Sound Relief Raises Millions

The two mega-concerts held in Sydney and Melbourne on March 14 raised a total of A$8 million (US$5.6 million) for victims of Victoria’s bushfires and Queensland’s floods.

More than 120,000 attended the shows that starred acts including Coldplay, Kings Of Leon, Midnight Oil, Kylie Minogue, The Presets and Icehouse.

At an April 16 meeting at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, the organizers – Chugg Entertainment, Frontier Touring, IMC Agency and Mark Pope Music – handed checks to the Red Cross, the Queensland minister of Emergency Services and the premier of Victoria.

Trevor Dohnt, GM of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, also presented a $150,000 check and thanked his 140 staff who donated their services to the Melbourne concert.
“Four of them lost their homes but insisted they be there,” he said.

A live CD and DVD are being negotiated, for release probably through Liberation Records, owned by Frontier Touring’s Michael Gudinski, to add a further $250,000 to the tally.