Sound Relief Benefit Concerts Raise Over $8 Million

The Sound Relief benefit concert for the Bushfire Appeal and Queensland flood victims has raised more than $8 million.

The concerts that took place in Sydney and Melbourne on March 14 reunited acts like Midnight Oil, Hunters & Collectors and Split Enz, gave first listens to new music from Jet and Wolfmother and added a few surprises such as Coldplay and John Farnham performing together, and Barry Gibb performing with Olivia Newton-John.

At a press conference held in Melbourne today, it was announced that $7,159,760 will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and $874,416 will go to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal.

In a statement, organizers said “We are thrilled with the amount of money raised by Sound Relief. It is no small exercise to stage two stadium concerts of such magnitude and the willingness of so many to provide their talent, time, labour and equipment free or at cost has allowed such a significant sum to be raised for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and The Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal. We are proud to have been part of Sound Relief and hope the funds raised will help to heal the communities that have been impacted on by these devastating disasters.”

Yesterday, we announced that the Sony Music initiative for the Bushfire Appeal, the Bushfire Aid album, raised $1.6 million for the Salvation Army.

Photos from Coldplay's set at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 14th March: