Belgian stations raise millions of Euros for earthquake survivors

On Mar. 6, precisely one month after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Belgian media groups hosted a day-long fundraising campaign to support survivors, collecting €1.8 million.

The drive is the second radio to support survivors. On Feb. 15, some 60 European radio stations (including Belgian stations from media groups VRT, DPG Media, Play Media and Mediahuis) simultaneously broadcast Birdy’s “People help the people”. It was shortly thereafter that Flemish stations decided to team up in a huge radio show.

Before the broadcast, more than 20 top Flemish artists, including Camille, Bart Peeters, Selah Sue, Metjeoor, Novastar and Belgian Eurosong entry Gustaph entered the VRT’s legendary Toots-studio to re-record Birdy’s song, backed by top musicians like Jef Neve, Isolde Lasoen and Filip Kowlier. 

Flemish-Turkish singers Hadise and ILA participated in the recording, which premiered on radio on Mar. 3 during the respective morning drive shows of Radio 1, Radio2, Radio2 BeneBene, Klara, Studio Brussel and MNM (VRT), Qmusic, Joe and Willy (DPG Media), NRJ (Play Media), Nostalgie and Nostalgie+ (Mediahuis).

The radio stations teamed up to collect funds for the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, offering music requests for a minimal donation of one euro to support Consortium 12-12, a Belgian association channeling nationwide fundraising campaigns for disaster regions. The consortium supports seven international charity organizations, including the Red Cross, Unicef and Oxfam. 

Belgium’s French-language radio stations (La Première, Musiq3, VivaCité, Viva+, Tipik, Classic 21, Tarmac, JAM, Bel RTL, Radio Contact, Nostalgie, NRJ, Nostalgie+, NRJ+, Chérie, LN Radio and Fun Radio) organized a similar fundraising campaign on the same day.