Morning:
13°c
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
Arctic Monkeys set to break chart record
27.04.07
Record breakers: the Arctic Monkeys
Look here too
The Arctic Monkeys could set a new chart record this weekend with 18 songs in the top 200 - a position not seen since the heyday of The Beatles.
The band has benefited from new rules, introduced in January, which have allowed internet downloads to count towards the Official UK Chart.
Experts believe that having so many singles in the top 200 could land the Sheffield band a new record.
The band already have 10 tracks from their new album in the top 75, and one other in the top 120, according to music retailer HMV.
But all 12 tracks from Favourite Worst Nightmare are being downloaded at such a fast rate that they are all set to claim an official chart position in the top 200.
The release of the Arctic Monkeys' second album this week has also sparked further sales of their debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.
For every seven singles being bought in the UK, one is an Arctic Monkeys track.
HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "The Arctic Monkeys are currently on course to have a total of 18 songs in the top 200 when the next Official UK Charts are announced on Sunday.
"You'd probably have to go back to the heyday of the Beatles in the early-mid Sixties to find anything that could come close to matching this record.
"On the chart albums front, sales of Favourite Worst Nightmare continue to power ahead.
"The album looks set to go through the 250,000 mark by the end of the week - making it the fastest selling album since the Arctic Monkeys' Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.
"This not only underlines the growing iconic status of the Arctic Monkeys as the UK's leading rock act, but visibly demonstrates how the recent changes to the rules governing chart eligibility have impacted on the make-up of the charts."
Current Best Sellers from Favourite Worst Nightmare
Brianstorm (midweek - top 5)
Fluorescent Adolescent (top 50)
505 (top 60)
Teddy Picker (top 70)
Balaclava (top 70)
D Is For Dangerous (top 70)
Old Yellow Bricks (top 70)
This House Is A Circus (top 75)
Do Me A Favour (top 75)
Only Ones Who Know (top 75)
The Bad Thing (top 80)
If You Were There, Beware (top 120)
Related articles
