Apple will join platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and others in streaming a multi-hour music and entertainment broadcast, called One World: Together at Home. It is intended to support the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
The “global live-cast,” announced Monday, will take place on April 18. It promises to feature musical performances from a number of big names such as Lady Gaga, Elton John, Alanis Morissette, Billie Eilish, Chris Martin, Paul McCartney and Keith Urban.
The broadcast will be hosted by late-night show hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert. The show will include appearances from the likes of Idris and Sabrina Elba, David Beckham and the cast of Sesame Street.
As well as the aforementioned tech platforms, the special will be broadcast live on Saturday, April 18, at 5 p.m. Pacific on ABC, NBC, ViacomCBS Networks and iHeartMedia, as well as Bell Media networks and platforms in Canada. It will run on BBC One and other international broadcasters the following day.
“We may have to be apart physically for a while, but we can still come together virtually to enjoy great music,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization. “The One World: Together At Home concert represents a powerful show of solidarity against a common threat.”
The special has already raised $35 million so far — including $10 million from Apple. Lady Gaga confirmed the Apple donation during a FaceTime conversation with CEO Tim Cook during a Tonight Show interview.
Alongside the WHO, it is also being organized by Global Citizen and “curated in collaboration with Lady Gaga.”
One World: Together at Home concert
The WHO’s Solidarity Response Fund has already shipped personal protective equipment to 75 countries. This includes more than 800,000 surgical masks and 54,000 N95 face masks. It has also sent 1.5 million diagnostic kits to 126 countries.
You can find more information about the concert here. It’s not yet clear exactly how Apple will stream the event. It seems likely that it could be either via its TV app or possibly Apple Music. We’ll update as we find out more.
