Coldplay, BTS, Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, Metallica and Jennifer Lopez are among the acts due to appear at this year’s event, which the organization admits was a logistical roller coaster “as the pandemic continues to spread and schedules and tour routing continue to shift as a result,” says Katie Hill, senior vp music, entertainment and artist relations at Global Citizen.
Evans believes artists keep returning to support the movement, and to perform for free, because they can see the tangible actions taking place as a result. Usher — who will perform for a vaccinated, masked audience — agrees: “For a decade, this global organization has had a direct impact on inspiring change for those who need it most. When the lights go down and the performers have left the stage, Global Citizen is continuing its work, day in and day out, to defeat poverty and protect our planet.”
But, as Evans adds, the performers are making an impact, too. “Artists are activists. Their platform just happens to be an awfully lot bigger than [yours or mine].”
This story originally appeared in the Aug. 28, 2021, issue of Billboard.