We Are the World

The idea for "We Are the World" started with Harry Belafonte. In late 1984, he saw the British charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid and wanted American artists, particularly Black musicians, to do something similar for the Ethiopian famine that had already killed roughly one million people. Belafonte called manager Ken Kragen, who brought in Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson to write the song. Quincy Jones agreed to produce. The goal was simple: gather the biggest names in music for one night and record a song that would sell millions.

That night was January 28, 1985, at A&M Studios in Hollywood. More than 45 artists showed up after the American Music Awards. Jones had posted a sign on the door: "Check your egos at the door." Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, they all squeezed into the studio. The session lasted until early morning. Some artists, like Prince, declined; others, like Bob Dylan, looked visibly nervous singing with so many peers. The result was a seven-minute pop-gospel anthem built around a simple, universal message.

Released on March 7, 1985, the single sold 800,000 copies in its first three days. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. Worldwide, it sold over 20 million copies, making it one of the best-selling singles ever. The song raised more than $80 million for famine relief in Africa and the United States, equivalent to about $235 million today. USA for Africa, the organization behind the song, still operates, funding long-term development projects.

At the 1986 Grammy Awards, "We Are the World" won four trophies: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Music Video. It also earned an American Music Award, a People's Choice Award, and two MTV Awards. The recording session itself became legend, later documented in the 2024 Netflix film The Greatest Night in Pop. A 40th-anniversary remaster in Spatial Audio was released in November 2025. [edit]