Music News: Live 8

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the global benefit concert "Live Aid", the same organizers recently announced a world wide celebration that will take place on July 2.
The free mega concerts will hosted in eight major cities through out the world as part of the "Live Eight" awareness effort.

Unlike the original Live Aid concerts, no money is being directly raised for relief efforts.
Instead, the idea behind the concert is to raise awareness of the current economical disasters Africa faces, in an attempt to appeal for economic aid to the powerful G-Eight leaders at their Scotland summit, which will be held days later on July 6.

Although the concerts are free, tickets are limited. To obtain tickets a lottery system was implemented, in which a question was sent to the public via T.V., radio, and other mediums, then participants were to reply by text messaging their answers over the phone.

Some of the acts participating in the events include, U2, Madonna, Coldplay, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, with many more expected to join in the moments leading up to the events.

The only concert to take place in the United States will be held at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The original site of the 1985 Live Aid concert was, JFK Stadium, was torn down in the 90s.

Pop star, poet, .com millionaire, and promoter of the events, Bob Geldof, has arranged for MTV and VH1 to broadcast eight hours of the Live 8 concerts on July 2. It will be the longest period MTV has gone live to cover an event since Woodstock '99. America Online will also cover the event on the Internet. In addition, XM Satellite Radio will carry the concerts, as well as Premiere Radio Networks. There are even last minute negotiations taking place for ABC to telecast a prime-time version on July 2 following the cable TV coverage.