Legendary hitmakers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are lending their musical influence to a new global hunger initiative tied to 100 Billion Meals, the nonprofit cofounded by Tony Robbins.
According to Billboard, the duo is producing a new fundraising song titled “The Next Verse,” which will be recorded live on Tuesday, December 16, at the iHeart Theater in Burbank, California.
The project brings together a vast mix of artists, with confirmed participants including Janet Jackson, Dr. Dre, Sheila E., Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C., Aloe Blacc, Duran Duran, Pitbull, Andrea Bocelli, Sammy Hagar, Leona Lewis, and The War and Treaty.
The finished song and its accompanying video are scheduled to premiere globally on December 25, with nationwide airplay across iHeartRadio stations and releases on major streaming platforms.
Unlike past charity singles, “The Next Verse” is designed as a collaborative experience that extends beyond the studio.
According to Jimmy Jam, the goal was to make the project participatory rather than performative. “We thought it would be fun to make it interactive,” he explained to the outlet. “Where people can add verses or do videos nowadays like with TikTok… everybody can feel like they’re a part of it.”
Robbins framed the project as a response to a problem he believes is entirely solvable. “Hunger is one of the greatest solvable challenges of our time,” Robbins said in a statement to the outlet. “No child should wonder where their next meal is coming from.”
Musically, Jam said the song draws inspiration from Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me,” emphasizing simplicity and universality. “This song is so simple; it’s literally five notes up and down,” he said. “We just want it to feel like a universal statement.”
Songwriters contributing to the effort include Sammy Hagar, members of Duran Duran, Jack Antonoff, Amy Allen, Desmond Child, Jon Bon Jovi, and Tina Jones, Quincy Jones's daughter.
Since its launch three years ago, 100 Billion Meals has delivered more than 62 billion meals through partnerships with organizations such as Feeding America, UNICEF, and Food 4 Education.