27 January 2024 , 22:22
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Robbie Williams and Rita Ora are among the first artists to sign up for a star-studded benefit concert to rival Live Aid and raise millions to fight climate change.
More than 30 of the biggest names in music are expected to perform at stadiums in London and LA next year, alongside Robbie, 49, and Hot Right Now singer Rita, 33. Other acts approached for the fundraiser, being billed as Climate Aid, include Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, U2, Imagine Dragons, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Sia, The Weeknd, Tiesto, Billie Eilish and Santana.
It is being produced by ITV ’s creative director Lee Connolly, who masterminded the channel’s coverage of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Ex-BBC Radio broadcast director Paul Robinson is in charge of hashing out a global TV deal. Island Records, which managed U2, are also involved.
Ex Take That star Robbie Williams (Getty Images)A source said: “Two concerts, in London and LA, are scheduled to take place in January next year and will unite the world to raise vital funds for climate change. It will mark 40 years since Live Aid raised over £100million for famine relief in Ethiopia and has the biggest names in the industry driving it forward. Music fans won’t have seen a concert of this scale since. The plan is for it to happen every two years.”
Money from tickets will go to a new Climate Aid charity to fund large-scale investments to significantly reduce emissions and move to a low-carbon global economy. An estimated 1.9 billion people tuned into the Live Aid broadcasts from London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia on July 13, 1985.
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Brit Ed Sheeran (Getty Images for Amazon Music)
Pop star Katy Perry (Getty Images)More than 75 acts performed, with the UK line-up including Status Quo, Queen, David Bowie, Elton John, Sting, U2, The Who and Paul McCartney. The US bill included the likes of Madonna, Eric Clapton, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger, Led Zeppelin and Tom Petty. Meanwhile Phil Collins, who has turned down Climate Aid because he is retired, played in London then hopped on Concorde and performed in Philadelphia as well.
US singer Billie Eilish (Samir Hussein/Getty Images for L)On July 2, 2005 music venues across the globe hosted a follow-up fundraiser called Live 8 where 10 concerts were played simultaneously across the world in support of the UK’s Make Poverty History campaign.