Radio Vieques, Artists for Media Diversity, Latino Public Radio Consortium and Media Alliance announce the reissue of Artists for Vieques – a 20 song compilation featuring Willie Nelson, Los Lonely Boys, Calle 13, Zoraida Santiago, Rei Ortiz, Los Bandidos Cósmicos and many more musical artists, to raise funds to rebuild the public radio station in hurricane-battered Vieques, Puerto Rico.
Radio Vieques (WVQR) provides essential communication and community organizing services for Puerto Rico’s two island municipalities — Culebra and Vieques — as well as the eastern half of the main island. Hurricane Maria damaged the station’s facilities and Radio Vieques has not returned to full broadcasting.
“Solidarity from organizations like A4MD, Media Alliance and the Latino Public Radio Consortium (LPRC) is crucial to get Radio Vieques back on the air to help our community rebuild and recover”, said WVQR Director, Roberto Rabin.
Originally released in 2013 to help build WVQR, Artists for Vieques, is a musical gift from recording artists across the United States and the Navajo Nation to Vieques Island and Puerto Rico . “All of us are deeply moved by the devastating impact of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico” said Barbara Kooyman, co-founder of A4MD.
You can read about the project in Radio World here.
For more on the situation in Vieques and the surrounding region, see this NY Times article
Artists for Vieques is available online at www.a4md.org.
Additionally, all Media Alliance new memberships and renewals before the end of the year will receive the album and make a relief donation.
The 2017-2018 reissue of Artists For Vieques by Artists for Media Diversity with support from Media Alliance (MA) and the Latino Public Radio Consortium (LPRC) and ) will be distributed on a revenue-sharing basis. Community radio stations and other supportive organizations in the US will let their audiences know about Artists for Vieques. Each purchase of the 20-song album, which sells for $20, will send 50% of the proceeds directly to Puerto Rico, with 25% remaining with the US partner organization and 25% covering production, administration, sales and distribution costs.
“We have been working on many fronts to get public media stations in Puerto Rico back up and running,” explained LPRC Executive Director Magaly Rivera. “It is great to see how this project, which played a crucial role in making Radio Vieques a reality, is now also part of the station’s and Puerto Rico’s recovery.”
Tracy Rosenberg, ED of Media Alliance, commented: “The whole country was horrified by the disaster that struck the island in September and the inadequate federal response. Teaming up to rebuild this essential tool using beautiful music, is the best way we could think of to renew and strengthen our decades-long commitment to community media”.
Sample the music on Artists for Vieques here.
To sign up as a partner organization to promote Artists For Vieques this gift giving season, click here.