Live 8 'Sgt. Pepper' Performance Rush-Released Worldwide As Digital Download From Universal Music

LONDON, UK (Universal Music International Ltd) - The historic opening of today's Live 8 concert in London - U2 and Sir Paul McCartney collaborating on the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - has been rush-released worldwide by Universal Music Group as a digital download, for sale an hour after its performance on the Hyde Park stage.

The unique recording is available to buy through more than 200 online music stores and services in 30 countries, including www.Live8Live.com, and the proceeds from the download sales are being donated to Live 8.
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is thought to be the fastest-ever worldwide commercial download release from a major music event. It has been achieved by the co-operation of the artists, the Live 8 organisation and the event's broadcasters, working with the Universal Music technology team and dozens of online music outlets. Guinness World Records is closely monitoring this aspect of Live 8, to see if the achievement qualifies for a Guinness World Records seal of approval.

Music fans have an opportunity to set a world record of their own, by buying the downloadable "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" more than any other track previously released online. The recording will not be available in physical form.

Immediately after its performance today, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was transmitted by satellite to the BBC Television Centre in London, and relayed to UK broadcaster Capital Radio. A direct digital recording was captured there for Universal Music, which edited, mastered and transmitted the track to its production centre in Hanover, Germany. The final master was sent to the company's global electronic distribution warehouse in the US, followed by real-time delivery to online retailers around the world, for sale as the first Live 8 download.