Live Aid 40th Anniversary Marks Global Music Charity Milestone

The 40th anniversary of the landmark Live Aid concerts on July 13, 1985, highlights a pivotal moment when music became a powerful force for global humanitarian aid, raising over $100 million for Ethiopian famine relief and reaching nearly two billion people worldwide. Live Aid featured diverse performers across venues in London and Philadelphia, with standout moments such as Queen's electrifying 21-minute set at Wembley Stadium, widely regarded as one of the greatest live performances in rock history, and Bono's crowd-dive that helped catapult U2 to global superstardom. Organizers Bob Geldof and Midge Ure conceived Live Aid as a response to the Ethiopian famine, initially sparked by a BBC news report and the charity single "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" which challenged Western audiences to confront harsh realities. The concert combined star-studded performances with spontaneous, dramatic moments, including Phil Collins playing at both locations on the same day and Geldof's impassioned plea for donations that dramatically increased fundraising. Artists who took part recall the event as a transformative and unifying experience, underscoring music's unique ability to inspire action and awareness on a global scale. Four decades later, Live Aid remains a benchmark for charity concerts, remembered both for its musical triumphs and its significant humanitarian impact.