The inaugural High Note Music Prize will be awarded next year to a major recording artist in recognition of his or her outstanding contributions to humanity and the promotion of human rights through music.
Already being referred to by the entertainment community as “The Nobel Prize of Music,” the new annual award will be presented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the High Note Honors Concert, which will be held in London in the fall of 2018 and broadcast worldwide. The High Note Music Prize is part of The High Note Project, a global social justice initiative being launched by a founding committee of prominent entertainment executives.
The High Note Project is a global music initiative created by global philanthropic producer David Clark, who also worked with President Nelson Mandela to create and launch the 46664 worldwide HIV/AIDS Human Rights campaign in 2002.
Proceeds from The High Note Concert will benefit the High Note Music Prize winner’s favorite social justice charity, as well as the United Nations Human Rights Office and the GRAMMY Museum. The High Note Project is supported by the United Nations Human Rights Office, which on United Nations Human Rights Day is launching a year-long campaign commemorating the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948, and calling for people to “stand up for human rights.”
Grammy-nominated singer and social justice advocate Andra Day, whose song “Rise Up” became the anthem for Black Lives Matter, has lent her support to the global music initiative. "I admire the mission of High Note and its decision to recognize musicians for their contributions through song,” said Day.
Announcing the organization’s support for the High Note Project initiatives, Laurent Sauveur, the Director of External Affairs for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: “As we enter the 70th Anniversary year of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for people to stand up to protect human rights is more vital than ever.
“Music is also a force to be reckoned with, and musicians have the power to mobilize,” Sauveur said. “We are proud to help launch The High Note Project and High Note Music Prize in an effort to galvanize global awareness of the importance of human rights, and at the same time honor artists who passionately use their work to promote and protect the rights of others.”
The High Note Project is also endorsed by the GRAMMY Museum, which is dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music and has explored the role music has played as a political force in society.
“We commend The High Note Project and the UN Human Rights Office on their launch of the High Note Music Prize, which will place a deserved spotlight on artists using their music and platform for good,” said Scott Goldman, Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. “Music is a powerful tool, and when used to call out injustice that power inspires goodwill in others and affects change across a broad spectrum of social issues.”
Leading UK promoter Stuart Galbraith, CEO and Founder of Kilimanjaro Live, will produce the High Note Honors Concert event, in association with The High Note Project. “We’re both pleased and proud to have been selected as the promoter of The High Note Honors Concert, which will be a significant global event for music and the artists of our time that are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others,” said Galbraith.
“Since music is an international language that has the power to inspire, heal and inform, The High Note Project was created as a platform to honor and recognize iconic artists who utilize music to promote social justice, as well as to unite human rights organizations with the global music community,” added Clark.
During the concert broadcast, The High Note Music Prize winner’s favorite human rights cause will be highlighted, as well as promoted via a global Cause Flash social-media campaign that aims to reach over one billion people. In 2015, the “Water Now” Cause Flash supported by UN Water and the global “Clean Water Here” safe drinking water campaign launched a social-media blitz that reached more than one billion people on UN World Water Day - making it the largest social-media campaign in history promoting the need for clean water.
For more about The High Note Project at highnoteproject.org
