Pop music helps in tsunami relief

Efforts in the pop music world to help victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami in Southeast Asia continue to swell as more benefit activities are announced almost daily.

Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Maroon 5 and Diana Ross have joined the lineup for the NBC Universal telethon Saturday that will generate money for the American Red Cross’ relief efforts. “Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope” is also scheduled to include appearances by Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Brian Wilson, Kenny Chesney and India.Arie. It will be carried on NBC and its cable affiliates USA, Bravo, Sci-Fi, MSNBC and CNBC.

The biggest concert set so far is the Jan. 22 Tsunami Relief Cardiff concert at the 65,000-capacity Millennium Stadium in the Welsh capital. Clapton, Snow Patrol, Badly Drawn Boy and Jools Holland are among the acts confirmed.

Meanwhile, pop teen queen Hilary Duff is donating a portion of the proceeds from her Most Wanted Tour toward tsunami relief.

On Monday at the Wiltern LG, Tenacious D, the satirical hard rock duo featuring actor Jack Black and partner Kyle Gass, will be joined by Beck, Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and comedian Will Ferrell at a show benefiting Music for Relief, the nonprofit set up by rock band Linkin Park shortly after the earthquake and tsunami struck.