X Factor winner aims for 2006 top spot

Source: Music Week

 

 

Syco is eyeing the dual accolades of Christmas number one and the biggest-selling single of the year with the release this week of the debut single from Leona, the third X Factor winner.

 

The single, a cover of A Moment Like This, which was inaugural American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson’s first US single in 2002, was released digitally at 12am yesterday (Sunday), just hours after the winner was crowned, with a physical version set to follow this Wednesday.

 

The winner was announced on Saturday in a live televised final on ITV1 in which Ray Quinn was pitched against Leona Lewis.

 

Both recorded a version of A Moment Like This, the plan being that if Quinn won the track would be a double A side with You’ll Never Walk Alone, which he performed in the show’s semi-final. A Lewis win would result in the release coming out as a single A-sided release.

 

The single was issued digitally to radio yesterday (Sunday), with promotional copies sent out at the same time to arrive today (Monday), ahead of the single’s physical release on Wednesday.

 

Syco will initially ship around 750,000 copies of the single and is using three pressing plants to fulfil the order. B-sides will comprise the winning contestant’s best performances from the show.

 

Although this late release date gives the single only four days of full sales before the chart is compiled, A Moment Like This is considered a virtual certainty to repeat the feat of That’s My Goal by last year’s winner Shayne Ward and top the Christmas chart in its first week of release.

 

Bookmaker William Hill gives odds of 1-7 for the X Factor winner to top the Christmas chart, with the closest contender Take That at 16-1. Furthermore, Syco project co-ordinator Laurence Boakes says the single has a good chance of dethroning Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy as the highest-selling single of the year.

 

Last year, That’s My Goal finished as 2005’s second biggest-seller, behind the million-selling Tony Christie re-issue (Is This The Way To) Amarillo. “A Moment Like This was never released as a single in the UK,†says Boakes. “Shayne Ward sold 742,000 in week one and ended up selling 874,000 by the end of the year. Hopefully we can do the same this time round. We are all very confident both contestants have their own individual talents.â€

 

Crazy, 2006’s biggest-selling single to date, has sold around 814,000 units – a figure that is unlikely to increase dramatically before the end of the year.

 

HMV rock and pop singles buyer Stewart Allan says that, while he expects A Moment Like This to top the singles chart, it will struggle to dethrone Crazy.

 

“It could challenge Crazy, but you get the feeling that Crazy might have just enough to see off the year as the biggest seller of 2006,†he says.

 

Meanwhile, Boakes says that no definite release date has been set for an album from the eventual winner. “The album depends on when we get the right songs and what direction we go in. It could be as soon as April; it could be a bit later in the year. The priority is to make a great album,†he says.

 

The X Factor final leads off a slew of music programming being broadcast over Christmas and New Year, including A Top Of The Pops Christmas special which will see the famous brand temporarily revived on BBC1 on Christmas Day and Robbie Williams: Live At Abbey Road, which is being screened on Channel Four on December 26.

she'll sell more than shayne!

Ah well, looks like the Gnarlies will lose out on having the biggest seller of 2006 :(

 

The X Factor really takes the fun out of Crimbo No.1.

I heard that it had around 1 million pre- booked copies! Amazing that so many people want to buy a song they haven't heard sung by someone who hadn't won the show (at that point!). Gullible springs to mind. :wacko:

Yeh, I agree the X factor does take the fun out of the Christmas No.1. It will probably be the same next year as well!!!!

 

I just hope they take the right direction with her and not just get her singing out-dated ballads!!

I know...think about it..Steve Brookstein, Shayne Ward...Where are they now??? :o

 

Peeps will be yawning by May!! :zzz:

i hope she sells more than shayne :)

hope no

 

pouaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

she'll sell more than shayne!

 

Let's put it this way She Oughta.

Leona is a great singer - Shayne Ward is :puke2: :puke2: :puke2:

I know...think about it..Steve Brookstein, Shayne Ward...Where are they now??? :o

Steve Brookstein has just released his 2nd album (which bombed) and Shayne is enjoying selling around 500k with his debut album and I expect is working on his follow up as we speak.

 

Also, G4 just released their 3rd album, Andy Abraham just released his 2nd album and Journey South are releasing a new album in the new year. So I definately think we'll be seeing a lot more of them before they're done, especially Shayne.

Oh and I think i'm the only person who actually WANTS Leona to be Christmas #1, she's an amazing talent and this is a great stepping stone for her to make it.

 

Also, Steve Brookstein didn't get Christmas #1 if you remember because of Band Aid 20.

I really hope Leona doesnt sell as much as Crazy. Although I like her, I think its a poor song and doesnt deserve to be the years best seller. X Factor just takes the p*** by releasing a cover version 4 days before xmas every year.

I really hope Leona doesnt sell as much as Crazy. Although I like her, I think its a poor song and doesnt deserve to be the years best seller. X Factor just takes the p*** by releasing a cover version 4 days before xmas every year.

Yeah, but what ever it is, it's an achivement to out sell the years biggest seller in JUST 4 days!! don't u think?

I think she'll sell more than Shayne too.

really s h i t manufactured "artist" will disappear in a few weeks

Channel 4 teletext already says it has sold 200,000 downloads already :o fook me

I think she may well sell 800-900k (with the downloads) by Sunday. This will take her to being the years biggest seller.

Woo Hoo

 

I think she may well sell 800-900k (with the downloads) by Sunday. This will take her to being the years biggest seller.

 

 

Pure amazing... all in just 1 week, physically if its not out by Wednesday and already on 200,000 on downloads times that by 3 by Wednesday morning you have 600,000 downloads alone, I think its going to over shoot the million mark :dance:

I'm buying three copies of the single. If other people do that, I think she'll definately reach around 900k by Sunday.

 

Biggest song of the year, in only one week.

Don't forget the 1 million pre-orders for the single.