Watch Online: SING Campaign 5th Anniversary Film

December 1st 2012 Today is World Aids Day. As many of you know hearing Nelson Mandela describe the African HIV pandemic in 2003 as a genocide, with women and children as the frontline victims, was a turning point in Annie Lennox’s life. After seeing for herself how people were struggling to cope, Annie became an activist. And in 2007, she consolidated her work into the SING campaign.
SING is about advocacy and fundraising. It raises global awareness about the impact of HIV on women and children – particularly in South Africa, Malawi and the UK. This aims to promote global action on the issue. It provides financial support for organisations in these countries helping to ensure HIV-positive women and children have access to the treatment and care they need. This is especially important in order to reduce the transmission of HIV from mothers with HIV to their babies. 
The funds to make these grants come from money raised by Annie’s performances, income from the SING record and public donations to the campaign through the SING website. This adds up to over £1 million to date.
 
Please take a moment to watch and share this short film from Annie detailing some of SING's achievements this year: http://youtu.be/3Yw1fKoaMc4
 
Click here to donate to SING
Click here to find out what you can do to get involved
 

Annie Supports Nordoff Robbins This Christmas

November 30th 2012

"This Christmas, Nordoff Robbins is raising money so that it can provide more music therapy sessions for those who unlike you and I, struggle every day to make themselves heard and to communicate their hopes, feelings and fears. Please take two minutes of your time to look at this inspirational film that I have made with Nordoff Robbins to see some of the life changing work that they do. Please donate as much as you possibly can to help Nordoff Robbins provide more life changing music therapy sessions for those that need it the most over this festive season." Annie Lennox

Click here to visit the website now

Nordoff Robbins is a music therapy charity, dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable children and adults. They deliver over 50,000 music therapy sessions per year to people with a range of challenges such as autism, dementia, mental health problems, stroke, brain injury and life-threatening or terminal illnesses, such as cancer. All of these people have one uniting factor - music dramatically improves their quality of life.

They carry out our work in their own music therapy centres and units, in schools, day centres, hospitals and care homes and we collaborate with a number of partners including Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Music therapy is a specialist use of music to help people in many different ways – for some it has physical benefits, for others emotional or social ones and helps many to communicate. It can help people feel more motivated, social and self-confident. It gives people hope when times are rough.

UNAIDS to host Google+ Hangout ahead of World AIDS Day 2012

November 27th 2012

Annie Lennox named as the most played Scottish act of the century.

November 23rd 2012 Eurythmics’ singer and solo artist Annie Lennox has come top of the pops in a chart of the most played Scottish acts this century.

The chart is compiled from music licensing company PPL’s exclusive data for when recorded music is used on TV and on radio and in bars, shops, restaurants, gyms and other public places.

The top three most played acts are dominated by women, with Texas front woman and solo artist Sharleen Spiteri, and KT Tunstall completing the trio. Also rocking into the top ten most played Scottish acts are Wet Wet Wet, Calvin Harris and Franz Ferdinand.

The full top ten is as follows:

TOP TEN MOST PLAYED SCOTTISH ACTS
1)    Annie Lennox (solo and Eurythmics)
2)    Sharleen Spiteri
3)    KT Tunstall
4)    Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
5)    Wet Wet Wet
6)    Calvin Harris
7)    Paolo Nutini
8)    The Fratellis
9)    Franz Ferdinand
10)  Primal Scream          

Commenting on her top placing of the century, eight-time Brit Award winner Annie Lennox said: “I'm astonished to learn that I'm the most played Scottish musical artist of the century. If I'd had any idea that this would be the case when I headed for London over forty years ago, it might have smoothed over some of the rougher patches of the journey!

“As well as having a unique cultural heritage, Scots have a renowned reputation for our powers of innovation in many diverse fields the world over. We are a nation and Diaspora profoundly connected to the passion and soul reflected and expressed through music and music making.

“I am hugely proud of my roots and the country’s impressive musical legacy, so it is a huge honour for me to be recognised, and feel that I have in some way been part of that contribution! My congratulations go to all my fellow countrymen and women featured.”

PPL has revealed the chart as part of their ongoing awareness campaign to help Scottish businesses understand the value of playing recorded music in their business and the legalities and benefits of music licensing. Every business that plays music in their place of work must hold a valid PPL licence which can cost from as little as 19 pence per day. The funds from this licence are distributed by PPL to record companies and performers to pay for their services in providing the music.

Jonathan Morrish, director of PR and corporate communications at PPL said: “Scotland has a wide range of musical talents which this list demonstrates. These artists work hard to produce songs that we want to hear over and over again. We want Scotland’s business to value the work that these artists do and realise that music is a great tool for business.

 

“We aim to raise understanding about how beneficial playing music can be in keeping customers and staff alike happy, whilst also being legally compliant.”

The Circle - Italy

November 23rd 2012

On Nov 22nd 2012 Annie Lennox performed live at The Ice Palace in Milan during the Women's Circle 2012 fundraising event. She performed: 'People Get Ready', 'Here Comes The Rain Again', 'There Must Be An Angel' and 'Why'.
The funds raised will be used to strengthen the commitment of Oxfam Italy in the fight against poverty and the promotion of women's rights, in particular, providing them with training, tools and resources to improve the health, education and provide food for themselves and their family.
Together with Oxfam, in 2008 Annie set up "The Circle" – a group of influential women who have come together to use their profiles, ideas, skills and resources to connect with women living in poverty around the world. These like-minded women are bringing a fresh approach to the challenges women face both now and in the future, with funds raised from Circle events supporting Oxfam projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Circle is making a real difference to women's lives, empowering women to earn a living and giving girls the chance of an education, fighting HIV and AIDS, adapting to climate change and protecting women's rights. Click here to find out more