Songs For Japan Raises $5 Million for Japanese Red Cross Society in First Month of Digital & Physical Sales

Global Music Effort Double-Album Benefits Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief

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May 04, 2011, 06:00 ET

NEW YORK, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Songs For Japan, the star-studded album collection benefitting Japan earthquake and Pacific tsunami relief, has raised US $5 million for the Japanese Red Cross Society, based on the first month's sales of the digital release and the physical two-CD set.

The Japanese Red Cross Society last month received a payment of $2 million on behalf of the participating artists, songwriters, music labels, music publishers and iTunes – all of whom have waived their royalties and proceeds to ensure that the JRCS receives as much support as possible from this initiative.

A further payment of $3 million was made to the JRCS on Monday, May 3.

Less than one week from its inception, Songs For Japan was rush-released worldwide as a digital album exclusively via iTunes on Friday, March 25, followed by a first run of nearly 500,000 CD sets rushed into physical production for worldwide availability Monday, April 4.

More than 500,000 digital and physical copies of Songs For Japan have been sold to-date, enabling the latest payment to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

Both versions of Songs For Japan continue to sell and rank in music charts globally, with all the participants continuing to raise awareness of the release and the relief funds being raised.

A music industry-wide charity initiative, Songs For Japan is an unprecedented compilation of 38 major hits and classic tracks including 21 Billboard Hot 100 hits and five #1's from more than 30 of the biggest names in contemporary music.

Songs for Japan features an all-star lineup: