In an effort to raise funds to support COVID-19 relief efforts, Global Citizen, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Lady Gaga launched the One World: Together at Home live-streamed benefit concerns. Participants ranged from the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Beyoncé, and Billie Eilish with messages from public figures including Matthew McConaughey, Oprah Winfrey, and Michelle Obama. The first two hours of the concert was broadcast by the BBC as a thank you to frontline workers while the remaining six hours invited donations.
The eight-hour live-streamed concert was able to raise over $127 million with just over $55 million going to the Who's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund—which will fund tests, treatments, and vaccine development—and the remaining being allocated to charities such as housing provides and food banks.
Charitable Live-Streamed Concerts
The Eight-Hour One World: Together at Home raised $127m
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Fundraising Events - The success of the One World: Together at Home concert demonstrates the potential for live-streamed benefit concerts as a powerful tool for raising funds for charitable causes.
2. Celebrity Engagements in Philanthropy - The involvement of A-list celebrities like Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Billie Eilish in the One World: Together at Home concert highlights the trend of prominent figures using their platform to support and raise awareness for charitable causes.
3. Online Concert Experiences - The popularity and financial success of live-streamed concerts during the COVID-19 pandemic suggests a shift towards online concert experiences, creating new opportunities for artists, event organizers, and streaming platforms.
Industry Implications
1. Nonprofit Fundraising - The One World: Together at Home concert exemplifies how nonprofits can leverage virtual events to raise significant funds for their causes, inspiring innovation in the nonprofit fundraising industry.
2. Entertainment Industry - The rise of live-streamed benefit concerts opens up new avenues for collaboration and revenue generation for the entertainment industry, prompting disruptive innovation in digital entertainment experiences.
3. Digital Platforms and Streaming Services - The increasing demand for online concert experiences presents an opportunity for digital platforms and streaming services to curate and monetize live-streamed events, driving innovation in the digital entertainment landscape.