Yellow Bird Project: Difference between revisions

Yellow Bird Project
Industry	Retail
Founded	2006
Headquarters	London, England, United Kingdom
Area served	Worldwide and beyond
Key people	Founders: Casey Cohen, Matthew Stotland
Products	Clothing, Books, Film, Music
Website	merchforgood.net

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Yellow Bird Project (often abbreviated YBP) is a company that collaborates with indie bands to raise money for charity, primarily through the sale of T-shirts. They approach indie bands, asking them to choose a charity and submit an original design. Each design is then printed onto T-shirts and sold exclusively through the YBP website to raise money for the charity of the artist's choosing. Some of the bands which they have collaborated with include Andrew Bird, Bloc Party, Bon Iver, Broken Social Scene, Devendra Banhart, and The National.^[1] Over the years, the company has diversified to include book publishing, album releases and film projects.

In 2016, UK based charity Trekstock took over the management of the project, enabling all funds to be raised for one cause—young adults living with cancer.^[2] As part of the move, the project was rebranded to Merch for Good by Trekstock.⁣

Contributors

Publications

In 2009, Yellow Bird Project published The Indie Rock Coloring Book,^[3] an illustrated tribute to indie rock bands, with a foreword written by Pierre de Reeder of Rilo Kiley and testimonials from Matt Berninger (of The National) and Russell Lissack (of Bloc Party).^[4] To promote the book online they created a collaborative group drawing game called 'Color Me Indie'. They also organised 'The Indie Rock Coloring Book Tour' with live shows and coloring events in book stores across San Francisco, New York and Montreal.^[5]

As a follow-up publication, YBP released 'The Indie Rock Poster Book' in 2011.^[6] Both books (published by Chronicle Books) are intended to raise awareness for their initiative, its contributing musicians, and the charities which they support.

In 2013 YBP self-published a poetry zine, entitled 'Selected Poems by Indie Rock Stars', featuring original and exclusive artwork, poetry and prose from musicians such as Aidan Moffat, Elvis Perkins, Emmy the Great, James Yorkston, Johnny Flynn, Joseph Arthur, Keaton Henson and Robyn Hitchcock. To promote the zine, they created a microsite where you can sign up by email to receive 6 poems in 6 weeks. The microsite also has an area where you can listen to poems as you read them, with dictations from Aidan Moffat (of Arab Strap) and Natalia Yanchak (of The Dears).

Music releases

In December 2013, YBP released a 7" Christmas album, "Wishing for a Christmas Miracle with the Micah P. Hinson Family". The record includes covers of "Silent Night" and "Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)", a song originally recorded by John Denver for his 1973 album Farewell Andromeda.^[7]

On April 14, 2015, YBP released a covers compilation, titled: Good People Rock. The album features 10 exclusive recordings of YBP bands covering other YBP bands, including Andrew Bird, Elvis Perkins, Hayden and Alec Ounsworth (of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah).^[8] The album was released by Madic Records, a label founded by Dan Mangan as a subsidiary imprint of Arts & Crafts Productions.^[9] It's available in vinyl and digital formats.

Kristian Matsson, who performs under the moniker of The Tallest Man On Earth, wrote and recorded an original theme song for the Yellow Bird Project.^[10] The song, "A Field Of Birds", is included as a digital bonus track on the Good People Rock compilation.^[11]

Documentary film

In 2016, YBP produced a feature-length documentary, A Matter of Time, about Kathryn Calder (of The New Pornographers) and her mother's battle with ALS.^[12] The film was distributed by Kinosmith in Canada and by First Run Features in the USA.

References

^ "Charity T-Shirts: Bon Iver, The National, Of Montreal, Rilo Kiley, Bloc Party, The Shins". Yellow Bird Project. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
^ Riley, Jack (2009-01-07). "Yellow Bird Project: Harnessing indie power to help those in need" (PDF). The Independent. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
^ "Holiday Gift Guide 2009". Time. Time Magazine. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
^ Hollands, Courtney (2009-11-10). "Color Me In". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
^ "Rock for a Cause". Timeout New York. 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
^ "Pitchfork Holiday Gift Guide 2011". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
^ Murray, Robin (2013-11-11). "Exclusive: Micah P. Hinson Christmas Project". Clash Music. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
^ Evan, Minsker (2014-03-24). "Listen to Andrew Bird's Cover of the New Pornographers' "The Fake Headlines" for the Yellow Bird Project". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
^ Hudson, Alex (2015-05-03). "Yellow Bird Project Gets Andrew Bird, Hayden, Tallest Man on Earth for Covers Comp". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
^ Walker, Tim (2011-06-03). "Yellow Bird Project: Walls of sound". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
^ "Theme Song". Yellow Bird Project. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
^ Devlin, Mike (2016-07-28). "Kathryn Calder raises ALS awareness with personal doc A Matter of Time". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2016-09-07.

