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We Are the World
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<p>"We Are the World" is a <a href="/facts/Charity_record/CC6vSu0c">charity single</a> recorded by the <a href="/facts/Charity_supergroup/06L0CuYo">supergroup</a> USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by <a href="/facts/Michael_Jackson/LLa098zX">Michael Jackson</a> and <a href="/facts/Lionel_Richie/cDNxNovE">Lionel Richie</a> and produced by <a href="/facts/Quincy_Jones/cNDqEm1X">Quincy Jones</a> for the album <i><a href="/facts/We_Are_the_World_(album)/AzgfFzTd">We Are the World</a></i>. With sales in excess of 20 million physical copies, it is the eighth-<a href="/facts/List_of_best-selling_singles_worldwide/wP7Ak2lq">best-selling single of all time</a>, meant to raise money for the <a href="/facts/1983%25E2%2580%25931985_famine_in_Ethiopia/BKbEzDyp">1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia</a>. </p><p>Soon after the British group <a href="/facts/Band_Aid_(band)/woHRbpRP">Band Aid</a> released "<a href="/facts/Do_They_Know_It%2527s_Christmas%253F/JNINlto0">Do They Know It's Christmas?</a>" in December 1984, musician and activist <a href="/facts/Harry_Belafonte/9c9C1jah">Harry Belafonte</a> decided to create an American benefit single for African famine relief. Mega-agent <a href="/facts/Ken_Kragen/CqRsHepR">Ken Kragen</a> enlisted several musicians for the project. Jackson and Richie completed the writing the night before the first recording session, on January 28, 1985. The event brought together some of the era's best-known recording artists, including <a href="/facts/Bruce_Springsteen/PEQnPnm8">Bruce Springsteen</a>, <a href="/facts/Cyndi_Lauper/hdhpEUbr">Cyndi Lauper</a>, <a href="/facts/Paul_Simon/DHvKq33X">Paul Simon</a>, <a href="/facts/Stevie_Wonder/z5Kqx9mr">Stevie Wonder</a>, and <a href="/facts/Tina_Turner/zaJVusgy">Tina Turner</a>. </p><p>"We Are the World" was released on March 7, 1985, as the first single from the album by <a href="/facts/Columbia_Records/yV1YYE69">Columbia Records</a>. It topped music charts throughout the world and became the fastest-selling U.S. pop single in history. "We Are the World" was certified <a href="/facts/Quadruple_platinum/zGzLFa9l">quadruple platinum</a>, becoming the first single to be certified multi-platinum. Its awards include four <a href="/facts/Grammy_Award/2bxYJjPV">Grammy Awards</a>, one <a href="/facts/American_Music_Award/3rSsshn4">American Music Award</a>, and a <a href="/facts/People%2527s_Choice_Award/nkPegsIk">People's Choice Award</a>. </p><p>"We Are the World" was promoted with a music video, a VHS, a special edition magazine, a <a href="/facts/Simulcast/Ybej2dSD">simulcast</a>, and several books, posters, and shirts. The promotion and merchandise helped "We Are the World" raise more than $80 million (equivalent to $229 million in 2024) for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States. Another cast of singers recorded a new version, "<a href="/facts/We_Are_the_World_25_for_Haiti/AXjrpffz">We Are the World 25 for Haiti</a>", to raise relief following the <a href="/facts/2010_Haiti_earthquake/fffulr9x">2010 Haiti earthquake</a>. </p>