RockCorps is a pro-social marketing and entertainment company that uses music to inspire people to take action by volunteering and getting involved in their community.  RockCorps' principal idea is "Give, Get Given”. They do this by producing concerts with exclusive entry tied to participating in a 4 hour community volunteer project. To date, over 180,000 volunteers have attended more than 50 live concert events, giving over 700,000 hours to volunteering at more than 2,600 global charities.

The company was founded in 2003 and partnered in 2005 with Boost Mobile in the US. RockCorps has also partnered with brands such as Orange,[1] and BT in the UK and France, Optus in Australia[2] and Coca-Cola in South Africa.[3] RockCorps' latest project is Apprentice Nation, which raises awareness of the apprenticeship scheme in the UK as an alternative route to university. It also provides young people with the skills they need to be successful in their early careers.[4]

RockCorps has featured artists such as Rihanna, David Guetta, Lady Gaga, Drake, Pharrell Williams, Fifth Harmony, Kanye West, Ellie Goulding, 6LACK, Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, and Vampire Weekend.[5][6]

About

Anyone who gives 4 hours of their time at a RockCorps organized volunteer event in their local community is given a ticket to an exclusive concert put on by RockCorps.[7]

The volunteer events are always in partnership with local non-profit organizations. non-profit partners in various cities have included: Lee Valley Regional Park[8] (UK), Thames 21(UK)[9] Social Change Media (USA), Watts Boys and Girls Club (USA), Heal the Bay (USA), Big Kidz (USA), Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation (USA), Arepa (FRANCE) and ABEJ (FRANCE).

RockCorps is not a non-profit organization, instead partners with a brand partner in each country, creating a marketing and communication platform that combines entertainment and community work. When launched in 2005 in the US, RockCorps partnered with Boost Mobile and was known as 'Boost Mobile RockCorps'. In the UK, France and Israel RockCorps is partnered with Orange and is known as 'Orange RockCorps'. In the UK in 2008 and 2009 RockCorps was also partnered with Sony Ericsson. This changed to BlackBerry in 2010.

History

RockCorps sprang from the work of the Greenbucks Foundation in the USA. Active in the mid-'90s, Greenbucks staged its initial concerts in Telluride and encouraged local residents to clean up the outdoor concert space in order to earn a ticket.

RockCorps' first nationwide effort in 2005 with partner Boost Mobile, a wireless telecommunications company. In its first year, the Boost Mobile RockCorps (BMRC) movement staged events in six U.S. cities and had 5,000 volunteers who generated 20,000 hours of service. In 2007, Boost Mobile RockCorps expanded the program to 11 cities and over 15,000 volunteers. BMRC had a total of over 30,000 American volunteers and travelled to over 13 U.S. cities.[10]

RockCorps expanded to the UK in 2008, announcing in April its partnership with mobile operator Orange. In 2008, in partnership with Orange, Sony Ericsson and Channel 4, RockCorps produced the Orange RockCorps (ORC) concert at The Royal Albert Hall on September 26. To get a ticket to the show – people had to sign up for one of 55 volunteer events that happened throughout August and September. 5000 people volunteered 20,000 hours to 41 UK charities in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Southampton and Newcastle.[11]

In 2009, Orange RockCorps returned to London, and also launched in Manchester, UK. The Manchester gig took place on July 13 at the Manchester Apollo with Lady Gaga, N-Dubz, The Enemy, V V Brown and Tinchy Stryder. The London concert took place on September 25 at the Royal Albert Hall with Nelly, Nas, Kelly Rowland and David Guetta, Razorlight, Chase & Status and Akon.[12][13]

RockCorps also launched in Paris their first French program,[14] on July 21 ("en association avec M6"). The concert took place on October 2 in Le Zénith and featured Akon, David Guetta, Busta Rhymes, Sefyu.[15]

In 2010 Orange RockCorps spread to Israel[16] for a Rihanna concert at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv for 13,000 RockCorps volunteers.[17]

2010 also saw Orange RockCorps return to Manchester and to the Apollo on July 8 with Snoop Dogg, Vampire Weekend, Tinie Tempah and Mr Hudson. The London concert that year was held in The Albert Hall on September 24 with Pendulum, Mark Ronson and the Business International featuring Boy George, N-Dubz, Taio Cruz and Plan B. By the end of 2010, 24,000 people had volunteered with RockCorps in the UK.[18][19]

In France 2010, Orange RockCorps expanded to Marseille, completing the programme with a concert at Le Dôme on July 12 featuring Damian Marley, Nas, Sexion D'Assaut, Alonzo and Soprano. They also returned to Paris and with a concert at Le Zénith on October 5, featuring N*E*R*D, Sexion D'Assaut, Mark Ronson and the Business International featuring Boy George and V V Brown.

