I gather Wonderful World (which I rather like but then I think Eva Cassidy is brilliant) is only available in Tesco.

Isn't this a truly significant event?

To expand on this - here we have a track ONLY available through ONE store - TESCO - both physically and as a download (check the link)...

www.katiemelua.com/tesco/christmas/

Now surely this is a HUGE result.

Radio and TV must play and will play the No1 track.
Suddenly all other retailers are out in the cold.
And doesn't this dent - at last - the iTunes virtual monopoly?

I think this illustrates a major sea change in our industry (and is yet another massive blow to the majors).

How can distributors, big overhead companies, music specialists compete?

I agree it is a very signifigant event, but on clicking the link the charity element of the record is played very large and it doesnt look like Tesco will have an A+R dept for quite a while, which would be a terrifying change in everything.

Oh Mart - charity was a toe in the water - if there's money in it, Tesco will be there in seconds.

Besides which, all profits may technically go to the Red Cross but don't you suspect Tesco may benefit slightly???

Sir Bob has done VERY nicely thanks to Band Aid.

Indeed charity as a loss leader in a supermarket leaves a pretty bad taste.

My contacts tell me there's not a hope in hell of them making the Xmas No1 - Tesco just can't compete with the X Factor which is predicted to do at least 80K in one day on the Sunday!

But I still think this is a massively important event.

The only question re the Christmas No.1 is what Rhydian's song will be.

But it would be nice if someone did beat the X-Factor. Where's Sir Cliff when we need him?

It's as boring as f**k isn't it? Actually a lot of recent KM stuff is, guess it sells though eh?

I personally love Eva Cassidy and think it is a travesty to make her recording into a duet. KM will never be in the same class. Have the people who love this 'duet' heard Eva's solo version? KM has turned it into a dirge. Eva's version is a celebration of life.