So Radiohead have no more musical worth than Bewitched?
People that drag that argument out usually don't love music too much.
People keep going on about how much Sony made (which isn't the point). But can I point out that even if Sony saw 40p from every download - we're still looking at just over £200,000 contributing to an annual revenue of £2.8 billion.
Relatively speaking, it's hardly lining what are some seriously stretched pockets.
Graham S - How do you know how many it would've sold this year without the RATM stunt?
I'm no fan of either x factor artist, but it can be argued that Alexandra is a more comercially viable artist. I think that STW forum member should vote on whether they'd be more likely to buy lsat years or this years x factor records... 5 mins whilst I set up a premium rate phone line...
I'm no fan of either x factor artist, but it can be argued that Alexandra is a more comercially viable artist.
True, but it could also be argued that this year's X Factor had much larger viewing figures than last years so more people should be interested.
By supporting a huge campaign to stop the X Factor single becoming the Christmas number one, all those punters have shown how little they care about the X Factor, and how unimportant the show is to them.
Another way might be to just not watch the show. All these people who claim to not care about it are doing is boosting the show's profile and popularity. The business interests behind both pop groups must be laughing themselves silly at the mug punters. There's an old saying about there being no such thing as bad publicity.
I think the 'no publicity is bad publicity' thing is a bit glib and very easily wheeled out without any consideration (too many examples, Tiger woods, Kerry Katona, Gordon Brown etc... etc...). I don't really feel like a 'mug punter' i made a purchasing decision based on my own reason. I felt 79p to be a fair deal in order to help make a valid point, which has been the case. I have no problem with the corporation of Sony music. Good luck to them. They often release good music and reward musicians. Thats how life kind of works. I don't feel particularly 'trapped in a system'. Right to buy, right to vote, right to speak. I think it's the people in countries who don't have these choices that you need to be speaking to.
I think the 'no publicity is bad publicity' thing is a bit glib and very easily wheeled out without any consideration
Sometimes yes, but not in cases like these. Shows such as the X-Factor thrive on any sort of publicity as that's what gets them on the front pages of the tabloids, which are read by the bulk of their target audience.
The Mr Oizo remix is even better...
There are truly a lot of miserable gits on this forum.
The hole thing behind this was a good laugh at having RATm as xmas No.1.
Mission succeeded as far as I can see.
Beyond that who gives a crap about the money (other than that going to shelter - good work).
Some of you need to get proper lives or remove your heads from your own arses (note. may need assistance)
I want to get Joe McDangleberry to the #1 spot next year. that would really **** things up 
The real trick would be getting something like Marduk's Fistf**king God's Planet to next years Xmas No1.
as every other internet smartarse pointed out, both tracks are owned by Sony BMG – so no matter which one sells the most, Simon Cowell wins. In other words, even by raging against the machine, you're somehow raging within it.But profit isn't the point – or at least it's not the reason I downloaded it. For one thing, I happen to think Killing in the Name is an excellent song, so I've already got something out of it. Most importantly, it contains genuine emotion. Even if the climactic repeated howls of "**** you, I won't do what you tell me!" put you in mind of a teenager loudly refusing to tidy his bedroom – as opposed to a masked anarchist hurling petrol bombs at the riot squad – there is at least an authentic human sentiment being expressed. Zack de la Rocha is audibly pissed off.
Compare this to the pissweak vocal doodle that is Joe McElderry's X Factor single. For a song whose lyrics ostensibly document an attempt to gather the spiritual strength to overcome adversity and thereby attain enlightenment, The Climb is about as inspiring as a Lion bar. It's a listless announcement on a service station Tannoy; an advert for buttons; a fart in a clinic; a dot on a spreadsheet. Listening to it from beginning to end is like watching a bored cleaner methodically wiping a smudge from a Formica worksurface.
But then nobody's buying The Climb in order to actually listen to it. They're buying it out of sedated confusion, pushing a button they've been told will make them feel better. It's the sound of the assisted suicide clinic, and it doesn't deserve to be No 1 this Christmas.
This isn't mere pop snobbery, by the way. I'd rather see Girls Aloud at No 1 than Editors. But The Climb is a lame cover version of a lame Miley Cyrus song. If X Factor can't be arsed to do better than that, its grip on the yuletide charts deserves to be broken.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/21/charlie-brooker-rage-against-the-machine
People keep going on about how much Sony made (which isn't the point).
I think the point is more that, as with a lot of things, you're being presented with a choice that isn't really a choice at all. Buy X if you're rebellious, buy Y if you're conformist, but the money goes to the same place.
Not at all, you can buy whatever the hell you want?
That isn't the point at all! I don't suppose that bloke and his wife actually knew the Sony connection - they were just having a laugh. The bloke is a RATM fan and the lyrics conveyed his thoughts.
grumm, you missed the best bit
...the shot in the arm the charts have been sorely lacking the last few years: something that puts a genuine smile on the face of millions of people; sensitive people, thoughtful people; people alienated by the stifling cloud of grinning mechanical pap farted into their faces on a weekly basis by cocky, clattering, calculating talent shows such as X Factor
I wish Charlie Brooker was my Dad
but not in a gay way
There are a few good people on here with silly issues over the whole thing, who seem to have missed the point that the RATM campaign raised thousands of £££ for Shelter. Personally, I never gave a toss about the charts as a teenager in the 70s/80s, don't give a toss about the charts at Christmas in 2009 and don't give a toss any other time of the year and I didn't bother buying either single. However, I did make a donation to Shelter. Putting all the bullshit aside, good on them for raising the cash and supporting and raising the profile of Shelter at this time of year!. 
yes I know, but at least their hearts were in the right place!
Great stuff from Brooker there. Feel like repeating it for those who still don't get it
But then nobody's buying The Climb in order to actually listen to it. They're buying it out of sedated confusion, pushing a button they've been told will make them feel better. It's the sound of the assisted suicide clinic, and it doesn't deserve to be No 1 this Christmas
So... any ideas on where this freebie RATM gig might be? Surely this is the best thing to come out of all this..!
Charlie Brooker is a spiritual father for us all...
The RATM campaign raised over £80k for Shelter (according to their website). Who cares about pontificating over the detail.
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