The unprecedented impact that The X Factor is having on fourth-quarter sales is poised to continue until the end of the year, as the likes of Susan Boyle and Rihanna take their turns as guests on the ratings-topping show.

 

The ITV1 programme’s weekly influence on the shape of the UK singles and albums charts was felt again yesterday (Sunday) as the previous week’s guest performers Black Eyed Peas and Leona Lewis were expected to claim the top two singles sellers with Meet Me Halfway and Happy respectively, while earlier guests Robbie Williams and JLS were battling it out for top-two superiority on the albums countdown.

 

Last week’s results show featuring Lewis and Black Eyed Peas delivered The X Factor its highest audience yet, peaking at 16.6m and a 54.4% share, with the record viewing figures further emphasising how the programme is able to influence music sales in a way no other promotional outlet can come close to emulating.

 

“In an age when there are very few truly mass-audience platforms left, The X Factor has become pivotal for those labels and artists seeking to reach the family-based audience that can be so important to album sales in the run-up to Christmas, when nearly half of all music purchasing takes place,” says HMV head of music Rudy Osorio.

 

“The series has not only become a conveyor belt of new, mainstream pop talent, such as Leona, Alexandra Burke and JLS, but it clearly now acts as a major showcase for many of the key releases by other artists as well.”

 

Shakira, who was due to perform her new single Did It Again on yesterday’s results show, is next in line to benefit from exposure on the show, while The X Factor’s effect on the singles market will be felt again on this coming Sunday’s new chart following the release this week of the 2009 finalists’ charity single, a cover of the Michael Jackson hit You Are Not Alone.

 

If You Are Not Alone does top the chart this Sunday it will be the fifth number one in a row to benefit directly from The X Factor, a pattern that began with the first results show broadcast on October 11 when both Robbie Williams and last year’s winner Alexandra Burke performed.

 

“This is a music-based phenomenon and we as a business should be celebrating it,” says Epic managing director Nick Raphael whose acts include JLS.

 

“X Factor is without doubt the best music show on TV, the best entertainment show and the highest-rated TV show of modern times,” he adds. “The booking policy of the show is extremely thorough. Their booking policy is global superstars, acts that are associated with the show and those that are established in the UK. As there are only two slots each week they have to make a big impact.”

 

Although star guests appearing on the first four seasons of The X Factor all experienced notable sales gains, the impact of this fifth season on the fourth-quarter market has been significantly greater as more and more viewers have tuned in.

 

Polydor president Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, whose artist Cheryl Cole topped the singles and then the albums charts after her X Factor performance, says the industry needs big TV shows to drive sales above and beyond what can be achieved at radio, noting, “Any TV show that gives you an audience of 14m or 16m is fantastic.”

 

Others now set to capitalise during the remainder of the season will include Susan Boyle, who will perform Wild Horses on next Sunday’s live final, a day ahead of the release of her debut album I Dreamed A Dream, and Rihanna whose new album Rated R is also out next Monday.

 

Meanwhile, the debut offering by this year’s X Factor winner remains the firm favourite to top the Christmas-week singles chart, which would make it the fifth year in a row the show’s victor has topped the festive countdown.

 

Source: MW

It's all very tragic. :(

 

Who knows it even could be a good thing with some young artists rebelling against this mass hysteria and creating great independent music.

 

 

 

BEP's would have been number one this week if X Factor didn't exist anyway.

BEP's would have been number one this week if X Factor didn't exist anyway.

 

You have no basis whatsoever to make such a statement :lol:

Having a TV show with a huge audience to promote music is nothing new, TOTPs used to be the same in the 80's, if an act appeared on the show theyd shoot up the charts, as at the time it used to attract similar audience figures to x factor. If nothing else it helps boost sales.

