Ken Corday, the executive producer and composer behind the long-running NBC daytime drama "Days of Our Lives," has announced plans for a third benefit concert series to support SAG/AFTRA Foundation's Emergency Assistance Program. The three-night event, titled "Songs Without Words," will premiere in November and showcase a new collection of original compositions by Corday.
This marks Corday's third consecutive year organizing concerts for the union's emergency fund. The previous iterations in 2023 and 2024 both sold out, demonstrating sustained audience interest in both Corday's music and the cause itself. The Emergency Assistance Program provides critical financial support to entertainment industry workers facing hardship, a mission that gained heightened urgency following the 2023 actors' strike.
Corday brings a dual expertise to the venture. As executive producer of "Days of Our Lives," one of television's most enduring soap operas, he oversees creative and operational decisions for a show that has aired continuously since 1965. His parallel career as a composer adds another dimension to his industry standing. The "Songs Without Words" title suggests an instrumental focus, positioning the concerts as purely musical experiences rather than theatrical performances.
The benefit concert strategy reflects broader shifts in how entertainment industry figures mobilize philanthropic efforts. Rather than relying solely on traditional industry galas or auction events, Corday leverages his creative output directly. Attendees pay for concert tickets knowing proceeds support workers in distress. This model proves particularly resonant in a profession where financial precarity remains common, especially among performers without major studio or network backing.
SAG/AFTRA's Emergency Assistance Program addressed heightened demand after the 2023 actors' strike stretched negotiations to five months. The job action created immediate cash flow problems for actors without savings buffers. Union leadership emphasized that emergency aid kept members housed and fed during the work stoppage. The program continues operating as a permanent fixture of union services, acknowledging that entertainment work remains episodic and unpredictable even outside strike periods.
Corday's commitment to organizing multiple years of benefit concerts suggests deep personal investment in the cause. As a producer who has worked in television for decades, he understands the sector's structural inequalities. Executive producers and composers occupy different economic tiers than most actors. This position of relative stability, combined with creative talent and industry access, positions figures like Corday to organically contribute support.
The three-night format allows for larger audience capacity than single-night events while building anticipation and repeat attendance. This pacing also accommodates the symphonic ambitions of an instrumental concert series. November timing places the event in the entertainment industry's fall season, when pilot development wraps and pilot season planning intensifies.
"Days of Our Lives" itself has weathered significant industry changes. The soap has survived streaming platform negotiations, cast upheavals, and shifting daytime television economics. Its longevity under executive producer leadership like Corday's demonstrates adaptability. The show relocated from network television to NBC's streaming service Peacock, reflecting how traditional broadcasters now distribute legacy content.
Corday's concert series represents both personal artistic expression and institutional commitment to supporting workers. For an industry built on creative collaboration and mutual survival, benefit ventures like this acknowledge shared vulnerability regardless of career level.