Deets: Global Citizen’s VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World - a globally televised special that aims to inspire vaccine confidence worldwide and help get COVID-19 vaccines to everyone, everywhere, will air across the world this weekend in over 100 countries, set to attract an audience of millions.
Airing and live streaming on Saturday, May 8, 2021 on ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube, iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations and the iHeartRadio App, VAX LIVE will start at 8:00 PM ET/PT, 7:00 PM CT. The concert will also air on FOX at 11:00 PM ET/PT, Hulu, AXS TV, and will air internationally on Albavision across Latin America, Multishow from Globo Group in Brazil and Caracol TV in Colombia, S3 in South Africa, Canal+ and MultiChoice across Africa, Sky in the UK, Network 10 in Australia, CSTAR (Canal + Group) in France, and on Insight TV globally. As the exclusive global streaming partner, YouTube will stream an extended version of VAX LIVE on the Global Citizen channel for a full run-time of 90 minute.
Launched by international advocacy organization Global Citizen, as the first large-scale music event for a covid-compliant audience of fully-vaccinated frontline healthcare and essential workers, VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World calls for new commitments from governments, the private sector, and philanthropists toward the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
The concert was pre-taped at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and hosted by multi-platinum recording artist, actress and producer Selena Gomez, will include a night of musical performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R, and joined by Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Olivia Munn, and Sean Penn.
Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are serving as Campaign Chairs of VAX LIVE and will be delivering an important global message for vaccine equity during the event. To help ensure equitable access to the vaccine, they’ve also been leading a coordinated drive across the private sector to raise critical funds for the vaccine-sharing program COVAX.
The special global broadcast will feature commitments from a number of philanthropic and private sector partners including Cisco, P & G, Accenture, The Analog Devices Foundation, Mastercard, Spotify, Seadream Family Foundation (formerly Stadler Family Foundation), Stanley Black & Decker, Terumo.
VAX LIVE is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Italy and G20 Chair Mario Draghi, and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, and the State of California.
As part of VAX LIVE, Global Citizen is campaigning to support the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) initiative – including COVAX – a vaccine-sharing program co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. During the special, Global Citizen will call on governments asking them to pledge a total of $19 billion, the outstanding balance needed by the ACT-A to get 1.8 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses plus tests and treatments to the world’s poorest countries by the end of 2021. As part of the campaign, Spain announced the donation of an estimated 7.5 million vaccine doses as soon as 50% of the Spanish population is vaccinated. France announced starting doses as of now, with an initial donation of 100,000 this month, and at least 500,000 by June, and P&G added to prior commitments from the private sector by announcing a donation of $5M to COVAX to help purchase the equivalent 1M vaccines for health workers in the world’s poorest countries.
VAX LIVE is part of Global Citizen’s overall 2021 Recovery Plan for the World, a year-long campaign and series of events that aims to help end COVID-19 for all, end the hunger crisis, resume learning everywhere, protect the planet, and advance equity for all.
Global Citizen's Recovery Plan for the World is supported by a coalition of Global Partners including: Cisco, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Google, Live Nation, P&G, Verizon, and campaign partner WW International.
VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World is executive produced by Global Citizen, the Ad Council & COVID Collaborative, YouTube Originals, iHeartMedia, and Live Nation. The VAX LIVE broadcast will be executive produced by Casey Patterson and Casey Patterson Entertainment, and Ken Ehrlich. Producers of VAX LIVE, include: Michele Anthony, for Universal Music Group, Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation, John Sykes, President, Entertainment Enterprises at iHeartMedia, Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer & President at iHeartMedia, Rob Light, for CAA, Amanda Silverman of The Lede Company, Shawn Sachs & Keleigh Thomas Morgan of Sunshine Sachs, and Diversified Production Services (DPS).
Global Citizen has continued to be at the forefront of the fight to end COVID-19. Last year, together with Lady Gaga, One World: Together: At Home mobilized over $127,9 million in support of healthcare workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and during Global Goal: Unite for Our Future, Global Citizen and the European Commission, secured $1.5 billion in cash grants and $5.4 billion in loans as well as the necessary political support to ensure everyone, everywhere would have access to COVID-19 testing, treatments and vaccines.
Who You May Spot: President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, Prime Minister Plenković of Croatia, campaign co-chairs Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Olivia Munn, & Sean Penn. YouTube’s extended version will include additional performances and appearances by NCT 127 and Picture This and YouTube creators Daniel El Travieso, Kati Morton, ShootforLove, Thembe Mahlaba and The Try Guys.
Hint for the Average Socialite: Find where to watch here! It will be airing in over 100 countries tomorrow, Saturday, May 8th starting at 8PM ET/PT, 7:00 PM CT on ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube, iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations and the iHeartRadio App. The concert will also air on FOX at 11:00 PM ET/PT, AXS TV, and will air internationally on Globo in Brazil and Caracol in Colombia, SABC in South Africa and MultiChoiceacross Africa.