Billie Eilish And Finneas To Perform Virtual Concert Tonight In Support Of Small Businesses

Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell will perform a special concert live from their living room tonight (April 22) in support of small businesses facing economic challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The virtual performance is part of Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live series, a weekly livestream that features some of the biggest names in entertainment, with an overall mission to support small businesses.

The concert will start at 8:00 p.m. EST / 5:00 p.m. PST and will stream live on Twitter @Verizon, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook and YouTube pages, Fios Channel 501, AXS TV, FOX NOW. It will also be able to stream on iHeart and SiriusXM.

“Small businesses are a crucial part of our community, and it is so important that we support them during this crisis,” said Eilish in a statement. “I am honored to be able to call attention to these local businesses, who have made an impact on my life, and are trying to make the world a better place.”

The duo will also voice support for Support + Feed, an initiative launched by their mother, Maggie Baird, that aims to support LA and NY plant-based restaurants, and in turn feed those in need and who are on the front lines, such as first responders, hospitals, and senior centers.

In March, Verizon announced that it would donate $2.5 million to Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national nonprofit that “has invested $20 billion to fuel economic opportunity for people and communities across America.” The company also said that it will give $10, up to another $2.5 million, for each tweet posted with the hashtag #PayitForwardLIVE.

“Pay it Forward Live will give all Americans an opportunity to help their favorite small businesses survive this unprecedented hardship,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon Chairman & CEO, in a statement.

The $2.5 million investment from Verizon, and money raised from the Pay It Forward Series, will be used to “provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of Covid-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital,” according to LISC.

The series has already featured Dave Matthews Band, Alicia Keys, OneRepublic singer Ryan Tedder, and Luke Bryan.

Last week, Eilish and Finneas performed a touching rendition of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” at Global Citizen and Lady Gaga’s “One World: Together At Home” special, in support of healthcare workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.