In Sydney 2013, Optus RockCorps launched their campaign[20] with a 5,000 volunteer concert at the Hordern Pavilion with The Script, Tinie Tempah, Guy Sebastian, The Potbelleez. In 2014 Optus RockCorps came to The Big Top in Luna Park Sydney which played host to 3,000 volunteers who came to see Empire of the Sun, Rudimental, Miguel, Samantha Jade. Optus is still the sponsor of RockCorps in Australia.

RockCorps Japan launched in 2014 to help re-build communities affected by the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami.[21] RockCorps brought together 4,000 volunteers at the Tohoku Arena to see Ne-Yo, Kobukuro, Flumpool and May J.

Concerts


RockCorps Concerts
Year Month Country Location Project Name Artists Volunteers
2014 September Japan Fukushima Japan RockCorps Japan Neyo, Kobukuro, Flumpool, May J 4,000
2014 October France Transbordeur– Lyon Orange RockCorps Casseur Flowters 500
2014 September France Nancy Orange RockCorps Shaka Ponk 500
2014 April France Le Rocher de Palmer – Bordeaux Orange RockCorps Black M, Keurispoi, DJ HCue 500
2014 July France Le Trianon – Paris Orange RockCorps Wiz Khalifa, Azealia Banks, Indila, DJ Cut Killer 1,500
2014 April Australia Brisbane Optus RockCorps American Authors 500
2014 April Australia Melbourne Optus RockCorps American Authors 500
2014 March Australia Luna Park – Sydney Optus RockCorps Empire of the Sun,[22] Rudimental,[23] Miguel, Samantha Jade 3,000
2013 November South Africa Ellis Park Arena – Johannesburg Coca-Cola RockCorps Busta Rhymes,[24] Ciara, D’Banj, Teargas 4,000
2013 July France Le Trianon – Paris Orange RockCorps Trey Songz,[25] Oxmo Puccino, Kerry James, Tal, DJ Cut Killer 1,500
2013 April France Le Carriere – Nantes Orange RockCorps Youssoupha 500
2013 April Australia Hordern – Sydney Optus RockCorps The Script,[26] Tinie Tempah, Guy Sebastian, The Potbelleez 5,000
2012 August Mexico Plaza Condesa – Mexico City Buchanan's Tiempo para Compartir Maroon 5, Javier Colon 2,000
2012 August Mexico Auditorio TelMex – Guadalajara Buchanan's Tiempo para Compartir Maroon 5 500
2012 June Colombia Royal Center – Bogota Buchanan's Tiempo para Compartir The Smashing Pumpkins, Monsieur Periné 2,500
2012 June Venezuela Caracas Buchanan's Tiempo para Compartir The Smashing Pumpkins 2,500
2012 July France Paris Orange RockCorps Sean Paul, The Ting Tings, Shy'm, 1995, DJ LBR 5,000
2012 October France Le Dome – Marseile Orange RockCorps Lauryn Hill, Nas, Youssoupha, Inna Modja 2,000
2011 July France Zenith – Paris Orange RockCorps David Guetta, Taio Cruz, Tinie Tempah, Mélissa Nkonda 5,000
2011 October France Le Dome – Marseile Orange RockCorps Snoop Dogg, Flo Rida, Selah Sue, Lilly Wood and the Prick 2,000
2011 July United Kingdom Wembley Arena – London Orange RockCorps P. Diddy & Diddy – Dirty Money, Primal Scream, Kelis, Professor Green, Wretch 32 11,000
2010 July France Zenith – Paris Orange RockCorps Pharrell / NERD, Mark Ronson and the Business International, V V Brown, Stomae, Soprano 5,000
2010 July France Le Dome – Marseile Orange RockCorps Nas, Damian Marley, Sexion D'Assuat, Soprano and Alonzo, DJ Cut Killer 2,000
2010 July United Kingdom Apollo – Manchester[27] Orange RockCrops Snoop Dogg, Vampire Weekend, Mr Hudson, Tinie Tempah 3,000
2010 September United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall – London[28] Orange RockCorps Pendulum, Mark Ronson, Plan B, N-Dubz, Taio Cruz, RockCorps Allstars[29] 5,000
2010 Israel Bloomfield Stadium – Tel Aviv Orange RockCorps Rihanna[30] 13,500
2009 July United Kingdom Apollo – Manchester Orange RockCorps Lady Gaga, N-Dubz, The Enemy, V V Brown, Tinchy Stryder 3,000
2009 September United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall – London Orange RockCorps Nelly, Akon, Razorlight, David Guetta, Kelly Rowland, Chase & Status 5,000
2009 October France Zenith – Paris Orange RockCorps Busta Rhymes, David Guetta, Kelly Rowland, Akon, Razorlight, Sefyu 5,000
2008 September United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall – London Orange RockCorps Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Guillemots, John Legend, Feeder, Lethal Bizzle, The Automatic 5,000
2008 June United States Gibson Theater – Los Angeles Boost Mobile RockCorps Akon, Puddle of Mudd, Common, Flyleaf, Busta Rhymes 3,000
2007 March United States Kodak Theatre – Los Angeles Boost Mobile RockCorps Korn, Game, +44, Rise Against , Young Jeezy, Xibit 3,000
2007 June United States Fox Theater – Atlanta Boost Mobile RockCorps Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, ?uestlove, Young Jeezy 3,000
2007 October United States Radio City Music Hall Boost Mobile RockCorps Busta Rhymes, Angels & Airwaves, Ludacris, Young Joc 5,000
2006 June United States Fox Theatre - Atlanta Boost Mobile RockCorps Lil Wayne, Big Boi, Keyshia Cole 3,000
2006 September United States Radio City Music Hall Boost Mobile RockCorps T.I., Panic! at the Disco, Nelly, Don Omar, Nas, Kelis, Taking Back Sunday 5,000
2005 United States Radio City Music Hall Boost Mobile RockCorps Travis Barker and DJ AM, Paul Wall, Kanye West, Slim Thug, Fabolous, Faith Evans, Young Jeezy, The Lox, Fat Joe, T.I. 5,000

