Although television audiences in the US experienced mediocre coverage at best of the Live 8 performances, people witnessed enough to help drive album sales up in a big way. Record sales from participating bands have skyrocketed around the globe. Proving that they were not in it for monetary reasons, the temporarily reformed Pink Floyd have announced they will be donating all their profits sold after their Live 8 performance to charity.
According to XFM, fans have gobbled up copies of Echoes: The Best Of Pink Floyd in droves, showing an increase of 1343% in the band’s album sales. Guitarist David Gilmour explained that the band would not profit from their charity performance, and would be donating their profits.
Gilmore said: “Though the main objective has been to raise consciousness and put pressure on the G8 leaders, I will not profit from the concert. If on Thursday the G8 leaders tick the right three boxes at Gleneagles then the main objective will have been fulfilled. If other artists feel like donating their extra royalties to charity, perhaps then the record companies could be persuaded to make a similar gesture and that would be a bonus. This is money that should be used to save lives.”
