Beyonce, Madonna Join 'Sound of Change' Concert

Beyonce and Madonna will be lending their support to the "Sound of Change Live" concert, being held in London on Saturday to raise funds for over a hundred worldwide projects that support women and girls.

A billion people are expected to watch the concert, which is taking place from Twickenham sports stadium and will be broadcast to 150 countries. Beyonce, Florence + the Machine, Jennifer Lopez, Ellie Goulding, Haim, John Legend and Timbaland are among the announced performers.

Madonna will be a presenter during the concert, along with newly announced attendees Gloria Steinem and Bishop Desmond Tutu.

"Sixty percent of the children in the world not in school are girls," Madonna said in a statement picked up by Reuters. "Two-thirds of the world's illiterate are women. I do not accept this. We need to change this and we will change this."

The concert was organized by the Chime for Change campaign, which was started by Gucci. As explained on the event's website, ticket buyers receive a voucher that they can donate to one of the hundred-plus approved projects supporting education, health and justice causes for women and girls worldwide.

Causes include projects to provide health care to Syrian refugees, fight female sexual mutilation in Mali, provide safe haven for domestic violence victims in Lima and efforts to prevent childbirth deaths in Sierra Leone.