The Death of the Middle Man

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It’s terribly exciting to me that music predictions could be coming true, as potentially indicated by this report from the BBC, quoted from The Long Tail:

Essex rock band Koopa could become the first unsigned group to land a UK top 40 hit thanks to new chart rules.

Their download-only single Blag, Steal & Borrow is on course to enter Sunday’s top 40, early sales figures suggest.

Chart rules were changed at the start of January to count all digital single sales, even if there is no CD version.

[snip]

Record labels have already contacted them on the strength of this week’s chart showing.

“If someone comes along and gives us an offer, we’ll talk to them,” [singer Joe Murphy said.]

“But it depends whether we need it. If we can get enough exposure and get in the top 40 by the end of the week, do we necessarily need a large label?

“Probably nowadays, no you don’t. We’ll get the exposure ourselves just from being in the charts.”

Via The Long Tail

So the download-only music model has a shiny new precedent. This ties in pretty well with what’s been said regarding viral marketing and new forms of advertising. Change or die… look out Metallica.