Rage Against The Machine and McElderry Battle It Out For Christmas #1

15/12/2009

Rage Against The Machine and X Factor winner Joe McElderry are in the fiercest battle for years to be this year's Christmas number one, the Official Charts Company says today.
 
Initial sales tallies (for Sunday and Monday trading) indicate that Rage Against The Machine's Killing In the Name has started the week just ahead of McElderry's The Climb. The sales gap between the two records is only about 10% of RATM's sales.
 
With McElderry only released digitally after his X Factor victory on Sunday evening, Rage Against The Machine has had almost twice as long to sell its units. 

But McElderry is set to receive a sales boost when the CD version of his single is released tomorrow (Wednesday).
 
Rage Against The Machine have received publicity through an internet campaign to mount a rival bid to claim the Christmas number one, following four years  of dominance by X Factor winners. But they face a tough battle with McElderry, who won X Factor on Sunday night in front of a 10m TV audience.
 
Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot says:

 "This is shaping up to be a very exciting battle between two different records which have captured the nation's imagination. But, although Rage Against The Machine have started off in front, according to our initial sales estimates, there is no doubt that this tussle is far from over."
 

The previous Christmas number ones of the Noughties are:
 
2000       Bob The Builder                                                   Can We Fix It     
2001       Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman                           Somethin' Stupid
2002       Girls Aloud                                                          Sound Of The Underground
2003       Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules                     Mad World
2004       Band Aid 20                                                        Do They Know It's Christmas?
2005       Shayne Ward                                                      That's My Goal
2006       Leona Lewis                                                        A Moment Like This
2007       Leon Jackson                                                      When You Believe
2008       Alexandra Burke                                                  Hallelujah

Notes to Editors:

1.   Chart information quoted from this release must be credited to The Official Charts Company

2.  The Official Charts Company (OCC) is a joint venture between record labels’ body the BPI and ERA, the Entertainment Retailers Association.   The OCC is responsible for the commissioning, marketing, distribution and management of the UK’s industry standard music and video charts and is endorsed by the BVA (British Video Association).

3. The Official Charts Company compiles its charts from sales information gathered across all key distribution (or entertainment) channels including all major high street retail chains, independent stores, supermarkets, mail order internet retailers and digital music service providers. This market research sample equates to 99% of the total UK Singles market; 98% of the total UK Albums market and 90% of the total UK DVD market.

For further information contact:
Amy Howard, Official Charts Company.
: 01480 860 530  M. 07768 891 264
E: amy@theofficialcharts.com
www.theofficialcharts.com

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