Live Aid

'Global Jukebox' raises funds for relief of Ethiopian Famine

Live Aid was a dual-venue concert organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure held on 13 July 1985 to raise relief funds for the famine in Ethiopia. The event was considered a 'global jukebox' as it was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Pennsylvania. The total number of attendees at the dual event reached over 170,00 people. The dual concert also inspired similar events to be held on the same day in other countries such as Australia and Germany. It was one of the most widely televised events of its time with an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. During the concerts, viewers were encouraged to donate money to the Live Aid cause; an estimated £150m is said to have been raised for Ethiopian famine relief as a direct result of the concerts. The success of the Live Aid concerts demonstrate how music can be utilized as a force for good and how it can be used as a source of cultural exchange to bring people together. The magnitude of the global efforts to provide relief for the Ethiopian famine created a sense of unity worldwide.