Unsigned band make chart history

[Scarby]

Essex rock band Koopa have made chart history by becoming the first unsigned band to land a UK top 40 hit. Under new chart rules their download-only single Blag, Steal & Borrow debuted at number 31.
Chart rules were changed at the start of the year to allow digital single sales to count towards a chart position even if there is no CD version.
At the top of the charts, X Factor winner Leona Lewis made it four weeks at number one with A Moment Like This.
Mika, winner of the BBC's Sound of 2007 survey of new talent, has the highest new entry at three with his debut single Grace Kelly, while Eric Prydz was at number two with Proper Education.


The second highest new entry was Just Jack at four with Starz In Their Eyes, pushing Take That's Patience to number five.
Amy Winehouse climbed to the top of the album chart with her latest offering Back to Black.
James Morrison's Undiscovered rose three places to number two, Snow Patrol's Eyes Open was a non-mover at three and Take That's Beautiful World fell from the top slot to number four.
Koopa have benefited from a change in chart rules introduce on the 1 January.
Before that date an artist needed to release singles on CD or another physical format - and therefore have a record deal - to qualify for the chart.
Record deal
Singer and bassist Joe Murphy told the BBC News website it was all down to their manager and "awesome" fans.
"Without them we would not have done it," he said.
"Just four days ago nobody had heard of us, now it seems like everyone has. I can't get my head around it."
Murphy added that they had been contacted by a number of big record labels, including one who recently turned them down.
There is also talk of a US label flying them out to America for talks.
Koopa, from Colchester, have been together for seven years in various forms and have built up a fanbase on the internet and on the live circuit.
They have played almost 500 gigs in the past three years, including a headline show at the Mean Fiddler in London last summer.

i thought Koopa's song was shite

 

[Profondo Rosso]

I've not heard the song, but also in chart news, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" charted this week, even though it was not re-released or anything.

 

[fcukcov]

I've not heard the song, but also in chart news, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" charted this week, even though it was not re-released or anything.

The chart is gonna be a very strange thing from now on. We could end up with a number one beatles or abba song at number if it features in a tv show or something and people go back to download it.

 

[Jeff]

They played the song at the match yesterday, and the PA announcer said something about trying to make it into the charts as an unsigned band. I just thought it was the usual bollocks they use when trying to promote local bands, I didn't think it was going to happen.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

The chart is gonna be a very strange thing from now on. We could end up with a number one beatles or abba song at number if it features in a tv show or something and people go back to download it.

The Beatles aren't on iTunes atm because of legal reasons, they're worried that when they finally put them on though, it could cause The Beatles to have #1, #2, #3 in the charts and maybe even the entire top 40 for themselves. :icon_conf

 

[drummindefender]

The Beatles aren't on iTunes atm because of legal reasons, they're worried that when they finally put them on though, it could cause The Beatles to have #1, #2, #3 in the charts and maybe even the entire top 40 for themselves. :icon_conf

least it will stop westlife getting near the record-plus i doubt it will take up that much as much of the beatles fans of the older generation don't downloa music.

 

[Ox Fox]

The Beatles aren't on iTunes atm because of legal reasons, they're worried that when they finally put them on though, it could cause The Beatles to have #1, #2, #3 in the charts and maybe even the entire top 40 for themselves. :icon_conf

They aren't on iTunes because of their long running feud with the rights to the Apple name.

From Fortune

While details remain to be worked out, Fortune has learned that iTunes is close to a deal to bring the Beatles catalog online. Apple Computer is said to be angling to become the exclusive online music store for the Beatles for a limited window of time. Other music stores, such as Microsoft's MSN and Rhapsody, have courted the Beatles over the years to no avail, but it appears Apple is close to getting first dibs on the band's hits.

As the Beatles have sold so many albums what makes you think everyone will suddenly want to buy them again as downloads and flood the top 40?

 

[Jeff]

As the Beatles have sold so many albums what makes you think everyone will suddenly want to buy them again as downloads and flood the top 40?

Some people are too stupid/lazy/rich to convert their own CDs to MP3, they'll buy them again instead.

But I think people buyying Beatles stuff will more likely be people who aren't massive fans who already have the CDs, they'll be people who'll buy a few of their favourite tracks rather than buy a whole album.

 

[Hazzman]

It's an awful song anyway. They set out with a campaign, just to get this in the Top 40. Basically, advertising 'it would be funny if us 3 hearty souls from Colchester got in the top 40, when we're unsigned.' and the 'ironic' emo kids fell for it I think.