External links

[1] "Charity T-Shirts: Bon Iver, The National, Of Montreal, Rilo Kiley, Bloc Party, The Shins". Yellow Bird Project. Retrieved 2014-08-14.

[2] Riley, Jack (2009-01-07). "Yellow Bird Project: Harnessing indie power to help those in need" (PDF). The Independent. Retrieved 2011-03-24.

[3] "Holiday Gift Guide 2009". Time. Time Magazine. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 2016-07-09.

[4] Hollands, Courtney (2009-11-10). "Color Me In". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2011-03-24.

[5] "Rock for a Cause". Timeout New York. 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2017-09-03.

[6] "Pitchfork Holiday Gift Guide 2011". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2016-07-09.

[7] Murray, Robin (2013-11-11). "Exclusive: Micah P. Hinson Christmas Project". Clash Music. Retrieved 2011-11-14.

[8] Evan, Minsker (2014-03-24). "Listen to Andrew Bird's Cover of the New Pornographers' "The Fake Headlines" for the Yellow Bird Project". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2017-09-03.

[9] Hudson, Alex (2015-05-03). "Yellow Bird Project Gets Andrew Bird, Hayden, Tallest Man on Earth for Covers Comp". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2015-07-15.

[10] Walker, Tim (2011-06-03). "Yellow Bird Project: Walls of sound". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-19.

[11] "Theme Song". Yellow Bird Project. Retrieved 2014-08-14.

