Music for Life presenters pictured from left to right are Eva De Roo, Linde Merckpoel and Bram Willems.
Credit: Jokko
The 11th edition of Music for Life organized by Belgian Dutch-language public radio broadcaster Studio Brussel gathered €7.8 million (app. US$8.4 million) during “De Warmste Week” (The Warmest Week — the week before Christmas). The proceeds are being used to fund 1,045 charity projects (selected by listeners and the volunteers) in the country.
Some 60,000 visitors came to see Studio Brussel broadcast live 24/7 at the Schorre recreational grounds in Boom, Belgium, while about 36,000 runners participated in the “Warmathon” charity run that was a key element of this year’s Music for life edition.
Eva De Roo presents during the evening program of “Warmste Week.”
Credit: Thomas Geuens
Between Dec. 18–24, Studio Brussel broadcast live from the De Schorre site, with presenters Linde Merckpoel, Eva De Roo and Bram Willems, taking on (paid) music requests. Over 12,500 records were aired from the Schorre studio.
“This tsunami of warm emotions and solidarity goes beyond my greatest expectations,” said Jan Van Biesen, Studio Brussel station manager. “This is a an inspiring signal of hope from the people, in a time when fear and polarization drive the agenda.”
On Dec. 24, four of VRT’s radio channels — Radio 1, Radio 2, MNM and Studio Brussel —set up a Warmste Week simulcast for the “grande finale” of Music for life’s 2016 edition.