R.E.M.'s Everybody Hurts tapped as Haiti charity single

Two charity initiatives led by British musicians in support of Haitian earthquake relief are moving forward on Friday.

A star-studded cover of R.E.M.'s song Everybody Hurts has been tapped as the British-led charity single being organized by TV music mogul Simon Cowell and the U.K.'s Sun newspaper.

The American band has agreed to waive royalties from its 1990s-era ballad for the effort and the British government has agreed to exempt the single from sales tax, the Sun reported on Friday.

So far, organizers have lined up Canadian Michael Bublé to sing, as well as Rod Stewart and Leona Lewis.

According to The Sun, artists like Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Take That and Paul McCartney have also been approached to participate.

Coldplay is also among the bands who have donated memorabilia for an online charity auction raising funds for Haiti.

Lead singer Chris Martin donated a signed Viva La Vida tour jacket, while the Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner has donated the white electric Fender Stratocaster guitar he played in the band's first video.

Blur's Damon Albarn has put up for sale an offer to record a specially written piece of music.

All proceeds from the eBay auction, led by Glastonbury Festival co-organizer Emily Eavis, will go to the charity Oxfam exclusively for its work in Haiti. The auction will continue for 10 days.

Meanwhile, North American celebrities are focusing their efforts and support on two Friday night telethons to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake.