Atlanta is gearing up to welcome the Dalai Lama next month, when a local radio station will spearhead a concert in his honor.|

On May 9, 99X (WNNX) will host Save Tibet at Chastain Park Amphitheatre to raise funds and awareness for the people of Tibet.

The station has already tapped Joan Osborne, the Fugees' Wyclef Jean, Grant Lee Buffalo and Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland (who will kick off his summer tour at the show) to perform in the Dalai Lama's honor.

Proceeds from the benefit will go toward helping the International Campaign for Tibet, the largest Tibetan organization in the United States.

"For those of us involved in the movement, we're amazed at the outpouring of support," John Ackerly, president of the International Campaign For Tibet told JAMTV on Wednesday. "We're overjoyed by the support of such top name acts. It's great for the movement and for the Tibetans."

Although the exiled spiritual leader of the Tibetan people will be in town to deliver the commencement speech at Emory University, he isn't scheduled to make an appearance at the concert.

His Holiness, however, has agreed to talk with the performers privately. These secluded meetings are what drew many artists to partake in the event, according to Leslie Fram, program director for 99X.

"Joan Osborne contacted us and volunteered when she heard we were putting on the concert," she said. "Almost everyone got back to us within 24 hours after being asked to participate."

Tickets for the concert, which is scheduled to kick off around 7 p.m. (EST) and close at 11:30 p.m., go on sale this Friday and will cost $31.

Tibet has been under rule by Communist China since 1949. During that time, the Chinese government has banned the practice of Buddhism, murdered more than 1.2 million Tibetans and destroyed nearly 6,000 monasteries; only 15 Buddhist temples remain in the country today.

"This is our chance to give a voice to those who have no voice," Fram said. "We hope the concert exposes the fact that the people of Tibet have lost their heritage and culture. This is a clear battle of good against evil. Sadly, the movement is called 'Save Tibet' not 'Free Tibet.'" (Ari Bendersky)