Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, Billy Bob Thornton, Lucinda Williams, David Byrne, Lenny Kravitz, R.E.M. and many more. All Physiognomy pieces are autographed by Mr. Seliger as well.

Red Hot Indigo CD Release

Red Hot Indigo, a tribute to the legacy of Duke Ellington, is the 13th album in the Red Hot AIDS benefit compilation series. Beginning March 13th, Amazon.com will become the exclusive retailer for the CD, prior to its release in traditional brick-and-mortar retail outlets. Visitors to Amazon.com can also pre-order the album beginning today so they may receive it as soon as it becomes available. This project follows suit with Red Hot Blue, Red Hot Rio and Red Hot Rhapsody, featuring modern acts reinterpreting the work of one of the 20th century's greatest songwriters. Featured artists include: Mary J. Blige, The Roots, Medeski Martin & Wood, Black Star, Ron Carter, Propellerheads, Tortoise and many more.

Coming Soon: Red Hot Riot

Later this year, RHO will release the highly anticipated Red Hot Riot, a tribute to African musician Fela Kuti, who died of AIDS-related complications in 1997. Red Hot Riot will feature D'Angelo, Macy Gray, The Roots, Common, Bilal, Dead Prez, The Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, Me'Shell N'degeOcello, Fela's son Femi Kuti and others. Proceeds from the album will be dedicated to AIDS awareness and relief efforts in Africa, which is home to 75% of the world's AIDS population. Alarming recent studies have discovered that 1 in 5 adults in South Africa are HIV . The worst epidemic in human history, AIDS threatens to wipe out an entire generation on the African continent.

About Red Hot

The Red Hot Organization is the entertainment industry's leading organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through popular culture around the world. Over the past 10 years, Red Hot has produced 13 groundbreaking albums and related television specials, incorporating the talents of leading performers, producers, directors, and visual artists to raise funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Through projects such as Red Hot Blue, No Alternative, America Is Dying Slowly, Red Hot Rio and Red Hot Indigo, and with the help of artists like Madonna, U2, Nirvana, The Roots, Sarah McLachlan, David Byrne, the Beastie Boys, David Bowie, Wu-Tang Clan, George Michael, Jim Jarmusch and Hal Hartley to name a few, Red Hot's efforts have raised over $10 million for AIDS prevention and relief around the world. To find out how to make a difference in the fight against AIDS, visit http://www.redhot.org.