WorldMags.net REWINDING THE CHARTS Springsteen (left) and Dylan at the “We Are the World” recording session on Jan. 28, 1985 in Hollywood. On Dec. 20, 1984, Harry Belafonte placed a call to nonprof t Columbia, topped the Billboard Hot 100 in just its fourth week, ‘We Are The consultant/music manager Ken Kragen in hopes of staging a becoming the chart’s fastest-f ying No. 1 in nine years. It also concert to raise funds to f ght hunger in Africa — specif cally ruled the R&B/hip-hop, adult contemporary and dance charts. World’ Hit Ethiopia, where famine killed nearly 1 million in 198 3 and As impressive as the song’s chart performances were, it also 198 4. Kragen, who managed Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers helped raise more than $75 million to f ght famine. Nearly I Big In 1985 at the time, thought a supergroup charity single would make three decades later, the USA for Africa foundation continues more of an impact. He initially planned to recruit a dozen to raise funds and awareness for multiple African causes. artists for the song, but industry response was so enthusiastic The week that “World” took over the Hot 100, Billboard (perhaps inspired by the success of 1984’s “Do They Know noted the song was touching not only consumers, but Capitol It’s Christmas?,” a similar charity single from British and Irish Hill , as the RIAA had mailed 12-inch copies of the single to stars) that 50 artists ended up in the group, dubbed USA for each member of Congress on March 29 . “Three working days Africa — including Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. Richie later,” Billboard reported, “the [RIAA] had received 51 letters and Michael Jackson wrote the song, producer Quincy Jones and personal notes of congratulations and appreciation from assembled the artists at Hollywood’s A&M Studios in early the nation’s legislators, including a number of Senate and 1985, and “We Are the World” was born. House leaders.” One congressman “even enclosed a personal On April 13, 1985, the superstar-spangled single, released on check to help in the all-star ef ort.” —Gary Trust © Copyright 2014 by Prometheus Global Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. BILLBOARD MAGAZINE (ISSN 0006-2510; USPS 056-100) is published weekly except for the 2nd week in January, 1st and 3rd week in April, 1st week in June, 2nd week in July, 1st week in September, and 1st and 4th week in December by Prometheus Global Media, LLC., 770 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003-9595.Subscription rate: annual rate, Continental U.S. $299.00. Continental Europe 229 pounds. Billboard, Tower House, Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England LE16 9EF. Registered as a newspaper at the British Post Office. Japan 109,000 yen. Peri- odicals postage paid at New York, N.Y., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send all UAA to CFS. Send Non-Postal and Military Facilities changes of address to Billboard, P.O. Box 45, Congers, N.Y., 10920-0045. Current and back copies of Billboard are available on microfilm from Kraus Microform, Route 100, Millwood, N.Y. 10546 or Xerox University Microfilms, P. O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. For reprints contact: Wright’s Media, [email protected], 1-877-652-5295. Under Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 41450540 return undeliverable Canadian addresses to MSI PM#41450540, P.O. Box 2600, Mississauga, ON L4T 0A8. Vol. 126 Issue 12. Printed in the U.S.A. For subscription information, call 800-684-1873 (U.S. Toll Free); 845-267-3007 (International) or e-mail [email protected]. For any other information, call 212-493-4100. WorldMags.net UNITED© 1985 SUPPORT OF ARTISTS FOR AFRICA 80 BILLBOARD | APRIL 12, 2014.