Originally Posted by Stephanie
(Post 2764916)
X Factor’s Joe trailing behind in Christmas single sales
Joe McElderry faces a battle for the number one spot in the charts this Christmas, with a rival single currently selling more copies.
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Joe McElderry is facing some stiff competition for the number one spot this Christmas, with a rival single selling ten copies to one of his at some retailers.
The 18-year-old singer’s version of the winner’s single, The Climb, has been available to download from midnight on Sunday – but it is trailing behind Rage Against the Machine’s song Killing in the Name.
The single, which was released in 1992, has become hugely popular again after a Facebook group was set up urging people to buy the single to stop the X Factor song hitting the top spot again.
There is believed to be around a 10 per cent margin in sales between the two singles after Sunday and Monday. But HMV has reported selling 10 to one yesterday in favour of Killing in the Name - although sales tended to have been skewed towards specialist music fans.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Joe – once the CD version of Joe’s single is released in the shops it is expected to take the lead position.
The Official Charts Company said this is "the fiercest battle for years" for a single to hit the coveted Christmas number one spot.
Managing director of the company, Martin Talbot added: "This is shaping up to be a very exciting battle between two different records which have captured the nation's imagination.
"But, although Rage Against The Machine have started off in front, according to our initial sales estimates, there is no doubt that this tussle is far from over."
Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that a price war has erupted after Amazon and Tesco sold downloads of The Climb for just 29p. Play.com is charging 67p, while 7digital.com, which is being plugged by X Factor bosses, are selling the single for 99p.
Claims had been made that downloads priced at less than 40p would not qualify in the charts, but a spokeswoman for the Official Charts Company said this was untrue and that retailers are free to carry out any promotions. Ass long as the downloads meet all chart rules they will still be counted in the charts.
Joe will be launching the CD release of his single in his home town of South Shields, at HMV on King Street, and will be signing singles for up to 500 fans from 4pm onwards.
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