As you may have read recently, a benefit album has been released supporting the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan independence movement. This led to the blocking of access to iTunes stores by China – those with credit cards from other jurisdictions such as the United States are usually able to purchase music from the iTunes store in that jurisdiction despite being located in China.
The album, Songs for Tibet – The Art of Peace, has sold 10,000 copies in just a few days and serves as an excellent example of the use of music for a political purpose as well as highlighting the impact of censorship on free speech.
The album was released on 5th August digitally with the CD becoming available early last week. Funds from the project are to be used to assist the Art of Peace Foundation. Athletes in Beijing were invited to download the album free of charge with forty downloads reported prior to the imposition of censorship by the Chinese Government.
I will be featuring this album on my radio program next week and the tracks include:
Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek 2
Sting – Send Your Love (Art of Peace Mix)
Alanis Morrissette - Versions Of Violence (Recorded n Dressing Room In Cologne, Germany)
John Mayer – Belief
Regina Spektor – Better
Moby - We Are All Made Of Stars (2008)
Damien Rice & The Cheshire Project - Making Noise
Vanessa Carlton - More Than This (Campfire Take)
Duncan Sheik - Nothing Fades (Kosen Rufu Version)
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Where Are You Going? (Live In Barcelona)
Suzanne Vega - Song Of Sand (Great City Version)
Garbage - All The Good In This Life
Rush - Hope (Live for The Art of Peace)
Jonatha Brooke - Madonna On The Curb (Peace Mix)
Joan Armatrading - In These Times (The Concord Mix)
Teitur - All My Mistakes (Featuring Tarira)
Jackson Browne - Alive In The World
Ben Harper- Better Way (Live in Six-Fours-les-Plage)
Rupert Hine -The Heart Of The Matter (Underlying Mix)
Underworld - To Heal (and Restore Broken Bodies)
Further Reading
The Art of Peace Foundation <http://www.artofpeacefoundation.org/index.php> at 24 August 2008
Digital Music News, Great Firewall Growls: China Blocks iTunes Access (21 August 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/082008itunes> at 22 August 2008
The Age, iTunes blocked in China after protest stunt (21 August 2008) <http://www.theage.com.au/news/technology/itunes-blocked-in-china-after-protest-stunt/2008/08/20/1219262358153.html> at 22 August 2008
Digital Music News, Will the Ban Boost Sales? Tibet Album Pushes Past 10,000 (22 August 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/082108tibet> at 24 August 2008
Guardian.co.uk, China blocks iTunes music store (21 August 2008) <http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/aug/21/china.blocks.itunes> at 24 August 2008
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