MARLTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will present its Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award to recording artist, television personality, and choreographer Paula Abdul. She will accept the Award from Sandy Chapin, Harry’s widow, on May 18 at 12:30 p.m. CT during the Music Biz 2017 Awards Luncheon at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
Abdul is an ambassador of We.org, where she uplifts and empowers tens of thousands of youths in cities circling the globe as a speaker for We Day—a movement that unites world-renowned speakers and performers to celebrate the power young people have to change the world. This year, she partnered with Turnaround Arts, a signature program of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, to adopt a school in Brooklyn, NY, and help foster arts education in impoverished schools across the nation. In 2014, the Avon Foundation for Women tapped Abdul as their Avon Global Ambassador for their international #CheckYourself digital campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
“Paula’s philanthropic efforts are a prime example of how artists give back to their community and the world,” said James Donio, Music Biz President. “We are pleased to recognize her and hope her example will remind everyone how important it is to donate time, energy, and influence to charitable causes.”
“I’ve been blessed to be able to do what I love for a living, but it’s helping others that really brings me the most joy,” said Abdul. “The work itself is the true reward, but I hope this recognition will bring further awareness to the causes I fight for and inspire others to do the same.”
Previous Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award winners include the T.J. Martell Foundation, Martina McBride, Dee Snider, Annie Lennox, Melissa Etheridge, Norman Lear, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Jackson, Hilary Rosen, Rock the Vote, Hands Across America, Live Aid, and Harry Chapin.
Award-winning choreographer Abdul’s first album, 1988’s Forever Your Girl, sold over 12 million copies worldwide, earned a seven-times-Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), produced four #1 singles, and netted her a Grammy Award. Her followup album, 1991’s Spellbound, was certified triple-Platinum and featured two #1 singles. After a sold-out arena tour, she released Head Over Heels in 1995, which was certified Gold. She has also been honored by the American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and People’s Choice Awards. She was an original judge on American Idol and continued through 2010. Abdul returned to the airwaves in 2011 as a judge on FOX’s The X Factor, and served as a judge on the 2015 and 2016 seasons of So You Think You Can Dance. She will tour for the first time in over 25 years this May, joining Boyz II Men and New Kids on the Block for “The Total Package Tour.”
Music Biz 2017, which will return to Nashville from May 15-18, is the music industry’s premier event, giving the commerce and content sectors a place to meet with trading partners, network with new companies, and learn about new trends and products impacting the music business. Discounted early bird registration is now open at www.musicbiz2017.com.
About the Music Business Association
The Music Business
Association (Music Biz) is a membership organization that advances and
promotes music commerce — a community committed to the full spectrum of
monetization models in the industry. Music Biz and its members are
building the future of music commerce together.
