MusicTibet.com

Rock stars to fight AIDS

Bono, front man of U2 band AFP photo

ON THE WEB, 2 December 2008 (AFP) — Top rock acts, including Coldplay and The Police, were to premiere songs on Monday on a new internet service raising funds for combating AIDS in Africa.

The exclusive songs, released on the 20th annual World AIDS Day, marked the launch of music-charity website red.msn.com.

Half of subscribers' $5 monthly fee will go to the Global Fund against AIDS, said MSN and (RED)WIRE, the two main partners in the project.

"The launch event on MSN is an amazing opportunity for people to view incredible performances from top artists, while helping save lives at the same time," MSN director Lisa Gurry said in a statement.

U2, Jay-Z, Coldplay, John Legend, Dixie Chicks, The Killers, Elton John, The Police, Elvis Costello, Death Cab for Cutie and Sheryl Crow were to perform through the day on the red.msn.com site.

The (RED)WIRE content is also to be posted on social music network iLike for streaming, sampling and syndication to other networking sites.

(RED)WIRE is a digital music magazine sending exclusive music to members once a week as part of the Africa charity.

The multi-national Global Fund was set up in 2002 and is the dominant financier of programs against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Published in IAfrica.com