Beyonce, Lopez to perform for women

LOS ANGELES - Reuters

Jennifer Lopez will take the stage with Beyonce and Florence & The Machine for a charity concert to support new projects for women around the world. REUTERS photo

Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Florence & The Machine are teaming up for a four-hour charity concert in London next month to benefit women’s health and education projects around the world.

The “Sound of Change Live” concert on June 1 in London’s Twickenham sports stadium could fund at least 120 projects supporting girls and women in more than 70 nations, if all the tickets are sold, organizers said on May 1.

Organized by the Chime for Change campaign, founded by Italy fashion house Gucci, every ticket buyer will be able to choose which project their ticket will fund in what organizers said was a world first for such a venture.

Beyonce, currently on a European tour, will play a 45-minute set. She will be joined in the venture by singer and dancer Lopez, R&B artist John Legend, British indie sensation Ellie Goulding and rapper Timbaland, with more performers still to be announced.

U.S. actors James Franco, Blake Lively and Jada Pinkett Smith will be among the presenters. “Our goal is to have a great time together while we unite and strengthen the voices of girls and women around the world,” Beyonce said in a statement. Rock promoter Harvey Goldsmith, who helped put on the Live Aid and Live Earth charity concerts, will produce the concert which will also be broadcast internationally. Ticket prices range from 55-95 British pounds each ($85-$150) and 52,000 tickets are on sale.