[12] Devlin, Mike (2016-07-28). "Kathryn Calder raises ALS awareness with personal doc A Matter of Time". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2016-09-07.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Charity organization}}
-{{Notability|Companies|date=March 2011}}
 {{Infobox company
- | name             = Yellow Bird Project
+| name = Yellow Bird Project
+| logo = Yellow_Bird_Project_Logo.jpg
- | logo             =
- | foundation       = 2006
+| foundation = 2006
- | location_city    = [[Montreal, Quebec]]
+| location_city = [[London]], [[England]]
- | location_country = [[Canada]]
+| location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
- | area_served      = [[World]]wide and beyond
+| area_served = [[World]]wide and beyond
- | key_people       = Founders: Casey Cohen, Matthew Stotland
+| key_people = Founders: Casey Cohen, Matthew Stotland
- | industry         = Retail
+| industry = Retail
- | products         = Clothing, Books
+| products = Clothing, Books, Film, Music
+| homepage = {{URL|https://merchforgood.net/}}
- | homepage         = [http://www.yellowbirdproject.com www.yellowbirdproject.com]
 }}
-'''Yellow Bird Project''' (often abbreviated '''YBP''') is a Montreal-based company that collaborates with indie bands to raise money for various charities. They approach [[Indie music|indie]] bands, asking them to choose a [[charitable organization|charity]] and contribute an original [[t-shirt]] design. Their designs are then printed onto t-shirts and sold online through their website <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowbirdproject.com |title=Charity T-Shirts: Bon Iver, The National, Of Montreal, Rilo Kiley, Bloc Party, The Shins |publisher=Yellow Bird Project |date= |accessdate=2014-08-14}}</ref> to raise money for charities, each selected by bands. Some of the bands which they have collaborated with include [[Bloc Party]], [[Broken Social Scene]], [[Devendra Banhart]] and [[Of Montreal]].<ref>{{cite news
+'''Yellow Bird Project''' (often abbreviated '''YBP''') is a company that collaborates with indie bands to raise money for charity, primarily through the sale of T-shirts. They approach [[Indie music|indie]] bands, asking them to choose a [[charitable organization|charity]] and submit an original design. Each design is then printed onto T-shirts and sold exclusively through the YBP website to raise money for the charity of the artist's choosing. Some of the bands which they have collaborated with include [[Andrew Bird]], [[Bloc Party]], [[Bon Iver]], [[Broken Social Scene]], [[Devendra Banhart]], and [[The National (band)|The National]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowbirdproject.com |title=Charity T-Shirts: Bon Iver, The National, Of Montreal, Rilo Kiley, Bloc Party, The Shins |publisher=Yellow Bird Project |access-date=2014-08-14}}</ref> Over the years, the company has diversified to include book publishing, album releases and film projects.
+In 2016, UK based charity [[Trekstock]] took over the management of the project, enabling all funds to be raised for one cause—young adults living with cancer.<ref>{{cite news
   | last = Riley
   | first = Jack
   | title = Yellow Bird Project: Harnessing indie power to help those in need
-  | publisher = The Independent
+  | work = The Independent
   | date = 2009-01-07
+  | url = http://s3.amazonaws.com/yellowbird/assets/press/66/The_Independent_3_June_2011.pdf?1307100873
-  | url = http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2009/12/07/yellow-bird-project-harnessing-indie-power-to-help-those-in-need/
-  | accessdate = 2011-03-24 }}</ref>
+  | access-date = 2011-03-24 }}</ref> As part of the move, the project was rebranded to Merch for Good by Trekstock.⁣
 ==Contributors==
@@ Line 27: / Line 29: @@
 |-
 |
+*[[alt-J]]
 *[[Amanda Palmer]]
 *[[Andrew Bird]]
+*[[Animal Collective]]
 *[[Au Revoir Simone]]
+*[[Bastille (band)|Bastille]]
 *[[Beach House]]
 *[[Best Coast]]
@@ Line 35: / Line 40: @@
 *[[Bon Iver]]
 *[[Broken Social Scene]]
+*[[CHVRCHES]]
 *[[Clap Your Hands Say Yeah]]
-*[[Daughter (band)]]
+*[[Daughter (band)|Daughter]]
-*[[The Decemberists]]
+*[[The Dears]]
 |
+*[[The Decemberists]]
 *[[Devendra Banhart]]
 *[[Dry the River]]
+*[[Editors (band)|Editors]]
 *[[Elvis Perkins]]
 *[[Emmy the Great]]
-*[[Grizzly Bear]]
+*[[Freelance Whales]]
+*[[Grizzly Bear (band)|Grizzly Bear]]
-*[[Hayden]]
+*[[Hayden (musician)|Hayden]]
 *[[Holly Throsby]]
 *[[Hot Chip]]
 *[[Jay Reatard]]
+*[[John Grant (musician)|John Grant]]
 *[[Joseph Arthur]]
 *[[Keaton Henson]]
 |
+*[[The Killers]]
 *[[King Creosote]]
 *[[Laura Veirs]]
+*[[Little Boots]]
+*[[Local Natives]]
 *[[The Leisure Society]]
+*[[The Maccabees (band)|The Maccabees]]
+*[[The Magic Numbers]]
 *[[Metric (band)|Metric]]
+*[[Metronomy]]
 *[[My Brightest Diamond]]
+*[[The National (band)|The National]]
-*[[New Pornographers]]
+*[[The New Pornographers]]
 *[[Of Montreal]]
 *[[Patrick Watson (musician)|Patrick Watson]]
+*[[Purity Ring (band)|Purity Ring]]
+|
 *[[Ra Ra Riot]]
 *[[Rilo Kiley]]
