Face the Music

Image credit: Steven Tyler: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

Sometimes it's the charity that slows down the process. The Twin Towers Fund, set up by former NYC mayor Rudolph Giuliani, has $8.5 million coming from the net proceeds of Sony's ''God Bless America'' compilation. But so far a check hasn't been sent because of red tape involved in shifting the fund's operations from city administration to the private sector.

Fortunately, several tributes have provided instant gratification. Whitney Houston's chart-topping rendition of ''The Star-Spangled Banner'' produced two fat $500,000 checks to its two designated charities. And Sony's ''Concert for New York City'' live album from an Oct. 20 benefit has contributed $4.5 million so far to the Robin Hood Relief Fund. ''It was a very generous deal paying us about $8 per album,'' says a Robin Hood rep. ''They have done right by us big time.''

According to Daniel Borochoff of the American Institute of Philanthropy, that kind of per-album agreement is preferable to ones that don't commit a specific amount of money up front. ''There's a real risk that there's nothing going to charity,'' he says. ''You can say they get a percentage of the profits, but then there are no profits and the groups don't benefit.'' Of course, some informal deals work just fine: After creating a CD of patriotic music, Montreal's St. Clair Entertainment sent the estimated proceeds to the nearest Red Cross office, across the border in Plattsburgh, N.Y., Chapter director Jeanie Roberts says she was shocked to receive $45,214: ''That was more money than we have collected in some calendar years.'' It's the no-fuss, no-muss approach: St. Clair donated money before reconciling its bottom line. ''We'll probably end up losing money,'' admits label VP Morey Richman.

And consider the students at El Dorado Elementary School in Lancaster, Calif., who raised $2,500 from a CD of American songs to fund an upcoming day of arts performances at NYC's Roberto Clemente Elementary School, located near ground zero. ''I asked the principal what would help,'' explains El Dorado principal Melinda Keenan. ''She said they might enjoy some entertainment to put a smile on their faces.''