(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) – The text-message-ticketing system employed for the upcoming Live 8 show in London attracted over 1.5 million entries within hours, vying for the 150,000 available passes in the raffle.
Entrants aged 16 and up were invited to text message the answer to a multiple choice question on their cell phone to a special number for the contest.
The participants were asked: “Which city is nearest to the G8 summit in July? A) Berlin, B) Moscow, C) Edinburgh.” After June 12, a computer will randomly select 72,500 people with the correct answer to each receive a pair of tickets.
Aside from the London gig, Live 8 shows will be held in Philadelphia, Paris, Berlin and Rome. The highly anticipated London show, the only city requiring ticketed entry, features acts such as Coldplay, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Madonna, U2, The Cure, Robbie Williams, Mariah Carey, and others.
A Live 8 spokesman told the media that the vast number of entries had already been received. “Bob’s delighted. I’ve just told him and he said: ‘It’s great’.”
He added that anyone texting between now and midnight on June 12 will have an equal chance.
Money raised by a £1.50 text charge for the competition will all go toward charity. The first £1.6 million will be split by The Prince’s Trust and Help A London Child, with the rest being designated to cover the costs of the concert and to going to the Band Aid Trust. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