Leadership

RockCorps continues to be operated by co-founders: Stephen Greene (CEO), film and TV director Chris Robinson. Original founders also included Grady Lee, Haley Moffett, Paul Hunter, Toby Garrett and Noel Eisenberg

The Collective

In 2009 RockCorps launched 'The Collective'. 'The Collective' is the anywhere/anytime part of the project. It rewards volunteers who give to their community, but who may not be able to make a project or gig. Volunteers have to give 4 hours of their time wherever, whenever they want and they become a part of 'The Collective community' by sharing their experience with their peers through The Collective website. Collective members are offered exclusive tickets and are entered into prize draws. Prizes have included Ticketmaster vouchers, tickets to RockCorps gigs in other countries, and exclusive access to other concerts.[31]

References

  1. Hazel Davis (July 10, 2008). "Music tickets in exchange for volunteering work". The Guardian.
  2. "Optus RockCorps comes to Australia | [V] on Foxtel". [V]. March 12, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  3. "Coca-Cola RockCorps platform launched". www.bizcommunity.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. "Thinking of an apprenticeship? You need to know this new platform". Evening Standard. March 20, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  5. "Lady GaGa and N-Dubz to perform for Orange RockCorps". music-news.com. May 27, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  6. "N-Dubz to play Orange RockCorps gig". mirror.co.uk. July 29, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. HM Government (December 29, 2010). "Giving Green Paper" (PDF). cabinetoffice.gov.uk. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 27, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  8. "Volunteering Rocks! Orange RockCorps comes to Middlesex Filter Beds". leevalleypark.org.uk. September 15, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  9. "Lowest tide will reveal London's plastic bag litter legacy". thames21.org.uk. March 1, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  10. "Taking Back Sunday to headline live tour dates for Boost Mobile RockCorps". starpulse.com. June 7, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  11. Sweeney, Mark (September 18, 2008). "Orange Promotes RockCorps Volunteers". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  12. "Nas and Nelly for Orange RockCorps". mtv.co.uk. September 11, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  13. "1Xtra News Gallery". bbc.co.uk. September 29, 2009. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  14. "Orange Rockcorp Music in France". The Inspiration Room. October 20, 2009.
  15. Vaslot, Romain (August 5, 2009). "Quatre heures de bénévolat associatif contre une place de concert". lemonde.fr. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  16. "Rihannas bold concert in Israel". NDTVMovies.com.
  17. "Rihanna volunteering with RockCorps and working with Eminem". thisisrnb.com. July 22, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  18. "Snoop Dogg for Orange RockCorps". metro.co.uk. May 27, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  19. "See Pendulum at the Royal Albert Hall". xfm.co.uk. September 1, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  20. "Samantha Jade launches Optus RockCorps 2014". Nova 969. February 3, 2014.
  21. "FUKUSHIMA MINPO NEWS - Fukushima to hold RockCorps global music event in September, first in Asia".
  22. "Optus RockCorps concert brings Samantha Jade, Empire of the Sun and more to volunteers". Daily Telegraph. March 14, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  23. "Empire of the Sun and Rudimental shine for Optus RockCorps 2014".
  24. "City Press". CityPress. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013.
  25. "Concert Orange RockCorps : Trey Songz, Kery James, Tal... du beau monde au Trianon !". melty. July 17, 2013.
  26. "TINIE TEMPAH SWAPS SPOTS WITH LABRINTH FOR OPTUS ROCKCORPS CONCERT". Optus. March 8, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  27. metrowebukmetro (May 27, 2010). "Snoop Dogg for Orange RockCorps - Metro News". Metro.
  28. "IndieLondon: Pendulum and Mark Ronson join Orange RockCorps London gig (2010) - Your London Reviews".
  29. RockCorps Allstars - 'Give a Little Love' - Roll Deep, Aggro Santos, Bashy. July 26, 2012 via YouTube.
  30. "Rihanna at Orange Rockcorps Press Conference In Israel 5/29".
  31. "Orange RockCorps expands its nationwide campaign The Collective". aaamusic.co.uk. August 9, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
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