Last Chance to Sign Justin Timberlake's Petition for Music Education

People of All Ages Urged to Sign and Make a Difference

August 21, 2002

There are only days remaining for people to add their names to Justin Timberlake’s Congressional petition in support of music education. Thousands of people across the country have already gone online to join the cause at the urging of the popular recording artist, and the petition will close on Labor Day.

Timberlake, whose Justin Timberlake Foundation has partnered with the American Music Conference (AMC) to promote quality music education for every student, first announced the petition during a phone appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live on June 12.

“Everyone knows how important music is to me, but this issue goes beyond performing and recording,” Timberlake says. “This is about an opportunity that every young person should enjoy, no matter what career they aspire to. I want to do everything I can to make sure other people can benefit from music education.”

The petition is available on AMC’s website (www.amc-music.org) for people to add their names. Once it is completed, AMC will deliver it to Congress and report on the results. The site also offers tips on writing to Congressional representatives and becoming active locally on behalf of music education. In all, the site has received more than half a million hits since Timberlake’s announcement.

The mission of The Justin Timberlake Foundation is to promote music education as essential to a child’s development. “The Foundation is excited to play a role in encouraging people to become advocates on behalf of this important cause,” says executive director Nina Biggar. For more information on the Foundation, contact Biggar at (646) 437-3632.

The American Music Conference is dedicated to promoting the importance of music, music making, and music education to the general public. For more information about AMC and this new partnership, visit www.amc-music.org.

About NAMM

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry. NAMM is comprised of approximately 10,300 members located in 104 countries and regions. NAMM events and members fund The NAMM Foundation's efforts to promote the pleasures and benefits of music, and advance active participation in music making across the lifespan. For more information about NAMM, please visit www.namm.org, call 800.767.NAMM (6266) or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.