Donate Live 8 profit says Gilmour
Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour
Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour said he would not profit from Live 8
Artists and record firms who have seen album sales soar after Live 8 should donate their profits to charity, Pink Floyd star Dave Gilmour has said.
"I will not profit from the concert," the guitarist said. "This is money that should be used to save lives."
Lib Dem culture spokesman Don Foster said performers should donate "the profits that Live 8 helped to create".
Universal Music said it would give its profits from digital downloads of Sir Paul McCartney's performance to Live 8.
"One hundred per cent of the revenues we receive from the downloaded tracks will be passed on to the Band Aid trust," said a company representative.
Live 8's spokesman was unavailable for comment.
Pink Floyd guitarist Gilmour urged artists and record companies to make a charitable donation off the back of Saturday's landmark global concerts.
"Though the main objective has been to raise consciousness and put pressure on the G8 leaders, I will not profit from the concert," he said in a statement.
"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."
Pink Floyd are one of several participants who have seen sales rocket in the aftermath of Live 8.
According to music retailer HMV, sales of Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd rose 1,343% on Sunday - compared to sales for the previous Sunday - while The Who's Then and Now increased by 863%.
Online retailer Amazon.co.uk reported an equally drastic uplift, with The Wall one of several Pink Floyd albums seeing a huge improvement on the previous week's figures.
Travis
Travis will be among performers at the final Live 8 concert in Edinburgh
In addition to the London line-up, it said, acts appearing at the Eden Project, Berlin and Philadelphia also saw an upturn in sales.
Not every act has benefited, however. Pete Doherty's former band The Libertines saw sales of their Up the Bracket album drop by 35% in HMV stores.
Amazon.co.uk similarly reported no significant rise in sales for Babyshambles, Doherty's current band, whose new album is available to pre-order.
Sir Paul McCartney's rendition of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band with U2 topped the iTunes chart in several countries after being made available to download an hour after its performance.
The former Beatle's performances of Hey Jude and The Long and Winding Road can also be obtained online.
"The artists showed huge generosity and compassion this weekend," said Lib Dem Don Foster.
"Now they should continue to show their goodwill by donating the profits that Live 8 helped to create."
The final Live 8 concert, called The Final Push, takes place in Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium on Wednesday, with performers including Travis, Texas, Sugababes and Ronan Keating.
The free concert has been staged to coincide with the Long Walk to Justice rally in the city.
Organiser Bob Geldof was joined by Hollywood acting couple Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon as he boarded a train to Edinburgh from London's Euston station on Tuesday to join the rally.
Wednesday's Live 8 concert will be broadcast on television by BBC Scotland, on radio and online.
However pirate Live 8 DVDs were found on sale on eBay less than 24 hours after Saturday's event and removed shortly afterwards.
"The people that do this are cretins and scum," said Bob Geldof's spokesman.
"Sadly, we are not at all surprised by this incident," said David Martin, the British Phonographic Industry's director of anti-piracy.
"There are too many people out there who believe music is for stealing, regardless of the wishes of artists and the people who invest in them."
Meanwhile, P Diddy has apologised for failing to turn up at the Philadelphia Live 8 concert on Saturday, where he had been scheduled to perform.
His spokesman said the rap star "totally supports the mission of Live 8 and is sorry he couldn't attend" - but did not give a reason for his absence.
LIVE 8 STARS' ALBUMS BOOST
1. Pink Floyd - The Wall - 3600%
2. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 2000%
3. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - 1400%
4. The Who - The Ultimate Collection - 1400%
5. Pink Floyd - Animals - 1000%
6. Velvet Revolver - Contraband - 1000%
7. Robbie Williams - Greatest Hits - 800%
8. Pink Floyd - Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd - 600%
9. Razorlight - Up All Night - 600%
10. The Killers - Hot Fuss - 200%
11. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment - 200%
12. Dido - Life for Rent - 200%
13. Joss Stone - Mind, Body and Soul - 200%
14. Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters - 200%
15. Madonna - Immaculate Collection - 150%
Source: Amazon.co.uk
I find this gesture to be upmost altruistic. Another reason why Pink Floyd are my favorite band.
R00k wrote:I was going to download Floyd's performance, but if I can purchase it in a way that all the money's going to the charity then I'll definitely buy it.
There will be a Live 8 DVD with all the performances.
R00k wrote:I was going to download Floyd's performance, but if I can purchase it in a way that all the money's going to the charity then I'll definitely buy it.
agreed.
also, Gilmour's one of the greatest guitar player's ever.
Duff, I'll check out that Live at Pompeii recommendation.
