Snail's Pace

I've been really busy, but will hopefully be updating more frequently over the coming months. Stay tuned!

Christmas Number One Sales Figures

Rage Against The Machine: 502,672

Joe McElderry : 450,838

Lady Gaga: 61,677

Peter Kay: 52,605

Pogues: 18,457

Mariah Carey: 16,449

If these figures are wrong I will stand corrected :).

Previous X Factor Winner Sales Figures + Show Viewer Averages:

(Series 1) Steve Brookstein - 250,000 (6.90 mill viewers)

(Series 2) Shayne Ward - 742,180 (8.72 mill viewers)

(Series 3) Leona Lewis - 571,253 (8.02 mill viewers)

(Series 4) Leon - 490,000 (8.35 mill viewers)

(Series 5) Alexandra Burke - 576,000 (10.50 mill viewers)

(Series 6) Joe McElderry - 450,838 (13.31 mill viewers)

RATM vs Joe McElderry

A month or so back, who could've predicted such a close, and particularly unusual christmas number one battle would be looming. It seems that the great British tradition of crazy christmas number ones happenings was not only put on hold by X Factor (year on year) but also eventually spurred on by it.

Many have suggested that Cowell probably loves the idea of this chistmas battle, but I'm not so sure. Publicity for the show and Joe himself is surely at saturation point, so unless this battle results in hundreds of thousands of additional sales (which by the stats so far it hasn't), I don't see it as a plus for Cowell that Joe may miss out of the number one spot.



The midweeks:

Joe McElderry

Tuesday Mid Week Sales: 77,000
Wednesday Mid Week Sales: 110,000 (+33,000)
Thursday Mid Week Sales: 216,000 (+116,000)
Friday Mid Weeks: 297,000 (+81,000)

Rage Against The Machine

Tuesday Mid Week Sales: 83,000
Wednesday Mid Week Sales: 175,000 (+92,000)
Thursday Mid Week Sales: 253,000 (+78,000)
Friday Mid Weeks: 306,000 (+53,000)

The RATM campaign has been phenomenally successful, but Joe has been catching up towards the weekend. On the face of these numbers, you'd think this was Joes for the taking. At time of writing though RATM stand at odds of 1.18 and Joe 6 on betfair. A complete turn around from last night. A leak? Or do punters think the snow may have harmed Joe's physical sales (O rly?). His digital sales were low the day before the physical CD went on sale. It's hard to wrap an MP3 :). Have thousands of Rage fans have been holding out towards the weekend to buy the single? An intriguing situation.

Roll on the top 40.....

EDIT: Based on their sales the CEO of 7digital.com thinks that RATM may have sold 100,000 units on saturday. Enough to swing it?

'I Say Britain, You Say Talent....'

The last seven Britain's Got Talent heats have gone to the person who is last up. The nature of the contest means that being last is a massive advantage.

This does not apply to the final which is over two shows.

My picks?

I finally bowed to pressure and backed Susan Boyle to win. I also have had three longshot side bets with Hollie Evans (massively overpriced), DJ Talent (pictured - he was very funny) and Julian Smith (has the story/drive to win it and you know he will be consistent).

I posted about Jamie Pugh being a contender a few weeks ago but luckily never backed him. He was useless wasn't he?

Analysis of Susan Boyle's popularity is difficult as the whole is still gabbling about her - while not voting for her. I am very confident she will win.

Britain's Got Talent - The Final 40

Here is the list. I think I will peruse it today at my leisure. There are 5-6 live contenders, the rest can be cut straight away. More later on.

Aidan Davis – Dancer
Ben and Becky – Ballroom Dancers
Brit Chix – Rock Band
Callum Francis – Musical Theatre
Darth Jackson – Michael Jackson/ Darth Vader Impersonator
DCD Seniors – Dance Troupe
Diversity – Street Dancers
DJ Talent – Rapper
Dream Bears – Comedy Dancers
Fabia Cerra – Burlesque Dancer
Faces of Disco – Comedy Dancers
Flawless – Street Dancers
Floral High Notes – Flower Arranging and Opera Singing
Fred Bowers – Breakdancer
Gareth Oliver – Comedy Impersonator
Good Evans – Family Singing Group
Greg Pritchard – Male Soprano
Harmony – Musical Theatre
Hollie Steel – Singer/ Dancer
Hot Honeyz – Dancers
Jackie Prescott and Tippy Toes – Dog Act
Jamie Pugh – Singer
Julia Naidenko – Belly Dancer
Julian Smith – Saxophonist
Kay Oresanya – The Living Saxophone
Luke Clements – Juggler/ Street Performer
Mama Trish – Drag Act
Martin Machum – Guitarist
MD Showgroup – Dancers
Merlin Cadogan – Physical Performer
Natalie Okri – Singer
Nick Hell – Street Performer
Shaheen Jafargholi – Singer
Shaun Smith – Singer
Stavros Flatly – Comedy Dancers
Sue Son – Violinist
Sugarfree – Street Dancers
Susan Boyle – Singer
The Barrow Boys – Wheelbarrow Dancing
2 Grand - Singers