Star-Studded Variety Show Features Performances By MAGIC!, American Idol’s La'Porsche, Jessica Sanchez, and Nick Fradiani, BC Jean and Mark Ballas, And More Event Kicks Off Red Cross National Giving Day And Encourages Viewers To #help1family
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — What’s Trending, the leading online destination that curates the best of “what’s trending” on the web, and iHeartMedia, the media and entertainment company with the largest reach of any radio or TV outlet in America, have partnered for TUBEATHON, a star-studded digital telethon and musical variety show benefiting the American Red Cross on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. TUBEATHON will feature a mix of musical performances, live entertainment, and celebrity appearances streamed live from the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles on twitch.tv/whatstrending from 7-9pm PT with a gaming pre-show from 5-7pm PT.
The event serves as an early kick-off to the American Red Cross’ 2016 Giving Day on April 21, a one-day fundraising effort designed to increase public emergency preparedness awareness and raise funds for the Red Cross and its mission to help families who have been affected by disasters such as home fires.
“TUBEATHON is a powerful platform that brings together entertainers and influencers to raise awareness and funds for families affected by emergencies or disasters,” said Gail McGovern, American Red Cross President and CEO. “We are thrilled to be involved in this unique concert event as part of our Giving Day awareness and educational programs.”
TUBEATHON will feature musical performances by an all-star lineup, including: MAGIC!, Nick Fradiani, La’Porsche, Jessica Sanchez, Alyson Stoner, BC Jean and Mark Ballas, Chanel West Coast, Melanie Martinez, iLoveMemphis, Christina Grimmie, James Maslow, Tyler Hilton, DSharp, 80Fitz, Sky Blue, Sam Tsui, Janina Gavankar, Alex Boye, Heffron Drive, and more. Additionally, the show will include variety segments and appearances from fan-favorite influencers live from TUBEATHON’s Draft Kings sponsored Tweet Bank, a modern day take on a charity phone bank. Hosted by Shira Lazar with co-hosts Bart Baker, Quddus and Taryn Southern, TUBEATHON’s mix of celebrity guests and social media influencers–who traditionally generate more than 200 million social media impressions combined– will encourage viewers throughout the live stream to participate and donate to the Red Cross by using the hashtag #help1family. For every Tweet with the #help1family hashtag, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark will donate $1 to Red Cross.
Throughout TUBEATHON on April 20 and Giving Day on April 21, viewers can help provide funds to support a family with basic essentials following a community disaster, including tornadoes and home fires. Every year, the Red Cross responds to nearly 66,000 disasters nationwide where a family has lost everything; the roof over their heads, their clothes, and their most cherished possessions. With less than $90 needed to support a family of 3 for one day, a gift toward TUBEATHON and the Red Cross’ one-day awareness effort using #help1family can help provide urgent relief, such as a day’s worth of food, blankets, and other essentials.
Leading up to TUBEATHON, iHeartMedia leveraged the company’s spectrum of multiplatform assets to address key aspects of fire safety and prevention. For the last several weeks, iHeartMedia has launched an on-air and online campaign across its more than 850 radio stations, station websites and iHeartRadio.com, designed to build awareness and drive tune-in to TUBEATHON.
“At iHeartMedia it’s a priority for us to focus on the relevant and critical issues that matter most to our listeners and our communities,” said Alissa Pollack, Executive Vice President of Global Music Marketing for iHeartMedia. “TUBEATHON is a unique opportunity to deliver a very important message about home fire safety and preparedness by combining the social influence of some of the most popular online celebrities with the national and local reach of all of our 850+ radio stations.”
TUBEATHON has already garnered social support from a number of stars, including Lamorne Morris, Don Benjamin, Chloe Lukasiak, who will be joining live from the Draft King Tweet Bank the day of the event. In addition to using #help1family, donations to the Red Cross can be made by visiting redcross.org/givingday. A $10 donation to the Red Cross can be made by texting REDCROSS to 90999. All donations will be processed on April 21, 2016.
For more information, visit www.redcross.org.
Media RSVP for TUBEATHON: Jennifer.g.vessio@gmail.com
About American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About iHeartMedia
With over a quarter of a billion monthly listeners in the U.S. and over 80 million social followers, iHeartMedia has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. It serves over 150 markets through 858 owned radio stations, and the company¹s radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, HD digital radio, satellite radio, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com and on the company¹s radio station websites, on the iHeartRadio mobile app, in enhanced auto dashes, on tablets and smartphones, and on gaming consoles.
iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia¹s digital radio platform, is the No. 1 all-in-one digital audio service with over 800 million downloads; it reached its first 20 million registered users faster than any digital service in Internet history and reached 80 million users faster than any other radio or digital music service and even faster than Facebook. The company¹s operations include radio broadcasting, online, mobile, digital and social media, live concerts and events, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. iHeartMedia is a division of iHeartMedia, Inc. (OTCBB: IHRT). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
