FADER & Friends Vol. 1 cover art. Image by Joanna Sternberg
FADER & Friends Vol. 1, the compilation benefiting transgender charities we launched in November, was conceived with one presumption: that the artists we love and the readers who keep us around were as concerned as we are about the rise in anti-trans rhetoric and violence. Even so, the level of support the album received from all corners was beyond anything we could have imagined.
Over the month that the collection was available exclusively on Bandcamp, it raised over $10,000 for three transgender charities: the Transgender Law Center (U.S.A.), Mermaids (U.K.), and Rainbow Railroad (Canada). This kind of support will make a marked difference in the lives of many, but it also sends an unmistakable message of solidarity across the world. So whether you purchased the album, shared it around, or simply liked a post, thank you.
Organizing this project would not have been possible without the work of dozens of people behind the scenes and outside of The FADER’s walls. Thank you to the publicists, managers, and label contacts who were so patient with our emails, questions, and contract quibbles. Thank you to Joanna Sternberg for the beautiful cover art that captured the spirit of the project so well (and made us regret not making posters). Thank you to Chicago Mastering for their amazing work mastering the compilation. Thank you to Craig E. Averill and Kate Glinert for their sharp and thoughtful legal counsel. Thank you to Terrorbird and NTS for helping us reach listeners across online and terrestrial radio.
Working on FADER & Friends Vol. 1 was an immense honor for everyone at our company. As we prepare for Vol. 2, we’ll be fueled by the response to Vol. 1 and its cause.