Also it would help if there was some sort of TV music show the first 8 months of the year, when the X Factor ends, sales will fall like a breeze block

Theoretical top 5's for the weeks since The X Factor begun this year:

 

18 October (Alexandra Burke, Robbie Williams and Black Eyed Peas excluded)

01 Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy

02 Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart

03 Jay-Z Feat. Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind

04 Shakira - She Wolf

05 The Saturdays - Forever Is Over

 

25 October (Cheryl Cole, Alexandra Burke, Robbie Williams and Whitney Houston excluded)

01 Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy

02 Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart

03 Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling

04 Jay-Z Feat. Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind

05 Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet

 

1 November (Cheryl Cole, Westlife, Alexandra Burke, Michael Bublé, Whitney Houston and Robbie Williams excluded)

01 Jay Sean Feat. Lil' Wayne - Down

02 Black Eyed Peas - Meet Me Halfway

03 Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy

04 Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling

05 Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA

 

8 November (JLS, Cheryl Cole, Alexandra Burke, Michael Bublé and Westlife excluded)

01 Black Eyed Peas - Meet Me Halfway

02 Jay Sean Feat. Lil' Wayne - Down

03 Ke$ha - TiK ToK

04 Chase & Status Feat. Plan B - End Credits

05 Lady GaGa - Bad Romance

 

15 November (Black Eyed Peas, Leona Lewis, JLS and Cheryl Cole excluded)

01 N-Dubz - I Need You

02 Ke$ha - TiK ToK

03 Britney Spears - 3

04 Sugababes - About A Girl

05 Jay Sean Feat. Lil' Wayne - Down

This is a music-based phenomenon and we as a business should be celebrating it

 

I think the next time someone complains that the X Factor is wrecking the UK music industry, this is the perfect counter-argument.

N-Dubz at number one. God bless X-Factor.

 

Rihanna isn't performing next week :unsure:

Rihanna isn't performing next week :unsure:

 

The article didn't say she was, it just mentioned that along with Susan Boyle she would be on the show BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. Hope that clears it up.. ;)

 

 

You have no basis whatsoever to make such a statement

 

Hm it was number three last week and the following X Factor tracks are in the top 5 this week:

 

Leona, JLS, Cheryl.

 

So yeh I do have a basis to make this statement.

BRING BACK PRIME TIME TOTP!!! NOWW!

BRING BACK PRIME TIME TOTP!!! NOWW!

 

I agree with that!

 

I just don't understand why they don't do this now! As the public seem more interested then ever to hear, watch and purchase music. I know Top of the Pops Xmas special won't get the millions X Factor gets (if it was shown maybe just after the Doctor Who Xmas special it could have a chance) but it will really be interesting how this helps some of this years biggest singles.

 

And going on X Factor isn't a sure fire hit thing, Shakira's not exactly setting the Itunes chart alight

Having a TV show with a huge audience to promote music is nothing new, TOTPs used to be the same in the 80's, if an act appeared on the show theyd shoot up the charts, as at the time it used to attract similar audience figures to x factor. If nothing else it helps boost sales.

I agree, however TOTP had real artists - I mean artists - no like Leona or Alexandra B - they're singers :D

X-Factor is not for music lovers - it's an opportunity knocks type talent show - that's why it gets massive ratings. The music they sing is irrelevant.

 

This is why TOTP would not work if they brought it back - it would still have low ratings as it would not have any of the circus aspects

 

 

 

Yeh i cant see totp coming back, if anything, xfactor has made it impossible to compete with.

I also think, Cheryl Cole would not have dreamed about being at Number 1 with her weak singing abilities. She was always the weakest in the band anyway.... She must have been absolutely chuffed to receive an offer from Simon.

I also think, Cheryl Cole would not have dreamed about being at Number 1 with her weak singing abilities. She was always the weakest in the band anyway.... She must have been absolutely chuffed to receive an offer from Simon.

 

Well it was actually her third offer from Simon. Once before for the xfactor and once for britains got talent, both of which she turned down at first.

What made me laugh on Xtra Factor last night was that N-dubz were complaining that X Factor prevented them from getting a #1 single but the second the opportunity came, they were plugging their new album.

 

I said this last week or the week before and someone said earlier about TOTP - did people say how unfair it was that those who got on TOTP (back in the 80's) for them to go up the charts - cos thats what happened then. There would only be 6 or 7 artists featured then - not the whole top 40.

 

At least people are buying music legally!

X-Factor is not for music lovers - it's an opportunity knocks type talent show - that's why it gets massive ratings. The music they sing is irrelevant.

 

This is why TOTP would not work if they brought it back - it would still have low ratings as it would not have any of the circus aspects

I agree with this, the public tune in everyweek to catch the 'pantomime' and laugh at exploited, near on special needs people (maily audition process). Also big share of the audience watch just to join in with the conversation at work the following day!! Who-ever performs, from Beyonce through to Susan Boyle are just extras to the whole X Factor package!

 

Still think they should give TOTPs another go though! Thursday nights again!