A charity album featuring hits from artists including U2, Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan and Madonna has raised $5 million for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the record labels involved said today.
The album Songs For Japan, a collaboration between the world's biggest record companies, was released a month ago and has been on sale in digital format and as a two-disc CD set. It was available from March 25th on iTunes and from April 4th as a CD.
Organisers said the Japanese Red Cross Society last month received $2 million on behalf of featured artists, songwriters, labels, publishers and iTunes, who waived their royalties and proceeds.
A further payment of $3 million was made on Monday.
More than 500,000 copies of the album have been sold so far in all formats.
Songs For Japan featured 38 hits and classic songs, including Walk On by U2, Imagine by John Lennon, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John and Pray by Justin Bieber.