Several of the world’s top music acts are helping to launch the digital music magazine RED(WIRE), an extension of the activist organization (RED) that was co-founded by Bono.

U2, Coldplay, the Killers, the Dixie Chicks and John Legend are among those contributing exclusive songs to the initiative

Proceeds from subscriptions will benefit HIV-infected people in Africa. Appropriately enough, the magazine will kick off on Dec. 1, the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

Subscribers will pay $5 a month for a new issue of RED(WIRE) every Wednesday. Besides an exclusive song from a major artist, each issue will include a spotlight track from a lesser-known musician, a non-music feature that may include video or photography, and an update on how their donations are being used.

Among the featured tracks are Legend’s take on Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” and the Killers’ collaboration with Elton John and the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant on the Christmas song “Joseph, Better You Than Me.”

Subscribers can also send two free issues to friends, with the promise of a reward if they join RED(WIRE).

“Artists are already saying, ‘I want to give you a track for those people who brought friends in,’” (RED)WIRE founder Don MacKinnon told Billboard. “That’s the biggest idea: using social networking to actually change the world in a unique way.”

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