Lack of racially diverse performers The original lineup for the Hyde Park concert faced criticism for having only one non-white artist –
Mariah Carey. while
Senegalese musician
Baaba Maal wrote in
The Independent: "I do feel it's very patronising as an African artist that more of us aren't involved." and that the event would nonetheless feature a "large urban element". Organisers also argued that there were few black British artists who could attract a large global audience, stating that Geldof's intention was to aim for the biggest global stars to ensure media attention and a large television audience.
Motives and controversy Geldof's motives for organising Live 8 were questioned. TV and radio presenter
Andy Kershaw - who had co-presented Live Aid in 1985 - directed criticisms at Geldof and the motives for Live 8, saying: "I am coming, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Live 8 is as much to do with Geldof showing off his ability to push around presidents and prime ministers as with pointing out the potential of Africa. Indeed, Geldof appears not to be interested in Africa's strengths, only in an Africa on its knees." Rashod Ollison of
The Baltimore Sun echoed Kershaw's criticisms, calling the event a "ravenous orgy of celebrity ego trips". Geldof's approach, of pressuring G8 leaders to improve aid, forgive debt and ease trade restrictions in Africa, was questioned by John O'Shea, chief executive of international aid charity Goal. O'Shea was concerned that "Live 8 overlooked the need to tackle Africa's corrupt regimes and establish a UN peacekeeping army in Darfur, the Congo and northern Uganda." The organisers were criticised for using Africa to revive the careers of ageing rock stars more than about helping the poor in Africa. For the Edinburgh concert, Geldof called for children to "give up home and school for a week" to join supporters in a march (entitled The Long Walk to Justice) on 6 July, the start of the G8 summit, which drew the ire of teachers and local residents. Criticism was levelled at the
Philadelphia Live 8 concert, when it was revealed that while the performers received no monetary compensation for their participation, they were given gift bags containing designer gifts worth about $12,000. The gifts included $2,000
Gibson guitars, $3,500
Hugo Boss suits and $6,000 Bertolucci watches. An investigation by the UK media regulator
Ofcom ruled that television audiences were subjected to "the most offensive language" and demanded that the BBC issue an on-air apology. In the United States,
ABC drew criticism from the
Parents Television Council when its
delayed airing of the Hyde Park concert highlights failed to censor
The Who's performance of "
Who Are You" which contained the lyric, "Who the fuck are you?". ABC responded: "Unfortunately, one inappropriate phrase sung by one performer was initially missed and made it into the East Coast network feed. It was subsequently edited out of the West Coast feed."
Other MTV and
VH1 were criticised for their coverage of the Live 8 concerts. Media critics and viewers complained that the networks focused too little on the actual musical performances, pointing to the frequent switching between artists and concerts, and cutting to commercials, interviews or "educational segments" while bands were still performing. The
VJs also received criticism for frequently talking over the performances. The following weekend, MTV and VH1 re-aired ten commercial-free hours of music performances from the Live 8 concerts in response to the criticism. The London concert also received criticism when alcohol was outlawed for concertgoers, but made available for the VIPs. ==Release==