In response to the devastating earthquake that shocked the nation of Haiti on January 12^th, music stars are picking up their guitars and microphones to help bring relief to the victims of the quake and the city of Port-au-Prince in many different ways. 

Musicians including Alanis Morissette, The All American Rejects, Dave Matthews Band, Enrique Iglesias, Hoobastank, Kenna, Linkin Park, Lupe Fiasco, Peter Gabriel, and Slash have come together to donate unreleased tracks to raise funds for Haiti relief.  The effort is headed by Music for Relief, an organization founded by the members of Linkin Park, dedicated to raising funds for disaster relief around the world.  Since its inception, Music For Relief has raised over three million dollars in support of relief efforts following the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asian and Hurricane Katrina.  Now they are turning their attention to those affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake with “Download to Donate for Haiti."  Once you download the compilation from the widget above, you will be prompted to donate to support the relief efforts in Haiti.  There’s no set amount but the organization is asking you to give what you can to provide food, clean water, and shelter to those in need.   

Paste Magazine has set up a similar way to raise awareness and bring relief to Haiti. Artists including Ludacris, Of Montreal, Andrew Bird, Hanson, Umphrey’s McGee, Switchfoot, Bruce Cockburn and over 200 others have donated MP3s to give everyone who donates to help Haiti.

You can donate through Paste or to a charity of your choice (they are working on an honor system) and you will have access to Paste’s Download Vault and 250 songs.  To donate, go to songsforhaiti.org. 100% of the money contributed through “Songs for Haiti” will be spread among three charities active in Haiti: Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, and Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.

In addition to “Download to Donate for Haiti” and "Songs for Haiti," some of the music world’s top stars have signed on for this Friday’s “Hope for Haiti” telethon.  “Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” will be a four-city international event.  Wyclef Jean, a Haitian native, will host the show from New York, with George Clooney doing the same in Los Angeles, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper reporting from Haiti.  In London, Jay –Z will perform, along with Bono, The Edge, Rihanna, and Coldplay.  New York performances include Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Wyclef Jean, and Sting, while Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Justin Timberlake, Dave Matthews, John Legend, and Stevie Wonder will perform in L.A.

The "Hope for Haiti" telethon will be broadcast on all major networks at 8pm EST on January 22^nd as well as on MTV, VH1, CMT, BET, PBS, CNN, and Bravo.  It will be streamed live on YouTube, MySpace, and AOL.  You can purchase the night’s performances for 99 cents each on iTunes starting Saturday.  All proceeds will benefit Haiti relief through several relief organizations including UNICEF, Oxfam America, and Partners in Health.