# Band Aid 20 song breaks record for most digital music downloads

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/11/30/band-aid-20-song-breaks-record-most-digital-music-downloads/
- Published: 2004-11-30T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**‘Do they know it’s Christmas?’, the new version of the Band Aid song, has become
the highest grossing digital music download ever.**

Sales of the song on 7 Digital Media’s Web site (www.buybandaid.com) alone have 
raised more than £15,000 for the Band Aid Trust, and this is only one of the Web
sites selling Band Aid downloads.

The original Band Aid version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ was recorded in 
London on 25 November 1984, and released as a seven-inch vinyl single on 7 December.
It entered the UK chart at No. 1 on December 15, and stayed there for five weeks,
selling more than three million copies.

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Twenty years on, the new recording of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ on Mercury Records,
written again by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, went on sale in shops yesterday. All 
proceeds from the single going to The Band Aid Trust.

However, it was made available last week for online download and purchase, and proved
very popular, despite Apple’s iTunes service choosing not to sell it.

“With the track being available for download we’re able to raise tens of thousands
of pounds for the children of Africa even before a single CD is sold”, said Ben 
Drury, Managing Director of 7 Digital Media, the company behind the official download
version of Do They Know It’s Christmas.

The launch of Band Aid 20 was handled by Rainier PR, which donated its services 
at no charge.

The Band Aid 20 track can be downloaded for £1.49 with a special bundle including
the original for £1.99. The video is also available for download at £2.50. Ringtone
and images for mobile phones are also available for purchase, as is a video version
for mobile phones.

Sadly it seems that the track download only works if you are using Microsoft’s Internet
Explorer v5.01 (or higher) browser, so we couldn’t buy it online.

At the site you can also order the CD or make a donation to the Band Aid Trust.