+*[[Shame (band)|Shame]]
 *[[Sharon Van Etten]]
+*[[The Shins]]
-|
 *[[Stars (Canadian band)|Stars]]
 *[[Tegan and Sara]]
-*[[The Dears]]
+*[[Tokyo Police Club]]
-*[[The Magic Numbers]]
-*[[The National (band)|The National]]
-*[[The Shins]]
 *[[TV on the Radio]]
+*[[Warpaint (band)|Warpaint]]
 *[[Whispertown2000]]
+*[[Wild Beasts]]
+*[[Wolf Alice]]
 *[[Wolf Parade]]
 *[[Wolfmother]]
@@ Line 77: / Line 97: @@
 ==Publications==
-In 2009, Yellow Bird Project published ''The Indie Rock Coloring Book'',<ref>[http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,8216/ ]{{dead link|date=August 2014}}</ref> an illustrated tribute to indie rock bands, with a foreword written by [[Pierre de Reeder]] of [[Rilo Kiley]].<ref>{{cite news
+In 2009, Yellow Bird Project published ''The Indie Rock Coloring Book'',<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1940452_1940402,00.html |title=Holiday Gift Guide 2009 |magazine=Time |date=19 November 2009 |publisher=Time Magazine |access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref> an illustrated tribute to indie rock bands, with a foreword written by [[Pierre de Reeder]] of [[Rilo Kiley]] and testimonials from [[Matt Berninger]] (of [[The National (band)|The National]]) and Russell Lissack (of [[Bloc Party]]).<ref>{{cite news
   | last = Hollands
   | first = Courtney
@@ Line 83: / Line 103: @@
   | date = 2009-11-10
   | url = http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/stylephile/2009/11/color_me_in.html
+  | access-date = 2011-03-24 }}</ref> To promote the book online they created a collaborative group drawing game called 'Color Me Indie'. They also organised 'The Indie Rock Coloring Book Tour' with live shows and coloring events in book stores across San Francisco, New York and Montreal.<ref>{{cite news
-  | accessdate = 2011-03-24 }}</ref> They followed that up in 2011 with ''The Indie Rock Poster Book''.<ref>[http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,9206/title,The-Indie-Rock-Poster-Book/ ]{{dead link|date=August 2014}}</ref> Both books (published by [[Chronicle Books]]) are intended to raise awareness for their initiative, its contributing musicians, and the charities which they support.
+  | title = Rock for a Cause  | publisher = Timeout New York
+  | date = 2009-08-27
+  | url = http://s3.amazonaws.com/yellowbird/assets/press/34/timeout_magazine_YBP.jpg?1252598274
+  | access-date = 2017-09-03 }}</ref>
+As a follow-up publication, YBP released 'The Indie Rock Poster Book' in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/8714-gift-guide-2011/ |title=Pitchfork Holiday Gift Guide 2011|publisher=Pitchfork Media |access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref> Both books (published by [[Chronicle Books]]) are intended to raise awareness for their initiative, its contributing musicians, and the charities which they support.
+In 2013 YBP self-published a poetry zine, entitled 'Selected Poems by Indie Rock Stars', featuring original and exclusive artwork, poetry and prose from musicians such as [[Aidan Moffat]], [[Elvis Perkins]], [[Emmy the Great]], [[James Yorkston]], [[Johnny Flynn (musician)|Johnny Flynn]], [[Joseph Arthur]], [[Keaton Henson]] and [[Robyn Hitchcock]]. To promote the zine, they created a microsite where you can sign up by email to receive 6 poems in 6 weeks. The microsite also has an area where you can listen to poems as you read them, with dictations from [[Aidan Moffat]] (of [[Arab Strap (band)|Arab Strap]]) and [[Natalia Yanchak]] (of [[The Dears]]).
 ==Music releases==
-In December 2013, YBP released a 7" Christmas album, "Wishing for a Christmas Miracle with the [[Micah P. Hinson]] Family". The record includes covers of "[[Silent Night]]" and "Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)", a song originally recorded by [[John Denver]] for his 1973 album [[Farewell Andromeda]]. All profits will benefit a children's home in Keller, Texas.<ref>{{cite news
+In December 2013, YBP released a 7" Christmas album, "Wishing for a Christmas Miracle with the [[Micah P. Hinson]] Family". The record includes covers of "[[Silent Night]]" and "Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)", a song originally recorded by [[John Denver]] for his 1973 album [[Farewell Andromeda]].<ref>{{cite news
   | last = Murray
   | first = Robin
@@ Line 93: / Line 121: @@
   | date = 2013-11-11
   | url = http://www.clashmusic.com/news/exclusive-micah-p-hinson-christmas-project
-  | accessdate = 2011-11-14 }}</ref>
+  | access-date = 2011-11-14 }}</ref>
-On April 14, 2015, YBP released a covers compilation, titled: [[Good People Rock]]. The album features 10 exclusive recordings of YBP bands covering other YBP bands, featuring [[Andrew Bird]], [[Elvis Perkins]], [[Hayden]] and others. The album was released by [[Madic Records]], a label founded by [[Dan Mangan]] as a subsidiary imprint of [[Arts & Crafts Productions]].<ref>{{cite news
