McCartney/U2 Live 8 performances in iTunes

i just wanted to say itunes music phone!!!!!!!! www.engadget.com if you have not seen it yet

Wires crossed - I'm in no way advocating charity that creates dependence. Geldof and Co. have been asking that economic aid be supplied to these countries as grants that have stipulations that the money be spent on the populace, as well as trade restrictions lifted so the people of Africa can earn livable incomes. That is not a refusal of charity, but an acknowledgement that mere charity will not be the only answer this time around. Just like pure charity isn't enough, neither is just political change. Theri message, while naive in its focus on just economic problems, is still important. I have no desire to make any other person in this world dependent on me. That may be your general view of Americans, but I don't fall into that category. I won't delve into current American foreign policy except to say that a large portion of us don't agree with it.

Robert, how about you Justify charity for us. Charity only creates dependance - and as much as you Americans (i'm British, I've got my own post-collonial-guilt to deal with here) wish the world were dependant on you we are not, and we shall never be. Debt, Mindless Charity and insular-thinking trade restrictions create povery. Aid is Smart charity, with a small c - no strings & long-haul plans - if your charity, Robert, is my aid - we may have crossed wires and I appoligise. As I said before - Live 8 understands its not about charity its about the whole package. And yes... people actually had to stand up and say "woah, this charity is going into a dictators bank account!".

Its always disappointing to watch us 1st World Americans - wealthy and privilaged beyond comprehension - try to justify not giving to charity. Do we need to argue about whether any chunk of $.99USD could be useful in helping abject poverty? I think that is a moot point.

Well, you make your point - as long as you can see where I'm coming from, that's all. LIVE 8 ain't about giving, no one should be giving- charity isn't doing anyone good (disasters / emergencies apart). This concert was about a feeling and a public solidarity - you don't have to give a thing to be a part of it, this isn't about how nice Apple are, this is a dark side of marketing. Through the thousands of people who will have logged on and signed up for iTMS (after being plugged on the BBC show i'm thinking). When Geldof made the point that 20 years ago our money made a difference he was being a showman, Live Aid didn't save the continent of Africa. No amount of charity will do that, no matter how well placed - there has to be a Political shift, dropping the debt, dropping trade restriction then aid. But that's not the point... again we're getting side tracked. I'm not against giving to charities (on the whole) nor am I bashing Live 8. I just don't like iTMS' using this event to suck more than enough custom through their door. If Apple wanted, they could have paid for the rights and given away the songs, it would have hurt - but fuck 'em - they are not being humane they're being clever. But I see where your coming from iFelix.

I also meant to say that if the Band Aid song last christmas is anything to go by, Apple will not be taking any money from sales of these songs and all the money will go to Live8.

All the expenses for the concerts is being met by sponsors such as Nokia.

Live 8 gathered millions of dollars through the $1.50 it cost per text message to attempt to get the free tickets to the concert. Some people texted over 100 times before they were able to receive a ticket - and so Live 8 received a $150 donation from those people. After all of the expenses for the concerts are paid off, then any residual will be distributed to charities in Africa, just as they did in Live Aid 20 years ago. If you were watching the show, Bob Geldof detailed exactly what they did with the money and even brought out people from Africa whose lives had been saved from the money donated during Live Aid. I'd assume that Apple took the 6 cents off the top in order to compensate for bandwidth (although frankly it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they didn't take any cut at all), and everything else goes to Live 8. How much are you giving per download? Oh, right.

I listened to the songs from the AOL video streaming page (free, but would not work on Safari, but did with WMP and Firefox), however I am still going to purchase the song from ITMS to demonstrate my solidarity with Live8 and my hope that the richest nations in the world will stop exploiting the poorest. Even if you listen to the songs on Callum's site, and you hate DRM as much as CK does, get the songs from iTunes and show you care. Yes there are other ways to show solidarity with Live8, do those as well.

Hey buddy, it does not state that at all. All I can read is proceeds - and all that means is the price Apple paid for the rights to use the songs is being covered. Any extra - sure it goes to Live 8. Who expressly DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY. The money could go to an NGO like Oxfam who have a million projects all worthwhile and in need of cash, but - no. I don't get your position Brock, it seems to be a clever statement (on Apple's side) but its all marketing.