HeadCount

The organization was co-founded in 2004 by Marc Brownstein, bass player for the popular electronic rock band The Disco Biscuits, and his friend Andy Bernstein,{{Cite news |last=Fuller |first=Jaime |date=2021-11-26 |title=Want to get young people registered to vote? Go to concerts. Lots of them. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/10/29/want-to-get-young-people-registered-to-vote-go-to-concerts-lots-of-them/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} author of The Pharmer's Almanac, a series of books about Phish.

Since its inception, HeadCount has been largely volunteer-driven. It fields volunteer teams in most major U.S. cities. Each consists of a trained team leader who runs the local operations, and a cadre of volunteers. These teams then set up tables at concerts through which they register voters and disseminate information related to political issues and upcoming elections. This approach has allowed HeadCount to keep its operating costs low while reaching a very large number of people. In any given year, the organization sets up these tables at 500 to 1,500 concerts or more.{{Cite web |last=Singer |first=Paul |date=September 14, 2014 |title=Students seek out voters at rock shows |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/09/04/student-voter-registration-music-festivals/15079039/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

As of 2014, it was also receiving support from more than 300 artists and celebrities tweeting out messages like #GoVote, some with the HeadCount logo.

In 2019, the Board of Directors included Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, Marc Brownstein and Peter Shapiro as the new chairman of the board.{{Cite magazine |last=Bernstein |first=Jonathan |date=2019-07-08 |title=For a Upstart Voter Non-Profit, a New Chairman Leads the Way |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pete-shapiro-headcount-2020-election-856251/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=2019-07-08 |title=Peter Shapiro Named Chair of HeadCount Board of Directors |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/peter-shapiro-headcount-board-of-directors-chair-1203261503/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Founder Andy Bernstein stepped down as executive director of the organization in 2023.{{Cite magazine |last=Mims |first=Taylor |date=2023-05-01 |title=HeadCount Launches Search for New Executive Director, Founder Andy Bernstein to Step Down |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/headcount-launches-executive-director-search-founder-step-down/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}File:DMB - Dallas, TX - 5-14-16 (26474280843).jpg

Some of HeadCount's higher-profile activity includes the release of public service announcements starring Jay-Z and Dave Matthews,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-wJMJPa1Rw Vote Again 2010.] Jay-Z, Dave Matthews and Headcount.org. 2010. a compilation album featuring Pearl Jam, Wilco and Phish, and various activities involving board member Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead.

I Am a Voter merged with HeadCount in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=2024-05-02 |title=Celebrity-Backed Nonprofits I Am a Voter, HeadCount Merge Ahead of 2024 Election |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/headcount-i-am-a-voter-merger-stars-vote-1235990779/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} I Am a Voter started in 2018, and their first partnership after the merger was 'Register a Friend Day' on June 4.

The Daily Show partnered with HeadCount to register voters while also promoting dog adoption.{{Cite web |last=Kurtz |first=Judy |date=2024-06-17 |title='Daily Show' unleashes dog adoption and voter registration effort |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/4726018-daily-show-jon-stewart-dog-adoption-voter-registration-indecision-2024/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ortiz |first=Andi |date=2024-06-17 |title='The Daily Show' Launches New Initiative to Register Voters and Get Animals Adopted {{!}} Exclusive |url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-daily-show-voter-registration-animal-adoption-events/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}

Sabrina Carpenter partnered with HeadCount to register more voters than any other artist ahead of the 2024 election, registering 35,814 voters and encouraging an additional 263,087 individuals to check their registration status and polling locations. {{Cite web |last=Piña |first=Christy |date=2024-11-05 |title=Sabrina Carpenter Registered More Voters Than Any Other Artist Ahead of the 2024 Election |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/sabrina-carpenter-registered-more-voters-any-other-artist-2024-election-1236054387/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Harry Styles partnered with HeadCount to help register 54,000 voters ahead of the 2022 midterms.{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=2022-10-31 |title=Harry Styles Helped Register Over 54,000 New Voters Ahead of Midterm Elections |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/harry-styles-helped-register-new-voters-1234621494/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Ingrid |date=November 1, 2022 |title=Harry Styles Helps 54K Americans Register to Vote Before Midterm Elections |url=https://people.com/politics/harry-styles-boosts-voter-registration-before-midterm-elections/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Rowley |first=Glenn |date=2022-10-31 |title=Harry Styles Helped Register Tens of Thousands of Fans to Vote Ahead of the 2022 Midterm Elections |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/harry-styles-helped-register-more-than-54000-fans-to-vote-1235163609/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Overall, HeadCount registered over 150,000 voters helped also by partnerships with Billie Eilish, Tinashe, Lizzo and others.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2022-10-10 |title=With Support From Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Tinashe and More, HeadCount Registers More Than 150,000 Voters as Midterms Heat Up |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/harry-styles-headcount-registers-voters-midterms-1235397544/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2022-09-09 |title=Lizzo Joins Forces With HeadCount to Promote Voter Registration at Her Concerts |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/lizzo-headcount-voter-registration-1235366687/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

