MusiCares announced it will honor the Irish band U2 as its Persons of the Year at a gala event in February, coinciding with Grammy Awards weekend. The celebration, scheduled for Feb. 5 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, will feature a tribute concert with various musicians performing U2’s music.
For the first time in the organization's 36-year history, individual tickets for the concert portion of the event will be made available to the public. This change means there will be fewer guests seated at traditional tables, which will carry a higher cost than individual concert tickets. Proceeds from the gala will support MusiCares' mission to assist music professionals facing personal, financial, or medical challenges.
U2, formed 50 years ago in Dublin, has a long history of supporting various causes, including global health, disaster relief, addiction recovery, mental health initiatives, and music education. MusiCares previously honored Bono individually in 2003.
The venue for the event has been moved from its typical location at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which is undergoing renovations and will host activities related to the pre-Super Bowl events.
Previous recipients of the MusiCares Person of the Year honor include Mariah Carey, the Grateful Dead, Jon Bon Jovi, Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, Aerosmith, Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. U2 has achieved numerous hits throughout their career, including the No. 1 songs “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”