Playing for Change is a foundation and multimedia online music project created by producer Mark Johnson and his Timeless Media Group, in conjunction with Concord Music Group that seeks to bring together musicians from around the world. The project started in 2004 with the organization's self described goal to "inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music". The creators of the project travelled around the world to places such as New Orleans, Moscow, Zimbabwe, Tibet and using a mobile recording studio, had local musicians perform the same song, interpreted into their own local style. The project's first single Stand by Me, began with a Santa Monica street performer named Robert Ridley, who they had perform the tune. They then travelled around the world and had more musicians add their versions.
