UBUD, Bali – As a globally-recognized musician and activist revered for his high-energy live shows and worldwide philanthropic efforts, Michael Franti continues to grow and evolve his Stay Human podcast with the announcement of a new sponsorship by Gibson. In partnership with American Songwriter Podcast Network, you can find the Stay Human podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you listen to podcasts.
“We’ve loved being in partnership with the American Songwriter Podcast Network, and we’re super excited about Gibson now coming on to sponsor our podcast,” shares Franti. “Gibson has been around for over a hundred years, and they have made the coolest guitars in the world for a really long time.”
“I look forward to sharing with you Gibson’s story and all the incredible things that they’re doing both environmentally and to serve the community,” Franti continues. “I want to say thank you to JC [Curleigh], to all the guitar builders, and to the people at Gibson who work to get guitars into the hands of those that want to play them.”
“The world needs more empathy at all levels, and Michael Franti is leading the way,” says James ‘JC’ Curleigh, President and CEO of Gibson Brands. “The power of music with a purpose and his amazing ‘Stay Human’ mantra are living proof of my friend Michael’s mission in life.”
“We are honored to have Michael Franti’s Stay Human podcast in the American Songwriter Podcast Network and could not be more excited to have Gibson come aboard as the presenting partner of his podcast,” shares American Songwriter CMO Zac Litwack. “Each episode Michael touches on the importance of creativity, spreading love, and making the world a better place each day at a time. Through the support of Gibson we look forward to bringing that powerful message to more individuals. We can’t wait for what the future holds for this partnership between Michael Franti’s Stay Human podcast, Gibson and American Songwriter.”
Initially launched independently by Franti and Activist Artists Management in May 2020, the Stay Human podcast is similar to his award-winning documentary of the same name. The humanitarian has traveled around the world for decades, meeting incredibly inspiring people from musicians to cultural creatives – people of all walks of life – with episodes featuring Dr. Oz, Celeste Barber, Ziggy Marley, Lukas Nelson, Pat Monahan of Train, Natasha Bedingfield, HIRIE, Maggie Rose, Bert Jacobs of Life Is Good, Andy Bernstein of HeadCount, John Mackey of Whole Foods, and many more.
“The Stay Human podcast is all about the belief that I have that there’s no one you wouldn’t love if you knew their story,” Franti elaborates. “We have guests from all walks of life, but in particular, people who are cultural creatives — people who through their music, their art, their entrepreneurship, or their activism are doing things to actively change the world. We think you are going to love it, and I can’t wait for you to give us a listen and let us know what you do to stay human.”
Michael Franti & Spearhead’s 11th studio album Work Hard And Be Nice was released on June 19, with lead single “I Got You” earning the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s AAA Chart, marking Franti’s first No. 1 in nearly 10 years, after performing the track on NBC’s “TODAY with Hoda & Jenna” upon the album’s release. The single also landed on NPR’s mid-year and end-year “Heavy Rotation: Public Radio’s Most Popular Songs of 2020,” sharing, “Michael Franti’s infectious groove is unmistakable. From the opening chords to the percolating rhythm, it’s easy to get caught up in the positivity he exudes.”
For more information, visit MichaelFranti.com or follow him on Instagram and Twitter @MichaelFranti and Facebook.com/MichaelFranti.
About Michael Franti
Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, humanitarian, activist, and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, devotion to health and wellness, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Throughout his multi-decade career, Franti has earned three Billboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You,” as well as six Top 30 Hot AC singles, nine Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. “I Got You,” lead single from his latest album Work Hard And Be Nice, marked Franti’s first No. 1 in nearly 10 years and landed on NPR’s “Most Popular Songs of 2020,” while the music video boasts over 1 million views since its release. Michael Franti & Spearhead recorded the 17-song album in studios in Nashville, Los Angeles and San Francisco working with A-list writers and producers on what has been called their most diverse record yet.
In January 2019, Franti released his self-directed documentary Stay Human, which won an array of awards at film festivals worldwide and influenced his writing for his album Stay Human Vol. II (Thirty Tigers), which debuted at No. 1 on both the Americana and Independent Album charts and received critical acclaim from USA Today, Billboard, Associated Press and Paste. Influenced by the film, Franti’s Stay Human podcast presented by Gibson on the American Songwriter Podcast Network features creatives from all walks of life, with new episodes available each week.
Deemed a “groundbreaking musician” by Entrepreneur, Franti launched a virtual event revolution in June 2020 with his Stay At Home Concert World Tour, a creation prompted by his first summer in 33 years in which he wasn’t on the road due to the global pandemic, performing for over 50,000 fans worldwide with seven uniquely themed virtual livestreams. In order to better connect with his Soulrocker community, Franti developed a dual-screen model, allowing fans to join a “Backstage Zoom Party Room” and interact directly with one another.
Michael Franti & Spearhead continue to foster their community both on and off stage with a wish granting non-profit, Do It For The Love, founded by Franti and his wife, Sara. Do It For The Love brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges to concerts worldwide, fulfilling over 3,300 wishes and touching the lives of over 12,000 people to date. Franti also owns SOULSHINE Bali (where he and his family have resided since February 2020), a 32-room top-rated yoga retreat hotel located in Ubud, Bali.
About Gibson
Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for 127 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, and KRK, behind great music for over 30 years. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands. Learn more at Gibson.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Gibson TV, and Instagram.
About American Songwriter
Dedicated to the craft of music and supporting the songwriter community for the past 35 years, American Songwriter is an international website, magazine and podcast network. Songwriters, musicians, and music enthusiasts trust American Songwriter to be their authentic home for the latest news, information, and coaching from the music industry.
