All-star ‘One World’ concert raises $200 million for Coronavirus charities
The weekend’s historic One World: Together at Home concert, touted as the largest-ever virtual gathering of major music stars and an event to rival Live Aid, raked in US$127.9 million ($200 million) for good causes.
Curated by Lady Gaga, the all-star concert was created by the World Health Organization and the Global Citizen charity and featured many of the biggest names in rock and pop of the past 50 years.
Of the nearly $128 million sum raised, US$55.1 million will go to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, launched last month by Global Citizen in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, with $72.8 million pumped into local and regional responders.
Taylor Swift
Donations to the fund will also support the vaccine development alliance Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), UNICEF and more.
Performers on the day included Gaga, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and John Legend, and was hosted by the holy trinity of late-night TV talkshow leads: Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.
The eight-hour live stream had an Aussie flavour with Keith Urban, flanked by two other Keiths, performing Steve Winwood’s ‘80s tune ‘Higher Love,’ with his Oscar-winning missus Nicole Kidman making a cameo at the end.
Delta Goodrem also waved the flag, delivering a performance of ‘Together We Are One’ at a grand piano and giving millions around the globe a look at her impressive collection of ARIA Awards and other prizes.
The spin-off fundraising album is now available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon, proceeds from which support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation.
Assembled in less than a month from concept to show day, the Together At Home concert represented the biggest collection of international stars lined up for a cause since Live 8 rolled out around the globe in 2005.
Watch the entire spectacle below.
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.