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| Concert for New York City | |
|---|---|
| Name | Concert for New York City |
| Caption | Benefit concert held at Madison Square Garden in 2001 |
| Date | October 20, 2001 |
| Venue | Madison Square Garden |
| Location | New York City, New York (state) |
| Organizers | Paul McCartney, The Who, Billy Joel, New York City |
| Attendance | ~18,000 |
| Beneficiaries | September 11 relief funds |
Concert for New York City was a charity rock benefit at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 20, 2001, organized in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks to honor first responders, families, and victims. Promoted and headlined by prominent artists, the event united performers from rock music, country music, hip hop, and Broadway to raise funds and morale, drawing global media attention and wide critical discussion. The production involved major figures from the music industry and philanthropic organizations, and its broadcast reached international audiences via television and radio syndication.
The concert was conceived in the weeks after the September 11 attacks as part of relief efforts associated with municipal leaders and cultural figures including Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, and executives from Clear Channel Communications. Prominent musicians such as Paul McCartney and Billy Joel coordinated with managers and agents from Live Nation and William Morris Agency to organize a large-scale benefit at Madison Square Garden, the arena associated with MSG Network broadcasts and landmark concerts by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Led Zeppelin. The stated purpose was to honor the emergency services of New York City Fire Department, New York City Police Department, and Emergency Medical Services while raising money for relief organizations including foundations linked to Robin Hood Foundation, Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, and union charities.
The event began with ceremonies involving political and civic figures; attendees included representatives from White House offices and delegations from foreign consulates in New York City. The stage production featured direction by concert producers experienced with large televised events such as the Live Aid and Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concerts, employing staging crews who had worked with Cirque du Soleil designers and corporate sponsors like PepsiCo and Verizon Communications. Security and access were coordinated with agencies including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and interagency task forces that had recently mobilized for Ground Zero recovery. Ticketing was managed through Ticketmaster and beneficiary coordination involved nonprofit counsel and representatives from unions such as the Associated Musicians of Greater New York.
The lineup featured an eclectic cross-section of artists. Headliners included Paul McCartney, who performed selections from The Beatles catalog and his solo repertoire; The Who, who delivered classics from the Tommy (rock opera) era and Who's Next repertoire; and Billy Joel, whose piano sets evoked ties to Brill Building songcraft and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame laureates. Additional performers spanned genres: Bette Midler performed in a torch style associated with Broadway revivals, David Bowie contributed art-rock links to Ziggy Stardust, Sting brought connections to The Police, Bon Jovi offered arena-rock anthems, while country and folk voices such as Dixie Chicks and James Taylor represented Americana traditions. Hip hop and R&B appearances included artists tied to Def Jam Recordings and Motown Records legacies. The show also incorporated appearances by Broadway casts from productions like Chicago (musical) and orchestral support from musicians affiliated with the New York Philharmonic.
Notable collaborations included a reunion-style set with members connected to The Doors and guest appearances by artists associated with Rolling Stone magazine cover stories. The setlist mixed charity-themed anthems, protest-linked classics such as songs once performed at the Woodstock festival, and newly articulated tributes referencing the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building as icons.
Television networks including ABC (American TV network), NBCUniversal, and MTV coordinated live and delayed broadcasts domestically, while international outlets such as the BBC and CBC provided syndicated feeds. Radio syndication reached affiliates of Clear Channel Communications and the BBC World Service. Critical reception varied: music critics from publications like Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and The Guardian debated the event's artistic merits while praising its civic symbolism; commentators from Fox News and CNN discussed the production's logistical achievements and emotional resonance. The concert's impact extended to fundraising metrics, morale among Fire Department of New York crews, and subsequent benefit models used by organizations such as Live Earth and philanthropic campaigns after natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
Proceeds were allocated to foundations and funds established for families of fallen workers, injured responders, and recovery operations at Ground Zero. Primary beneficiaries included the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, unions representing New York City Fire Department members, and nonprofit organizations like the Robin Hood Foundation which later implemented grantmaking to community-based groups in affected neighborhoods. Distribution involved coordination with labor entities such as the International Association of Fire Fighters and relief frameworks modeled on prior disaster responses overseen by organizations like American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
The concert has been cited in cultural histories alongside benefit events like Live Aid and memorial gatherings such as The Concert for Bangladesh for demonstrating how popular culture mobilizes after crisis. Its legacy includes influence on subsequent benefit productions, protocols for artist-led philanthropy with entities like MusicCares, and archival preservation through institutions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives and the New York Public Library special collections. The event also shaped public memory of the September 11 attacks in popular music narratives and informed scholarship in fields examining celebrity humanitarianism and civic ritual.
Category:Benefit concerts Category:2001 in music Category:Concerts at Madison Square Garden