UNICEF
NBC TV will screen a 90-minute special on Jan 10 of a UNICEF concert from the United Nations headquarters in New York under the title A Gift Of Song.
The event highlights the UN’S International Year of the Child, and was announced jointly by the US Committee for UNICEF and executive producers Robert Stigwood and David Frost.
The star-studded cast comprises Abba, the Bee Gees, Rita Coolidge, John Denver, Earth Wind and Fire, Andy Gibb, Elton John, Kris Kristofferson, Olivia Newton-John and Rod Stewart. Frost will compere the concert, assisted by other celebrities to be announced later.
Each of the artists participating has been named a “founder-composer” of music for UNICEF, and will be performing a self-written song whose rights will be donated in perpetuity to UNICEF. They are appearing free of charge, and neither Stigwood nor Frost or their companies are charging for their services.
After the costs of producing and distributing the special have been met, all further money will go to UNICEF, the UN’s children’s fund to help deprived children in over 100 developing countries. Chappell is donating its services to administer the music publishing rights for songs contributed by the founder-composers on a non-profit basis, with distribution of revenue to UNICEF.
Frost revealed that there are plans to provide a simulcast of the concert on about 250 FM radio stations around the States, and Paramount Television Distribution’s international division will handle worldwide circulation of the TV special.
All the founder-composers will receive a special award during the show from UN Secretary General Dr. Kurt Waldheim
More from the UNICEF concert.