The international music community has launched an unprecedented counter-assault after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The response stretches industry-wide, from the concert stage to the record store to the Internet.

        Dozens of patriotic albums, songs and benefit CDs are being produced. Potentially controversial CDs have been held back or altered. Security at concerts has been drastically tightened.

        This weekend, hundreds of musicians from rock to rap, Latin pop to country, have mobilized for huge benefit concerts in New York. Washington, Nashville and Toronto.

ON THE WIRE

Concert for NY coverage

        “The first thing that I thought to myself (on Sept. 11) was, "Well, what can we do?,” says Joey Fatone of 'NSync. “And at that moment in time we couldn't do anything. But now, what better way than to use our talent to help out?”

        'NSync will perform today at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. On Nov. 11, the two-month anniversary of the attacks, the band will give a concert at Miami's South Beach to benefit the families of New York police and firefighters killed at the World Trade Center.

Double dose

        This weekend, the action focuses on the stage.

        Saturday's five-hour, star-packed “Concert for New York” at Madison Square Garden was scheduled for a simulcast on VH1 with a lineup that included Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Marc Anthony, the Who, James Taylor, Macy Gray, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Melissa Etheridge, Goo Goo Dolls and India.Arie.

COMING CONCERTS

Today — “United We Stand,” RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.: Performers: Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, 'NSync, Destiny's Child, Bette Midler, Usher, Rod Stewart, Backstreet Boys, Ricky Martin, Train, P.Diddy, Goo Goo Dolls, James Brown, Al Green, Aerosmith, Huey Lewis & the News, Carole King, America, Pink, Faith Evans.     Media coverage: Live 1-9 p.m. on some Clear Channel radio stations. (Local Clear Channel stations could not say if they were carrying the concert.) Edited ABC-TV version airs 8 p.m. Nov. 1.     Today — “The Country Freedom Concert,” Gaylord Entertainment Performers: George Strait, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Vince Gill, George Jones, Lonestar, Lee Ann Womack, Charlie Daniels Band, Sara Evans, Trisha Yearwood, Hank Williams Jr.     Media coverage: live 8-11 p.m. on CMT cable channel and WUBE-FM (105.1)     Today — “Music Without Borders Live,” Air Canada Centre, Toronto: Barenaked Ladies, Alanis Morissette, the Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace and Bruce Cockburn     Today — “Band Together — Rock For Relief,” Jillian's, Covington: Bootsy Collins, Reggie Calloway, Sonny Moorman Group, Blue Birds, Ben Walls Band, Crazy Chester, Kelly Red & the Hammerheads and DJ Stretch.     Nov. 11 — 'NSync's concert at South Beach, Miami.     Nov. 11 — “Opry at the Ryman,” Ryman Auditorium, Nashville: Bill Anderson, Little Jimmy Dickens, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart,Porter Wagoner and Steve Wariner. Simulcast on WSM-AM (650) and online: www.opry.com.     Dec. 9 — Taft Theatre: Peter Frampton and others TBA     Dec. 31 — “Red White & Bluegrass,” Grand Ole Opry, Nashville: Dolly Parton's all-star bluegrass benefit for the attack

        That was a prelude to today's Benefit Sunday, as the even bigger “United We Stand” event takes over RFK Stadium in Washington.

        Along with some of the same acts (Bon Jovi and the Goo Goo Dolls) and 'NSync, the Washington show is set to present the Backstreet Boys, Destiny's Child, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, P. Diddy, Ricky Martin, James Brown, Aerosmith, Aaron Carter, Al Green and Rod Stewart.

        Today also brings the “Country Freedom Concert” to Nashville's Gaylord Entertainment Center arena, with George Strait, George Jones, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Clint Black, Lee Ann Womack and Sara Evans.

        Today in Toronto, the “Music Without Borders Live” concert has Barenaked Ladies, Alanis Morissette, the Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace and Bruce Cockburn raising money for the UN's refugee programs.

        Today on the homefront, Mars Music is presenting “Band Together — Rock For Relief,” a benefit concert for the Red Cross at Jillian's in Covington. Scheduled to appear: Bootsy Collins, Reggie Calloway, Sonny Moorman Group, Blue Birds, Ben Walls Band, Crazy Chester, Kelly Red & the Hammerheads and DJ Stretch.

        It doesn't stop there. A major local benefit is being planned for Dec. 9 at the Taft Theatre with Peter Frampton and other nationally known Cincinnatians.

        “In something of this magnitude, everybody gives everything they possibly can, but it seems like musicians are always stepping up to help,” says Jack Campbell, regional project manager for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' Chicago Chapter. “Maybe it's just the "sensitive poet' side of musicians, they see people in need and want to help.”

        So far, that help has been primarily focused on concerts, starting Sept. 21 with the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon. The live shows will continue, the latest to be announced being Dolly Parton's “Red White & Bluegrass” benefit, scheduled for New Year's Eve at the Grand Ole Opry.

Army of CDs

        After today, most of the action moves to the record store, as battalions of patriotic albums join the good fight.

        The first of the CDs produced after the attacks, God Bless America, hit stores Tuesday. The collection's title song is a new studio version by Celine Dion and producer David Foster in the same arrangement they used last month on the Heroes telethon.

Collins

        The disc features other Sony artists, from Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan to Mariah Carey, Frank Sinatra and the ubiquitous Lee Greenwood (with his “God Bless the U.S.A.,” of course). It's sure to find an audience.

