NILE'S CONCERT RAISES £300K

Tuesday’s Christmas concert hosted by Nile Rodgers raised £300k for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins, with thousands of viewers tuning in worldwide to watch performances by the likes of Rod Stewart, Tony Bennett, CHIC and Florence Welch.

The Stars Come out to Sing at Christmas was the first virtual edition of Nordoff Robbins’ annual Christmas concert. Money raised will help recoup some of the funding lost this year to COVID-19.

Admission was free, with Hipgnosis Songs, the London Stock Exchange, Open Exchange and SSE sponsoring the celebration. Other performers included Cliff Richard, Neil Young, Robbie Williams, Paul Weller and Katherine Jenkins.

Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis said: “We’ve had an incredible year at Hipgnosis, which we are extremely grateful for, but we are very aware that 2020 has not been a comfortable year for the vast majority of the planet. This has made it virtually impossible for people that know, appreciate and support the incomparable work of Nordoff Robbins to be as generous as they have been in the past. It was therefore important that we give back in a way that would help bridge that financial gap.”

The Stars Come Out to Sing at Christmas is available to watch until 1/5. Donations are still welcome here.