For the 2020 election, the organization registered roughly 400,000 voters, through its work with Ariana Grande, Spotify, YouTuber David Dobrik, and hundreds of other musicians, brands and partners.{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=2019-12-20 |title=Ariana Grande Breaks HeadCount Voter Registration Record: 'Thank U So Much for Investing in Our Future' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/ariana-grande-breaks-headcount-voter-registration-record-8546891/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=2022-10-10 |title=Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Ariana Grande Helped Register 150,000 Voters Ahead of Midterms |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billie-eilish-harry-styles-ariana-grande-helped-register-150000-voters-midterms-1234608163/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bird |first=Jen |date=2020-08-05 |title=Evanescence and HeadCount Launch PSA & Campaign to promote Voter Registration & Easy Access to Voting • Red Light Management |url=https://www.redlightmanagement.com/evanescence-and-headcount-launch-psa-campaign-to-promote-voter-registration-easy-access-to-voting/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Red Light Management}} Although HeadCount is largely known for its on-the-ground work registering voters at concerts, and is a mainstay at festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, the Coronavirus pandemic did not stop the organization's momentum.{{Cite web |last=Starling |first=Nick |date=2020-09-13 |title=Voting group taps Boulevard Brewery as site for election booth |url=https://www.kshb.com/news/election-2020/voting-group-taps-boulevard-brewery-as-site-for-election-booth |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=KSHB 41 Kansas City News |language=en}} It partnered with entertainers who offered unique experiences which were raffled off for those who checked their registration.{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=James |date=2020-09-21 |title=YouTube Creators Are Taking A New Approach To Make Sure Their Fans Are 'Good To Vote.' And It's Working. |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2020/09/21/youtube-creators-good-to-vote-campaign-vsauce-jacksfilms/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Baltin |first=Steve |date=March 16, 2024 |title=Opinion: How HeadCount Has Teamed With Billie Eilish, More To Register Voters |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebaltin/2024/03/16/how-headcount-has-teamed-with-billie-eilish-more-to-register-voters/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Klar |first=Rebecca |date=2020-09-08 |title=Opinion: Celebrities offer exclusive experiences in campaign to mobilize young voters |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/515333-celebrities-offer-exclusive-experiences-in-campaign-to-mobilize/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} It also partnered with American Eagle Outfitters to release t-shirts that promoted voting.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Samantha |date=2020-09-11 |title=How American Eagle Is Getting Out the Vote This Election Year |url=https://footwearnews.com/2020/business/retail/american-eagle-vote-election-2020-1203052964/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Footwear News |language=en-US}}

File:Phish Tour - The Mann - 6 28 (28163519926).jpg

For the midterm elections in 2018, HeadCount also rolled out a campaign called "The Future is Voting" featuring a get-out-the-vote tour in college towns.{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=2018-09-20 |title=Jim James Announces 'The Future Is Voting' Tour in Collaboration With HeadCount |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/jim-james-the-future-is-voting-tour-headcount-8475888/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Earlier that year, HeadCount ran the voter registration efforts for March for Our Lives, the organization created by students from Parkland, FL after the mass shooting at their high school.{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Andrew |date=2018-05-30 |title=HeadCount Teams With Parkland Students & March For Our Lives For Dead & Co Tour Participation Row |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/headcount-parkland-march-lives-deadco/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=L4LM |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Johnny |date=2018-09-06 |title=Parkland students featured in new get out the vote video |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-ne-david-hogg-parkland-students-new-voter-video-20180906-story.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Willingham |first=A. J. |date=2018-03-26 |title=Thousands of new voters signed up during the March for Our Lives |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/26/us/march-for-our-lives-voters-registration-headcount-trnd/index.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McCausland |first=Phil |date=2018-03-25 |title=Thousands register to vote at March for Our Lives demonstrations |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/march-our-lives-pushes-expand-voter-rolls-across-country-n859756 |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=NBC News |language=en}} They also teamed-up with Penguin Random House to promote voter registration in bookstores.{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Calvin |date=August 31, 2018 |title=PRH, HeadCount Team to Launch Book the Vote |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/77894-prh-headcount-team-to-launch-book-the-vote.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}

