Making a Difference, One Music Note at a Time

In an age where CSR has become compulsory in India and most corporations find the easy way out by doing as little as possible, Hard Rock Hotel Goa, which is part of Hard Rock Inc, is making a difference in the area of philanthropy like no other. Why is Hard Rock, a chain of hotels, cafés, casinos, and restaurants more geared towards charity?

Hard Rock Inc began as Hard Rock Café and was set up in 1971 by Isaac Burton Tigrett and his partner Peter Morton. In 1984, the enterprising Tigrett relaunched Hard Rock as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame which showcased memorabilia from rock and roll, R&B and country music icons. Today Hard Rock has a presence all over the world, including North America, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Although Hard Rock is a celebration of music and its creators, Tigrett meant it to act as a promoter of the physical manifestation of the themes of love and peace heralded by the music that evolved in the 1960s. The main message that Hard Rock subscribes to is ‘Love All – Serve All’, using it as a dictum that shapes its success wherever it establishes its roots. Other mottos that motivate Hard Rock’s philanthropic goals are ‘Take Time to be Kind’, ‘Save the Planet’, and ‘All is One’. Hard Rock has donated millions internationally to a myriad of causes such as autism awareness, cancer prevention, human trafficking, hunger, drought, and disaster relief.

The Hard Rock Heals Foundation was created in 2016 by Hard Rock International to lend assistance to organisations that are focused on philanthropy with the use of music. The Foundation has already achieved much in Goa, operating through Hard Rock Hotel Goa. As a global charity, Hard Rock Heals Foundation is transforming lives through the power of music. Funds are raised through Hard Rock’s merchandise line, hotel rooms, and live music programmes with renowned as well as up-and-coming musical artists and are directed towards global and local charitable concerns.

Vice President Operations Vikas Sharma of Hard Rock Hotel Goa says, ‘Music and philanthropy are the heart and soul of Hard Rock. Combining these two passions, Hard Rock International launched the Hard Rock Heals Foundation to inspire and improve lives through their Foundation motto ‘Love.Amplified’. By the close of 2021, Hard Rock Heals Foundation seeks to donate $10,000,000 to organisations immersed in music philanthropy through music tours, Rock Shop sales and various other music-inspired activities and programmes.’

The Hard Rock Heals Foundation also sponsors musical programmes involving autism therapy, hospital patient support, elderly care, music education and more. There are programmes for the disabled and others that support hospital bedside performances for sick children supported by the Foundation. Vikas Sharma says, ‘Music is the most universal thing in the world. Every year, Hard Rock properties across the globe organise various activities, events, community outreach programs and promotional campaigns like Pinktober, Imagine, Turn It Up, World Music Day busking and Giving Tuesday to bring people together and rally around one common goal.’

Music-based philanthropy is at the centre of the Hard Rock Heals Foundation works. It is mainly because of music’s positive effects on people and its healing abilities. For instance, music can lower blood pressure, help with pain management, decrease stress, or regulate mood. Patients with various types of dementia like Alzheimer’s have been known to improve neuroplasticity with music sessions. Numerous ill children and war veterans have been able to regain a semblance of normalcy in their lives and have felt the healing effects of music physically and psychologically.

Another significant problem that the Hard Rock Heals Foundation seeks to stem is that schools around the world are losing music education. ‘Each year more and more funding for these types of programmes is lost. We are working towards musically developing an entire generation of children who don’t have access to the outlet Hard Rock was built upon’, says Vikas Sharma.

Child’s Play India Foundation, an NGO founded by Dr Luis Dias, is one of the Goan not-for-profit organisations that have benefited from its close association with the Hard Rock Heals Foundation. Child’s Play India Foundation provides mentoring and empowers underprivileged children through Western classical music in Goa, teaching them the violin, viola, cello, recorder, and flute. Child’s Play India Foundation has a children’s choir as well. The children give performances a few times in the year to display their accomplishments. Vikas Sharma says, ‘In 2016, Hard Rock Hotel Goa donated a $3,000 grant to Child’s Play India Foundation during a Christmas Heals showcase at the hotel. Through fund-raising and volunteering, we are helping kids procure better facilities for growth, creativity, talent and excellence.’

The New Academy for Music Arts and Hindi (NAMAH), a charity working towards the music development of the underprivileged in Goa has received a $5,000 grant from the Hard Rock Heals Foundation. ‘In the recent past, we have also reached out to the local communities in Goa through busking and live band performances on World Music Day to amplify our mission,’ says Vikas Sharma.

Since the Hard Rock Heals Foundation provides grants and assistance to individuals whose goal is to heal through the power of music annually, Hard Rock properties the world over have to submit their applications for these grants, which are reviewed by the organisation’s Advisory Council. Vikas Sharma says, ‘The grant recipients are then selected across properties and their music-based initiatives are funded by the foundation! Hard Rock Hotel Goa won the grant for two consecutive years, which helped us in a big way support the campaigns run by Child’s Play India Foundation and NAMAAH. We’ve applied for the grant yet again this year as we wish to continue our philanthropic work and association with Child’s Play India Foundation and help make a difference, one music note at a time.’

All photographs courtesy of Hard Rock Hotel Goa

(Originally published in February 2019)