Abstract
Benefit concerts have been used as a fundraising method for urgent issues for centuries, beginning in 1749 with concerts put on by George Handel. The first modern benefit concert was the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, which proved that these concerts could raise large amounts of money for their cause. Live Aid was put on by Bob Geldof in 1985 Live Aid in response to the famine in Ethiopia. The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness in 1992 was staged following Freddie Mercury’s death and worked to raise money for awareness and a cure for HIV/AIDS. The Concert for New York City was the music industry’s response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. These concerts all worked towards raising money for their respective causes but also faced skepticism and financial issues that tarred the legitimacy of their intention. Celebrities are commonly the organizers and faces of benefit concerts, making them a form of catalytic philanthropy. Despite these problems, benefit concerts are still a common method of fundraising and raising awareness for humanitarian causes.
Recommended Citation
Gardner, Emma C.
(2024)
"Benefit Concerts: Truly for the Benefit of the Cause?,"
Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal: Vol. 2024, Article 1.
Available at:
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/mako/vol2024/iss2/1
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