        “The patriotic stuff is the only thing that's been steadily selling,” says Byron Russell, purchasing director for ARC Distributing, which supplies the Tristate's independent record dealers.

        The biggest fall release looks to be the audio version of the Heroes telethon. The album, probably a double CD, is expected to be released no later than Nov. 20, in time for retailing's biggest annual day, the Friday after Thanksgiving.

        Until then, there'll be no shortage of patriotic and charity discs.

Latin single

        “El Ultimo Adios”/“The Last Goodbye,” an all-star Latin pop charity single in Spanish and English versions, is getting radio airplay. Spearheaded by Gloria Estefan and Jon Secada, it features Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and more than 60 other Hispanic musicians. Sales benefit the United Way and the Red Cross funds for victims' families.

        Tuesday, the What's Goin' On EP arrives. The project, spearheaded by U2's Bono, was in the works before the attacks and was to benefit the Global AIDS Alliance. Now half the proceeds are slated for the United Way's Sept. 11 Fund.

        Along with the version being heard on radio and MTV, the EP includes remixes by Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and Jermaine Dupri. The song features a Who's Who of pop, rock and R&B stars, including Ms. Aguilera, 'NSync, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Destiny's Child, Ms. Lopez, Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy, Michael Stipe, Eve, Alicia Keys, Bono, Wyclef Jean and Gwen Stefani.

        Country music has always shown its patriotic colors. Along with Mr. Greenwood's “God Bless the U.S.A.”, the biggest songs nowadays have been Faith Hill's “Star Spangled Banner” and Aaron Tippin's “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly.” (The latter may well become this war's “God Bless the U.S.A.,” with sales already at more than 100,000.)

        Randy Travis has a post-attack song, “America Will Always Stand,” ready for release. A CD of LeAnn Rimes' older patriotic material hit store shelves Tuesday.

Turning to the Web

        The Internet has seen activity as well. The Dixie Chicks have recorded “The Star Spangled Banner” and offer it as a download on their Web site (www.dixiechicks.com) in return for donations to the Red Cross.

Destiny's Child

        Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn has a patriotic song up on his Web site as well (www.folkden.com). In the '80s, he put music to “America For Me,” by 19th-century poet Henry Van Dyke. The attacks inspired him to record it.

        “I feel much more patriotic than I ever have,” Mr. McGuinn says. “That's something that I think a lot of people feel, and I think that's a good thing to come out of (the attacks). A lot of good things are coming out of it, unity and a new solidarity in America. I see secular people talking about God and people need that.”

"Beer' too frivolous

        In the music business, just as everywhere else, things changed on Sept. 11. Some projects were shelved or altered after the attacks.

        Garth Brooks canceled the release of his first new single in years, “Beer Run,” because he deemed it too frivolous. He also canceled a Sept. 17 national press conference that was to introduce the single and announce the release of his comeback country CD, which was pushed back to Nov. 13.

        The prog-rock band Dream Theater released its new three-CD set, Live Scenes From New York, on Sept. 11 with an album cover that prominently displayed the World Trade Center towers in a flaming New York skyline. The album was recalled from stores and is being repackaged. Original covers are selling on eBay for as much as $100.

Aerosmith

        After dozens of New York police officers died in the attacks, the band the Strokes had to delay the release of its RCA debut. The label removed “New York City Cops,” because of its chorus, “New York City cops, they ain't too smart.”

Canceled tours

        Concerts have been affected as well. Janet Jackson and rock band Weezer both canceled European tours after the attacks.

        Heavy-metal patriarch Ozzy Osbourne has pushed ahead with his arena tour (at Firstar Center Nov. 14). But after the attacks he changed the tour's name from “Black Christmas” to “Merry Mayhem” and added a special “Ozz Bless America” program to collect money for the attack victims.

        “You got to do whatever you can,” he says.

        There has been only one cancellation on the local concert schedule because of the attacks.

        The Afro-Cuban All Stars, one of the most highly anticipated shows of the fall, canceled its entire American tour because of travel safety considerations. That included their Nov. 10 show at the Aronoff Center.

        The shows that did go on reflected new, post-attack restrictions. Oct. 2, Alison Krauss & Union Station played the Taft Theatre. Despite the mellow crowd, everyone was frisked with hand-held metal detectors upon entering, part of a new national security policy by concert promoter Clear Channel Entertainment.

        “I guess people need to get used to it for now,” says Gary Bongiovanni, editor of PollStar, the concert industry trade publication. “Things have changed, and it's not just by musical genre. You can't make the assumptions on who's in the audience based on the music or event.”

"Life-affirming' music

        Industry watchers expect tighter security in all venues, though much of it will be out of sight of concert goers. Backstage security is expected to increase, as arenas will be locked down and patrolled between shows. All deliveries and maintenance people will be carefully screened.

        Had the attacks occurred at the summer's peak concert season, the changes would be even more drastic, Mr. Bongiovanni believes. “We're entering into what's normally a slower time of the year anyway,” he says. “It remains to be seen what the long-term impact will be. Certainly, as the economy continues to weaken, it's going to have some effect on ticket sales. And it already wasn't a banner year.”

        While the business may be slacking off, the music itself has never been so important, asserts Fran Healy, lead singer for Scotland's Travis, a rock band that recently sold out Bogart's

        “This is one of these times that music can really help you get through it,” he says. “It's extraordinary how powerful music is. It's no surprise that every single religion all over the world uses music.

        “It's life affirming. Singin', dancin', laughin', cryin' — these are the things that make you feel alive.”

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