Monday, March 21, 2022

New Wave Icons DEVO To Donate Licensing Revenue to Benefit Ukraine

Media release: For Immediate Release



DEVO ANNOUNCE THEY WILL DONATE LICENSING REVENUE FROM THEIR SONG CATALOG TO ORGANIZATIONS HELPING SUPPORT UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND REFUGEES

THE INITIATIVE STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TO FOLLOW SUIT

LOS ANGELES – (March 21, 2022) In response to the ongoing war in Ukraine and atrocities levied against the Ukrainian people, New Wave pioneers and platinum-selling music icons, DEVO, announced today that in addition to making their own personal monetary contributions, they will be donating their licensing revenue from their song catalog for the entire month of April 2022. The money will go directly to Music Saves UA and World Central Kitchen, two organizations on the ground helping to directly support the Ukrainian people and refugees. The group is encouraging others to join them in this effort.

“Vladimir Putin’s rape of a sovereign nation, Ukraine, whose citizens are committed to democratic rule of law should not and cannot stand in the 21st Century,” shared Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale of DEVO. “To help the victims of Putin’s unprovoked war, DEVO will be donating these revenues from the licenses of our song catalog throughout the month of April. We invite our rights holder partners in masters and publishing matters to join us in doing the same. Further we encourage all successful recording artists to do something similar to help make this gesture reach critical mass.”

Music Saves UA is a non-profit fundraising project created to provide immediate humanitarian help, including medical, food, water and hygiene, to those who need it most right now in Ukraine. Learn more at musicsavesua.com

"The whole team at Music Saves UA is incredibly grateful for all the donations and constant help and support from the world of music and culture,” says Music Save UA representative Vlad Yaremchuk. “Our incredible team and dozens of volunteers who joined our cause are working 24/7 to provide supplies and aid via our humanitarian HQ in Kyiv. Every penny that reaches us is put to good use immediately, especially as we work to establish new centres on the Moldovian and Romanian borders for those fleeing. Every act of support is invaluable for us and we deeply appreciate it.”

World Central Kitchen, founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, is a non-profit organization that provides fresh meals in response to crises while working to build resilient food systems with locally led solutions. In response to the Ukraine invasion, WCK has activated in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Hungary, where they are providing meals for as many people as possible at border crossings, shelters, and other locations along the journey by working with local restaurants, caterers, and food trucks, and their own field kitchens. Learn more at wck.org

DEVO has a longstanding dedication to political and social activism. Known for hits like “Whip It,” “Beautiful World” and “That’s Good,” as well as for a career that spans across more than four decades and touches everything from music, art, television, movies and more, the group and its members are credited not only for pioneering the music video but also for using music and performance art as commentary on conformity, emotional repression and dehumanization.


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