By: Adam Grant

For decades now Sir Bob Geldof has been at the forefront of bringing global attention to Africa's AIDS, poverty, and starvation issues through the power of music.

        1985 saw Geldof launch LIVE Aid - a concert to raise money for the poverty stricken African continent, which took place in London, England and Philadelphia, USA.  The event brought out some of that generation's greatest musical outfits, and most importantly, the people.  20 years later, such an event had to happen again.  This time, it would be known as LIVE 8.

        Geldof was patted on the back for his willingness to once again champion such a philanthropic event with a sizable roster of today's most prominent artists, as well his intent on taking on the G8, by more than subtly encouraging them to relieve Africa of their national debt.

        However, the musicians involved didn't necessarily receive the same praise.  With the event being broadcasted from country to country, continent to continent, with millions possibly billions of humans observing, many believed that some artists taking the stage could be in it for the exposure alone.

"It is without question that all artists that play (at LIVE 8) will enjoy increased record sales," claimed Blur and Gorillaz front man Damon Albarn in a June interview with BBC Radio 4.

"I would feel more comfortable if I felt there was a discussion," he continues.  "And that the artists were putting pressure on their record labels to genuinely show that this is an altruistic act and that there is no self-gain in it."

        Such an argument was initially snubbed by those participating, but numbers put forth to the public by HMV, indicated that July 3rd (the day following the concerts) showed a whopping increase of sales for some of LIVE 8's most notable performers.

        Pink Floyd's "Echoes - Best Of" jumped a remarkable 1,343% in sales, followed closely by The Who's "Then & Now" at 863% and Annie Lennox's "Eurythmics Greatest Hits" at 500%.

14 other artists/bands also experienced increased sales of more than 100%, thus proving that while African awareness was made a higher priority after LIVE 8's international blitz, those who didn't need any financial assistance, received it anyways.

In response to his own band's astronomical increase in record sales following LIVE 8, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour has come out declaring that he "will not profit from the concert."

Through a statement released on Monday, Gilmour also appears to be encouraging fellow accidental benefactors of the concert to put their money where their mouths are.

"If other artists feel like donating their extra royalties to charity, perhaps then record companies could be persuaded to make a similar gesture and that would be a bonus," he explains.  "This is money that should be used to save lives."