HeadCount is a founder of National Voter Registration Day and stages a massive social media campaign around it each year. The campaign has featured hundreds of musicians and entertainers posting "Register to Vote" photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with a link to an online voter registration form. Participants included Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Fergie, Russell Simmons and The Black Keys.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2020-09-21 |title=Dave Matthews Band, HeadCount Rally Music World Around National Voter Registration Day Tuesday |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/dave-matthews-headcount-national-voter-registration-day-1234778120/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |date=2022-09-20 |title=Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift & More Musicians Encourage Fans to Register to Vote for Midterm Elections |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ariana-grande-taylor-swift-more-musicians-encourage-fans-register-vote-1235141786/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Grubbs |first=Eric |date=September 25, 2018 |title=HeadCount Will Target Concertgoers on National Voter Registration Day |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/chris-mcdonald-and-headcount-will-be-outside-dallas-concerts-on-national-voter-registration-day-11169994 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Dallas Observer |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2014-09-23 |title=Pearl Jam, Jeff Tweedy Help Kick Off Voter Registration Day |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pearl-jam-phish-jeff-tweedy-help-kick-off-voter-registration-day-174550/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

In 2016 HeadCount partnered with music streaming service Spotify to help music fans vote. American Spotify users received a message from President Barack Obama directing them to HeadCount.org for voter information.{{Cite web |last=Naomi |date=2020-09-09 |title=Spotify Encourages Eligible U.S. Voters to 'Play Your Part' by Registering for and Voting in the 2020 Election |url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2020-09-09/spotify-encourages-eligible-u-s-voters-to-play-your-part-by-registering-for-and-voting-in-the-2020-election/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Spotify |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=7 November 2016 |title=Obama Interrupting Everybody's Spotify Listening Today with Reminder to Vote |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/69650-obama-interrupting-everybodys-spotify-listening-today-with-reminder-to-vote/ |website=Pitchfork}}

HeadCount registers voters at concerts{{Cite magazine |last=Fry |first=Naomi |date=2018-06-18 |title=Voter Registration on the, Like, Festival Circuit |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/06/25/voter-registration-on-the-like-festival-circuit |access-date=2023-05-21 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}{{Cite web |date=22 June 2016 |title=Vans Warped Tour Goes Back To Basics in {{as written|i|t's [sic]|expecting=its}} 22nd Year, Founder Kevin Lyman Talks About the Festival's History and What's in Store for 2016 |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/kelly-frazier/vans-warped-tour-goes-bac_b_10604764.html |website=HuffPost}} and sporting events. HeadCount also partnered with Ben & Jerry's to hand out free ice cream on a Phish tour to fans that registered or pledged to vote.{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Ashley |date=2010-10-25 |title=Motivating Music Fans to Vote |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/25/motivating-music-fans-to-vote/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=The Caucus |language=en}}

HeadCount manages Participation Row activism villages at various music festivals including Lockn' (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) in Arrington, VA, True Music (2013) in Scottsdale, AZ, Phases of the Moon (2014) in Danville, IL, FloydFest (2016) near Floyd, VA the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival in Okeechobee, FL, The Traveler's Rest Festival in Montana, and Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island.

Each Participation Row has also included a silent auction of signed merchandise, with proceeds going to the participating non-profits. At the Fare Thee Well shows, the Participation Row silent auction included a D'Angelico EX-DC electric guitar signed by all 7 performers and played by Bob Weir on stage during the second Santa Clara show. The auction for the guitar closed at $526,000,{{Cite web |last=Petronzio |first=Matt |date=2015-07-07 |title=Guitar signed by Grateful Dead raises $526,000 for charity |url=https://mashable.com/archive/grateful-dead-guitar-charity |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Mashable |language=en}} making it the 20th most expensive guitar of all time.{{Cite web |last=Neal |date=2024-02-10 |title=48 Most Expensive Guitars Ever Sold At Auction! |url=https://leftyfretz.com/most-expensive-guitars-ever/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=LeftyFretz |language=en-US}} For Dead & Company's 2023 Final Tour, ten unique D'Angelico guitars designed by AJ Masthay will be auctioned. Proceeds benefit both HeadCount as well as environmental activist group REVERB.{{Cite web |last=Sissler |first=James |date=2023-05-18 |title=Dead & Company Team Up With HeadCount & REVERB For Charity Guitar Auction |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/dead-and-company-headcount-reverb-charity-guitar-auction/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=L4LM |language=en-US}}

