HeadCount is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to registering voters and inspiring participation in democracy through the power of music. Its board of directors include Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, Al Schnier of moe., and Marc Brownstein of the Disco Biscuits, who serves as the organization’s Co-Chair. HeadCount enjoys affiliations with over 50 touring bands including Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, O.A.R. The Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh & Friends, Gov’t Mule, Sound Tribe Sector 9, and Spearhead. For more information on HeadCount, or to register to vote visit www.HeadCount.org.
What Is HeadCount?
HeadCount is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to registering voters and inspiring participation in democracy through the power of music. In 2008, we will stage the largest event-based voter registration campaign in the U.S. and be the only nonprofit organization registering voters at concerts on a broad, nationwide scale.
Our Bands & Partners
Our most prominent partners are musicians – a list that includes Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, moe., The Disco Biscuits, Umphrey's McGee and Sound Tribe Sector Nine. Our Board of Directors includes Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, the agents and managers of various HeadCount-affiliated artists, and the people behind Relix Magazine, JamBase.com, the Green Apple Festival, Rothbury, Gathering of the Vibes and Bonnaroo.
What has HeadCount done so far?
We registered 60,000 voters from 2004 to 2007, more than any other volunteer-led organization in the U.S. We set an all-time record for the most registrations on a single concert tour by signing up over 12,000 voters at Dave Matthews Band concerts in 2004. We also produced nationally-televised Public Service Announcements urging people to vote starring Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio and members of The Grateful Dead. Our work continued in 2006 with the "Midterms Matter" tour bringing voter registration to over 30 major concerts and festivals.
What will we do in 2008?
We will register 100,000 to 200,000 new voters by sending street teams to over 1,000 concerts in 50 cities and on the road with major touring bands. Meanwhile, we'll stage a massive "Get Out the Vote" campaign working directly with artists and other nonprofit organizations to remind fans to vote on Election Day.
Why register voters at concerts?
Our core belief is that concert-goers represent a large, vibrant community that can be politically influential if properly represented at the polls. HeadCount aims to mobilize this audience into action with a particular emphasis on young and new voters. Less than half of Americans age 18 to 24 voted in the last presidential election. However, among those who were actually registered four out of five made it to the polls (according to the U.S. Census Bureau). We make it easy and fun for people to register so they can begin a lifetime of civic participation.
What will HeadCount do after the election?
We won't stop. Instead, we'll take the momentum we've built and broaden our scope to address other issues. HeadCount will become more than a voter registration organization, evolving into "the community organizing arm of the live music scene." We'll use concerts as a conduit to bring like-minded people together and then take our activity beyond concerts and be a positive, active force around America. We aim to give every socially-conscious music fan an outlet for his or her desire to make a difference.
A Call to Action
Check out "A Call to Action," a documentary depicting Headcount's role in making the live music community more politically active. Bob Weir, Trey Anastasio, Dave Matthews, Warren Haynes, Bela Fleck, John Medeski, Michael Franti, Al Schnier and HeadCount co-chair Marc Brownstein all appear in this 43-minute film, produced by Concerts4Charity.org. It can be viewed on iClips.net and is scheduled for release on DVD in the Summer of 2008.
How can I get involved?
Register to Vote - It only takes a few minutes and can be done online at www.HeadCount.org or at a HeadCount table.
Volunteer - Join us by registering voters at concerts or as a member of our national leadership team. Go to www.HeadCount.org for more information or to sign up!
Donate - A donation of $20 covers the cost of voter registration forms for an entire event. A $250 donation allows us to launch a new street team. Tax deductable donations can be made through our website www.HeadCount.org or at concerts.
Website
Band Members
The Allman Brothers, Angelique Kidjo, Ani DiFranco, Animal Liberation Orchestra, Assembly of Dust, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, The Benevento/Russo Duo, Blues Traveler, Bob Weir & RatDog, Bonnie Raitt, Brett Dennen, Brothers Past, Crosby Stills and Nash, Dark Star Orchestra, Dave Matthews Band, The Dead, Death Cab for Cutie, The DecemberistsDerek Trucks Band, The Disco Biscuits, The Dresden Dolls, Drive-By Truckers, Foo Fighters, Galactic, G. Love & Special Sauce, Gov't Mule, Guster, Indigo Girls, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Keller Williams, Leftover Salmon, Les Claypool, Los Lonely Boys, Lyrics Born, Maroon 5, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Megadeth, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Mike Gordon, Mickey Hart, moe., My Morning Jacket, Nada Surf, The New Deal, North, Mississippi AllStars, OAR, Particle, Pearl Jam, Perpetual Groove, Phil Lesh & Friends, Phish, Railroad Earth, Robert Randolph, The RootsRyan Montbleau Band, Santana, The Slip, Sound Tribe Sector 9, State Radio, Steve Kimock, String Cheese Incident, Tea Leaf Green, Trey Anastasio, Umphrey's McGee, Wilco, Will.i.am, Wolf Parade, Yonder Mountain String Band
