MySpace Hosts Concerts for Sudan, United Nations Asks Lonely

We talk a lot on this blog about the ways in which social networking sites and new technologies have been harnessed by bands, record labels, radio stations and music marketers to get their business more exposure. It's nice to see that the power is also being utilized by some great causes as well. MySpace is hosting 20 concerts to raise awareness and money about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, Billboard reports today. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that the United Nations has enlisted a variety of web video stars, including YouTube's (in)famous LonelyGirl15, to star in videos for their anti-poverty campaign. It's nice to see MySpace and YouTube being used for more than just marketing to sell items, but to "sell" important ideas too.