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Stars Support Oxfam Download Site

added 09 March 2004 at 16.26

Coldplay, Doves, and Badly Drawn Boy are amongst the artists who have been vocal with their support for Oxfam’s new music download service which aims to raise money for underdeveloped countries.

Only a week after the launch of the rejuvenated Napster site comes the launch of Oxfam’s www.bignoisemusic.com. The service will go live on Wednesday May 26 and will offer users a choice of 300,000 tracks.

The songs (including some exclusive and previously unreleased tracks) will be available to download, priced between 75 and 99 pence per track, and 10p from every single pound spent on the site will go directly to Oxfam.

"Music lovers get great tracks and artists see their music helping some of the poorest people in the world through real cash support.” Oxfam spokesperson Adrian Lovett said.

The site has already received numerous messages of support from some of the country’s top bands.

“Paying to download from www.bignoisemusic.com seems like a good idea when you
know your money is going to help some of the world's poorest people” explained Chris Martin from Coldplay. While Doves sent a message saying “We're all really pleased to give one of our tracks for Oxfam to sell as a download. Good luck with the big noise project & all the best for the future”

"I have supported Oxfam for a few years and believe what they do is really important,” added Badly Drawn Boy. “I know that even small amounts of money can make big changes where Oxfam works - so buying your music on www.bignoisemusic.com means that you are making a difference to people all around the world. This is great idea."

Elsewhere Ash’s Tim Wheeler sent a message saying, “Downloading from the Oxfam site equates to filling a dry well in a third world country full of fresh clean drinking water.” and The Darkness responded with a succinct but enthusiastic, “We love a big noise! Rock on!”

Visitors to the site will also be able to sign up to Oxfam’s global petition, called the Big Noise, calling on governments and world leaders to Make Trade Fair. Over five million people have signed the petition, ranging from coffee farmers through to influential people like the Dalai Lama to people here in the UK, through to artists such as Coldplay.

For more information check out www.bignoisemusic.com and www.oxfam.com.

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