Christmas Album of Kiwi Artists shines bright for kids

Media release
26th March 2014
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Christmas Album of Kiwi Artists shines bright for kids with bumper donation to Starship’s National Air Ambulance Service

Universal Music and Ellis Grant today presented the Starship Foundation with a cheque for $222,354 from the proceeds of sales of The Starship Christmas Album 2013. This follows on from the previous platinum selling album from 2012. The combined total is now more than $470,000 raised across two years.

This year’s album included tracks from local artists such as Bic Runga, Anika Moa, Julia Deans, Boh Runga, Jason Kerrison, The Bads, The Phoenix Foundation, Holly Beals, Jamie McDell, Sol3Mio, Peter Urlich, Ruby Frost, Jordan Luck, Greg Johnson, Lisa Crawley, Jesse Sheehan, Anna Coddington, Fagan and The People, Lani Purkis, C-City Brothers, Tiki Taane, as well as members of the Kings College Choir, The Christchurch Boys Choir and The Otautahi Jazz Band.

All the artists generously provided their talent and recordings royalty free to support Starship.

Sales of this year’s platinum selling album were sold either online, or through the generous support of retail partners The Warehouse, Caltex and New World, as well as ASB, Classic Hits, SKY and The New Zealand Herald.

“This year we changed gears and went for 100% Kiwi acts with their own unique take on well-known Christmas classics. Almost 30 different artists and groups enthusiastically committed to the album – taking it to No 1 in the charts,” says Paul Ellis.

“On behalf of all the artists and the fantastic support of the Starship Foundation’s partners, it is wonderful that this platinum album has been so well supported by the people of New Zealand”, said Ellis.

The funds donated by Universal Music will go to Starship’s National Air Ambulance Service.

Year-round the Starship National Air Ambulance Service flies top medical experts to lifethreatening emergencies around the country. These vary from complications arising from normal childhood illnesses such as the flu to accidents (drowning, car crashes, sporting injuries) as well as children suffering from serious medical conditions. These specialists stabilise the children and allow them to be brought safely to Starship where they can receive the care they need. Starship Foundation raises $1.5 million annually to fund this service.

Starship Foundation CEO Brad Clark says “A huge number of New Zealanders have purchased the Starship Christmas Album. We are truly grateful for their support of children from all over New Zealand who need the life saving care of Starship’s National Air Ambulance. On behalf of these children, thank you too to Paul Ellis, the wonderful artists involved and to Universal Music for their generosity."

Ellis says he is already working on the concept for this years offering.

For more information on the Starship National Air Ambulance Service, including video footage of an air ambulance mission, please visit www.starship.org.nz/airambulance.

The public can continue to support this service with either cash donations or by donating their old mobile phone to Starship’s Mobile Phone Appeal (www.starship.org.nz/phone), the proceeds of which also go to Starship’s National Air Ambulance Service.

Ends

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