Basically, if you sign up for this service (which costs just $5 per month), each week you'll receive exclusive music from the world's greatest artists, and in turn people living with HIV in Africa will get the medicine they need to stay alive. Seems like a worthwhile endeavor to me.

For those of you not aware, (RED) is not a charity. (RED) is a business model created to raise awareness and money for the Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT) RED branded products. A portion of profits from each (PRODUCT) RED product sold goes directly to the Global Fund to invest in African AIDS programs, with a focus on women and children. (RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver and current partners include Starbucks, American Express (UK only), Converse, Gap, Dell, Windows, Apple and Hallmark with more joining all the time.

Why is it called (RED)? Red is the color of emergency. 4,100 people die every day in Africa and many others are fighting for their lives; so this constitutes an emergency. In just year two, (PRODUCT)RED passed the $100 million mark for funds generated for the Global Fund. More than 2.5 million people have been impacted by programs supported by (PRODUCT)RED purchases.

(RED) is separate from ONE, but the they work together to fight the AIDS pandemic and the extreme poverty in which it thrives. (RED) empowers you, the consumer, to choose products that raise money for the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. ONE harnesses the voices of its 2.4 million members to advocate for justice for the world's poor, targets G-8 nations to campaign on debt, HIV and AIDS, and trade in Africa. Between (RED) and ONE, there is a way for every individual to get involved in the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. For more information about ONE go to ONE.ORG. For more information on (RED) go to www.joinred.com.

Now more about the launch of (RED)WIRE. There is a great article from USA Today that discusses (RED)WIRE. I have included the article below for you to read yourself:

USA Today: Subscriptions to (RED)WIRE Digital Music Will Fight AIDS
25 November 2008
By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

The new digital music service co-founded by Bono, which promises fans exclusive music by major artists in exchange for $5 a month to fight AIDS, will launch on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

MSN will host Monday's kickoff event for (RED) Wire, an extension of the (RED) organization founded by the U2 frontman and Bobby Shriver to combat AIDS in Africa. New songs and videos from U2, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Dixie Chicks, Jay-Z, John Legend and Sheryl Crow will be available at red.msn.com.

For Legend, signing on "was a no-brainer. (RED) has proven an effective vehicle. And the lineup of artists is exciting company." The singer recorded a new version of Bob Marley's Redemption Song, "which just felt right for this project and for the time that we're in."

The premieres also include a live track from the upcoming Sundance series Spectacle, pairing Elvis Costello with The Police, and a new Christmas song recorded by The Killers and Elton John. Bob Dylan and R.E.M. are on deck for future editions.

"The goal was something that wasn't just a one-off CD, but an ongoing service that would generate an ongoing flow of money," says Hear Music founder Don MacKinnon, who conceived the project.

"I like that it stands alone as a creative and fun thing to both receive and participate in," says R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe. "And it would be that with or without the charity aspect."

In addition to the superstar exclusives and collaborations, subscribers will receive a weekly spotlight track featuring a lesser-known artist. "I call it 'the artist we want everyone to hear,' " MacKinnon says. "It doesn't mean that they're a big buzz act or unsigned, but there will be some that very few people have heard of."

There's also a non-music feature that MacKinnon describes as "the Cracker Jack surprise. It could be an actor reading a favorite speech or poem, or telling a joke, or some great photography."

Subscribers will receive updates on how their donations are being used. "So many charities show a picture of a dusty village and ask you to send $10," MacKinnon says. "We want to give people a real window into the culture of Africa, something that can help them understand in deeper ways. We're trying to get cameras to teenagers, so they can show us their lives."

Half the fee will go the Global Fund, through which (RED) provides AIDS medicines for women and children. Most of the remainder goes to artist royalties.

I love music and it seems like some outstanding artists will be making special songs available through this service, so that interests me very much. The fact that some of the proceeds will go to help fight a horrible disease to me is just a bonus. If you want to sign up for (RED)WIRE, you can visit red.msn.com and I noticed they have an offer of the first two issues free if you sign up now. Then every Wednesday, you receive your new music via the (RED)WIRE player - which also places each song automatically in your iTunes.

Each week's issue of (RED)WIRE contains...

• An exclusive song from a major artist.

• A song by an artist we want everyone to hear.

• A fun or inspiring piece that's not music - a short video of someone telling a story, a slideshow of great photography, someone reading something they love.

• Frequent updates from Africa - a window into the culture of the people receiving the medicine.

All your (RED)WIRE music is yours to keep - they are unprotected digital files. Play them on your iPod, burn them to a CD and enjoy.

Like I said, seems like something that is worth checking out. The reason I have included this in Kickin' it Old School is that (RED)WIRE is definitely making a pop culture impact. The simple fact that some of the greatest musicians in the world are contributing songs made it worth sharing with you.

I personally feel there are many issues/charities within the United States that could use this sort of attention and support. I try to prioritize the organizations that help those people in my own community. The battles against monsters like cancer and AIDS are making progress and are also worthwhile causes in my opinion. And in this case, you get some good music out of it as well.

That's all I have for this issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. I will be back to more 80s issues soon. In the meantime, if you want to find any previous issues of Kickin' it, use the Google Search Bar at the top of the right hand column. While up there, please take a moment to rate and/or vote for my blog with the several buttons that are also near the top of the right hand column. Peace and much love.

Check this out: On a lighter note, here is another sign that caused me to chuckle. This place is called the 4 Seasons restaurant, which to me would imply it was open year round, but see the banner that contradicts that. I think when they re-open, they should change the name of the restaurant to something more appropriate.

Quote of the day: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope... and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." -Robert F. Kennedy

Download this: Go to red.msn.com and take advantage of the great songs they will send you each week.