MTV Asia to broadcast AIDS awareness concert on 25 February

MTV Asia to broadcast AIDS awareness concert on 25 February

MUMBAI: Spread the message of HIV/AIDS awareness!! This is what MTV Asia in alliance with YouthAIDS, 8th Wonder of the World LLC and the entertainment mogul Lou Pearlman, have joined forces to do to raise international awareness for HIV/AIDS.

The 10 part concert series is scheduled to take place bi-annually in exotic locations around the world, with the first concert to kick off on 25 February 2006 at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

MTV Asia will cover the event to be held at the Taj Mahal, broadcasting to over 32 million viewers throughout Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. 8th Wonder of the World and MTV Asia will continue to secure media partnerships globally to expand the reach of the awareness campaign.

YouthAIDS, an HIV/AIDS education and prevention initiative of Population Service International, with its strong network of celebrities and entertainers, will encourage artists and youth ambassadors across the globe to participate.

The organization will serve as one of the beneficiaries of funds raised from the concert series continuing the advancement and reach of their life saving messages, products and services, informs a press release.

YouthAIDS founder Kate Roberts says: "YouthAIDS is proud to participate in the first of several concerts with 8th Wonder of the World, targeting young people with life saving messages about HIV/AIDS awareness."

The release adds that YouthAIDS engages media, entertainment and pop culture to educate millions of young people around the world.

Entertainment mogul Lou Pearlman (Backstreet Boys, O-Town, LFO) will also assist in celebrity and artist involvement for the event, including already secured European phenomenon with the number one single in Germany, US.

100 per cent of the net profits generated from the concert series will be donated to charity to assist children living or affected by HIV/AIDS. The virus is one of the most devastating health crises of the last half century. The most recent statistics estimate that 38 million people worldwide were infected with HIV. Approximately 17 million people with HIV are women and 2.1 million are children under age 15.