+On April 14, 2015, YBP released a covers compilation, titled: [[Good People Rock]]. The album features 10 exclusive recordings of YBP bands covering other YBP bands, including [[Andrew Bird]], [[Elvis Perkins]], [[Hayden (musician)|Hayden]] and [[Alec Ounsworth]] (of [[Clap Your Hands Say Yeah]]).<ref>{{cite news
+  | last = Evan
+  | first = Minsker
+  | title = Listen to Andrew Bird's Cover of the New Pornographers' "The Fake Headlines" for the Yellow Bird Project
+  | publisher = Pitchfork Media
+  | date = 2014-03-24
+  | url = https://pitchfork.com/news/54455-listen-to-andrew-birds-cover-of-the-new-pornographers-the-fake-headlines-for-the-yellow-bird-project/
+  | access-date = 2017-09-03 }}</ref> The album was released by [[Madic Records]], a label founded by [[Dan Mangan]] as a subsidiary imprint of [[Arts & Crafts Productions]].<ref>{{cite news
   | last = Hudson
   | first = Alex
@@ Line 102: / Line 137: @@
   | date = 2015-05-03
   | url = http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/yellow_bird_project_gets_andrew_bird_hayden_tallest_man_on_earth_for_covers_comp
-  | accessdate = 2015-07-15 }}</ref> It's available in vinyl and digital formats.
+  | access-date = 2015-07-15 }}</ref> It's available in vinyl and digital formats.
 Kristian Matsson, who performs under the moniker of [[The Tallest Man On Earth]], wrote and recorded an original theme song for the Yellow Bird Project.<ref>{{cite news
@@ Line 108: / Line 143: @@
   | first = Tim
   | title = Yellow Bird Project: Walls of sound
-  | publisher = The Independent
+  | work = The Independent
   | date = 2011-06-03
-  | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/yellow-bird-project-walls-of-sound-2292349.html
+  | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/yellow-bird-project-walls-of-sound-2292349.html
+  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605205445/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/yellow-bird-project-walls-of-sound-2292349.html
-  | accessdate = 2011-06-19 }}</ref> The song, "A Field Of Birds", is included as a digital bonus track on the GOOD PEOPLE ROCK compilation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/theme_song |title=Theme Song |publisher=Yellow Bird Project |date= |accessdate=2014-08-14}}</ref>
+  | url-status = dead
+  | archive-date = June 5, 2011
+  | access-date = 2011-06-19 }}</ref> The song, "A Field Of Birds", is included as a digital bonus track on the Good People Rock compilation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/theme_song |title=Theme Song |publisher=Yellow Bird Project |access-date=2014-08-14}}</ref>
 ==Documentary film==
-YBP is currently producing a feature-length documentary<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Devlin |url=http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/film-to-tell-singer-s-life-story-1.3988 |title=Film to tell singer's life story - Entertainment |publisher=Times Colonist |date=2014-08-09 |accessdate=2014-08-14}}</ref> about [[Kathryn Calder]] of [[The New Pornographers]] and her mother's battle with [[ALS]].<ref>{{cite news
+In 2016, YBP produced a feature-length documentary, ''[[A Matter of Time (documentary)|A Matter of Time]]'', about [[Kathryn Calder]] (of [[The New Pornographers]]) and her mother's battle with [[Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis|ALS]].<ref>{{cite news
-  | last = Fiona
+  | last = Devlin
-  | first = Morrow
+  | first = Mike
-  | title = New Pornographer's Kathryn Calder Films Doc About Her Mom Dying of ALS
+  | title = Kathryn Calder raises ALS awareness with personal doc A Matter of Time
-  | publisher = The Huffington Post B.C.
+  | publisher = The Vancouver Sun
-  | date = 2013-04-07
+  | date = 2016-07-28
-  | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/07/04/kathryn-calder-als-documentary-a-matter-of-time_n_3513491.html
+  | url = https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/local-arts/kathryn-calder-raises-als-awareness-with-personal-doc-a-matter-of-time
+  | access-date = 2016-09-07 }}</ref> The film was distributed by Kinosmith in Canada and by [[First Run Features]] in the USA.
-  | accessdate = 2013-07-17 }}</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 128: / Line 166: @@
 ==External links==
 * [http://www.yellowbirdproject.com Yellow Bird Project website]
-* [http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/press Yellow Bird Project press links]
+* [http://www.amatteroftimedoc.com/ A Matter of Time: Film Website]
-* [http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/theme_song Yellow Bird Project theme song]
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Clothing companies of Canada]]
-[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Canada]]
+[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Montreal]]
-[[Category:Organizations based in Montreal]]
+[[Category:Canadian companies established in 2006]]
-[[Category:Companies established in 2006]]
 [[Category:2006 establishments in Quebec]]
+[[Category:Clothing companies established in 2006]]

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States
Other	MusicBrainz label