If you needed more proof of the weight behind social media, this is it.
Rage Against the Machine have just had their first UK Number 1. They got it thanks to an Facebook group campaign, beating X-Factor winner Joe McElderry.
Killing in the Name, the single, was released over 15 years ago. RATM spent nothing on marketing and yet they made it to Christmas No.1.
In taking the title for 2009, Killing In The Name also sets two new landmarks, becoming the UK’s first download-only Christmas number one and notching up the biggest one-week download sales total in British chart history.
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A week ago X-Factor Winner Joe McElderry appeared to be a Shoo in for Christmas No.1. Every year, for four years, the Winner of X-Factor has been number one at Christmas. But this year Jon and Tracy Morter , of Essex, who decided to set up a protest campaign on Facebook and promote Rage Against the Machine as a possible contender.
Cowell praised the couple behind the anti-X Factor online drive. He said: “I am gutted for Joe because a number one single meant a lot to him but I have to congratulate Jon and Tracy, who started the Facebook campaign.
“I called Jon on Saturday to congratulate the two of them that, win or lose, they turned this into a very exciting race for the Christmas number one.
HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo said: “This is a truly remarkable outcome – possibly the greatest chart upset ever, which few people could have imagined when Joe claimed the X Factor crown last weekend.
Rage Against The Machine sold 502672 copies, beating X Factor Joe by approximately 50,000 sales.
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