Released on iTunes on March 25, 2011, Songs For Japan features 40 tracks for $9.99 with the artists and labels waiving their royalties and fees so the proceeds can go toward relief efforts for the March 11th Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
If each song was purchased individually from iTunes it would cost nearly $40 so for a quarter of the price, you get some great music and help out a worthy cause.
Charity singles and albums have been around for a while gaining major popularity in the 80’s with We Are The World and Tears Are Not Enough to aid Famine Relief in Ethiopia. In North America we don’t seem to have an many dedicated charity singles, unlike the UK where charity singles are routinely recorded exclusively for the charity event and regularly make the charts. Artists in North America more commonly donate the proceeds from an upcoming single to a charity.
Does a charitable connection prompt you to purchase?