FILTHY MONEY MADE ON THE BACK OF THE POOREST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET

We're waiting to hear from Bob Geldof the merry thump of outrage he was quick to throw at Ebay in light of the news of the not-entirely-unexpected massive sales bounce after Live 8 - a bounce encouraged, of course, by the block purchase of advertising slots by record companies to push the bands who'd appeared. (And, we noticed, Howard Jones Greatest Hits, which can't have been harmed by HoJo's appearance in all those 'remember the Live Aid' clipfests).

Pink Floyd's Echoes sales increased 1,343 per cent between Sunday 26th and Sunday 3rd on the HMV chain alone. The Who saw an 863 per cent leap, Eurythmics Greatest Hits rose 500 per cent and Life For Rent by Dido shot up 412%. Coldplay, to be fair, only managed a 3% sales rise, but then X&Y was already doing pretty well under its launch momentum anyway.

But remember: it wasn't about the careers, you know. The idea was to raise awareness, and it certainly has: Floyd's back catalogue has really come to awareness in people's minds.

Thanks to Keith T

music live 8 live8 pink floyd sales