U2 Named MusiCares 2027 Persons of the Year — SkimNews
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- MusiCares named U2 — Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. — as its 2027 Persons of the Year, with the 36th annual benefit gala scheduled for Feb. 5, 2027, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, two nights before the 2027 Grammys at Crypto.com Arena.
- U2 is marking 50 years together since meeting at their Dublin high school in 1976, with 22 Grammy Awards and more than 170 million albums sold worldwide.
- Bono co-founded sister organizations ONE and (RED) and helped persuade President Bush to create PEPFAR, which the announcement states has saved 26 million lives to date.
- The Edge co-founded Music Rising in 2005 to replace instruments and equipment for musicians, schools, and music programs affected by Hurricane Katrina.
- Adam Clayton received the MusiCares Stevie Ray Vaughan Award in 2017 and has spoken openly about addiction recovery, supporting efforts including Ireland's Walk in My Shoes mental health initiative.
- Larry Mullen Jr. has drawn attention to dyslexia and learning differences through his work as a producer of the documentary "Left Behind."
- Bono was previously honored as MusiCares Person of the Year solo in 2003, making the 2027 recognition the first time the full band is celebrated as a group.
Why it matters: MusiCares' Persons of the Year gala is its signature annual fundraiser, supporting health services, addiction recovery, mental health care, and financial assistance for music professionals. U2's selection on the band's 50th anniversary — paired with the gala's move to a new venue, the Peacock Theater — gives the organization a draw with deep industry ties two nights before the Grammys.
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