Jeff Springer
When the world’s best musicians unite for a good cause, the results are staggering. The 12-12-12 Hurricane Sandy Relief Benefit Concert which aired on earned over $35 million dollars for the Robin Hood Fund to help offset the estimated $55 billion dollars of damages left in the superstorm’s wake. As one of the biggest concert events in history, the Madison Square Garden show reached over 2 billion viewers compliments of 34 national networks who carried the broadcast. Additionally, over 30 websites aired a live stream of the broadcast to extend the audience base and expand donations.
The 12-12-12 show included many of the performers and presenters who offered their star power for “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,” a relief telethon which aired on NBC during November. Among last night’s line up were rock legends and the music industry’s biggest names. Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Dave Grohl, Eddie Vedder, Jon Bon Jovi, Roger Waters, Chris Martin, Kanye West, The Who, Alicia Keys, and several others contributed and performed for the event. The show also featured cultural icons and Hollywood favorites like: Quentin Tarantino, Susan Saradon, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, Seth Meyers, Jake Gyllenhaal, Brian Williams, and Former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton who presented on behalf of the relief effort.
Following the concert, Executive Director of the Robin Hood Fund David Saltzman assured “We will make sure that the money goes out right away to the most affected in New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut” and promised “The money that we raised from this concert will be distributed in the days, weeks, and months, not years.”
Producers of the show include the biggest names in film, entertainment, and television. Harvey Weinstein of The Weinstein Company, John Sykes of Clear Channel, and MSG’s James Dolan joined forces to ensure the 6 hour concert to assist in the large scale effort to bring relief for the millions affected by the storm.