Beyond concerts, HeadCount has a large presence on the Internet. Its blog features updates on "music, politics and everything in between,"{{Cite web |title=HeadCount Case Study {{!}} Impactive {{!}} All-in-One Digital Organizing Suite |url=https://www.impactive.io/case-studies/headcount |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.impactive.io |language=en}} and it launched a platform called #SoundOff (www.SoundOffatCongress.org) for tweeting directly at members of Congress.{{Cite web |author1=Andrew Salmon |date=2014-03-29 |title=Musicians: Don't Get Penalized. Sign Up for Healthcare by March 31 |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation/acoustic-nation-musicians-dont-get-penalized-sign-healthcare-march-31 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=guitarworld |language=en}}

In early 2012 HeadCount conceived and produced "The Bridge Session" a live performance from Bob Weir's TRI Studios featuring Weir, members of the National and various other guests.{{Cite web |date=2012-03-29 |title=HeadCount's The Bridge Session: Bob Weir and Members of The National in Motion |url=https://relix.com/blogs/detail/headcount-s-the-bridge-session-bob-weir-and-members-of-the-national-in-moti/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Relix Media |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Scott |date=2012-03-25 |title=Bob Weir Goes Indie - Headcount's The Bridge Session |url=https://glidemagazine.com/80132/bob-weir-goes-indie-headcounts-the-bridge-session/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Glide Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Eisen |first=Benjy |date=2012-03-25 |title=Members of Grateful Dead, the National Perform 'Bridge Session' Webcast |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/members-of-grateful-dead-national-walkmen-come-together-for-bridge-session-webcast-100040/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} A live webcast on Yahoo! also featured a roundtable political discussion.{{Cite web |title=Voter Reg Drives On Summer Tours For DMB, Wilco, Phish, Furthur |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/voter-reg-drives-on-summer-tours-for-dmb-wilco-phish-furthur |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=JamBase |language=en-US}} The collaborations in that session led to Day of the Dead and Blue Mountain.{{Cite web |title=The official website for independent record label 4AD. |url=http://4ad.com/news/17/3/2016/dayofthedead |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=4AD |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-10-30 |title=Behind The Scene: Mollie Farrell on HeadCount's Artist Initiatives and Online Voting Hub |url=https://relix.com/articles/detail/behind-the-scene-mollie-farrell-on-headcounts-artist-initiatives-and-online-voting-hub/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Relix Media |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Articles {{!}} Grateful Web |url=https://www.gratefulweb.com/articles?type=All&page=1651 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=www.gratefulweb.com}}{{Cite web |title=Bob Weir Receives Key To Austin Ahead Of Moody Theater Run Opener |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/bob-weir-receives-key-austin-ahead-moody-theater-run-opener |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=JamBase |language=en-US}}

The non-profit also runs the "Capitol Community" program for the Capitol Theatre (Port Chester, New York), which sends school teachers to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum for curriculum training.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2021-11-16 |title=Jackson Browne, Jorma Kaukonen, More to Headline Headcount Benefit |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/jackson-browne-jorma-kaukonen-headcount-benefit-capitol-theatre-1235112833/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-11-16 |title=Larry Campbell, Jackson Browne, Jorma Kaukonen Lead Lineup For HeadCount Benefit At Capitol Theatre - Pollstar News |url=https://news.pollstar.com/2021/11/16/larry-campbell-jackson-browne-jorma-kaukonen-lead-lineup-for-headcount-benefit-at-capitol-theatre/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=news.pollstar.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=School's not out for summer at Rock Hall of Fame |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/24/rockhall-teachers/2585319/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2014-08-05 |title=Westchester Teachers Win Rock n' Roll HOF Music Training from The Cap, HeadCount |url=https://patch.com/new-york/yorktown-somers/westchester-teachers-win-rock-n-roll-hof-music-training-cap-headcount |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=Yorktown-Somers, NY Patch |language=en}}

• Get out the vote
• Head count
• VoteRiders

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.headcount.org HeadCount.org]
• [https://www.headcount.org/in-the-news/ Press mentions]
• [https://glidemagazine.com/140546/headcount-film-debuts-a-call-to-action/ "A Call to Action"] (2008) documentary about the organization

Category:Election and voting-related organizations based in the United States

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City

*Head

Category:Voter registration

Category:Voter turnout organizations