Ellen's iPod: Wow!

The results are in. You guys love you some Ellen.

Since our launch, Tonic has been unveiling star after star in our celebrity iPod Auction series. Bidding on Ellen Degneres' nano closed yesterday, and we're mighty impressed by the winning bid: $5,150. That's six times more moolah than Britney Spears' iPod earned ($851)! Hey, we'll take all we can get and every dollar makes a difference. We hope you all take a cue from daytime's darling and start dancing your way toward making a difference in someone else's life.

By now, you're well aware that this isn't just about jamming out to Mariah Carey's playlist or oggling Gwen Stefani's signature, though doing all that is totally cool — this is about sending lifelines to music's heartbeat in a post-Katrina New Orleans and the Gulf states. Auction proceeds all go to Music Rising to support artists who live in and around the city. Remember that our country's musical landscape was crafted there thanks to the true American musical art forms: jazz and blues.

But you don't have to be a Dixieland fan to be a part of preserving New Orleans' rich musical legacy — despite the unspeakably damaging effect that Katrina had on music education and culture. Nope. You just need to give a damn about good tunes. Pick up a rad piece of pop culture memorabilia right now, and feel good about the impact your little treasure is making.

Following through with a bid can be a little daunting if it's new to you. We make it easy, though. Maybe even fun. Keep your eyes peeled on new artists popping up all the time on Tonic's auction site and let eBay walk you through the simple sign-up steps. It's a worthwhile way to justify a deliciously decadent buy. And, like Ellen's inclusion in the series, we've got some surprising breaks from the pop scene coming up ... as well as familiar radio-play favorites. From all of us at Tonic — happy listening and thanks for bidding!