Cowell's everybody hurts makes history

Simon Cowell's all-star collaboration Everybody Hurts for earthquake-stricken Haiti has set a new record after becoming the fastest-selling charity single this century.

The American Idol judge recruited a host of stars, including Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle, to perform on the R.E.M. cover track in a bid to raise money for survivors of last month's (12Jan10) tremor.

Since its release on Sunday (07Feb10), the song has already shifted more than 200,000 units - and it's on course to have the biggest first week sales of any single since 2000.

A spokesperson for the Official Charts Company says, "This is a phenomenal achievement. The public are certainly not showing any signs of charity fatigue."

R.E.M. have agreed to waive royalty fees, while all proceeds are being split between the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and The Sun's Helping Haiti campaign.

More than 230,000 people died in the disaster.