Pink Floyd’s album sales went through the roof after Live 8. Sales increased by a jaw-dropping 1,343 per cent at HMV alone.

According to Channel 4 News guitarist David Gilmour said he would not profit from the show.

“Though the main objective has been to raise consciousness and put pressure on the G8 leaders, I will not profit from the concert,” he said.

Can’t argue with that. Whether one thinks the Live 8 approach was right or wrong there’s at least one performer who’s done the decent thing. Then he throws down the gauntlet:

“If other artists feel like donating their extra royalties to charity, perhaps then the record companies could be persuaded to make a similar gesture and that would be a bonus.

I bet that’s really upset a few people. All those who had hoped they could make a few bob on the backs of a cause they knew little - and, I suspect, cared even less - about must be cursing Gilmore’s name.

BBC News quotes HMV’s estimation of the album boosts of the top ten performers:

1 Pink Floyd - Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd - 1343%
2 The Who - Then and Now - 863%
3 Annie Lennox - Eurythmics Greatest Hits - 500%
4 Dido - Life For Rent - 412%
5 Razorlight - Up All Night - 335%
6 Robbie Williams - Greatest Hits - 320%
7 Joss Stone - Mind, Body and Soul - 309%
8 Sting - The Very Best of Sting & The Police - 300%
9 Travis - Singles - 268%
10 Madonna - Immaculate Collection - 200%

If anybody reading this gets any information about which stars donated to charity the extra wonga they made from this deal then please add a comment to this post.

Thanks to Jarndyce at Fair Vote Watch for the tip-off…