Essex, U.K. band Koopa have become the first fully independent band in the United Kingdom to land a top 40 single, after a change in the U.K.'s chart rules.
The band, who claim to be "what real music sound like", despite sounding like your average run of the mill rock band, have landed in the U.K. charts at #31 with 'Blag, Steal and Borrow' thanks to word of mouth downloads.On January 1, the rules for chart eligibility changed in the U.K. allowing artists who have download only singles to have a chance at a chart spot without releasing a CD version.
Digital downloads are getting bigger and bigger each year, with Daniel Powter's 'Bad Day' recently becoming the first single to be certified double platinum (ie, sold more than two million copies) in the U.S. just on single sales.
On the other side of the world, America-born Australian artist John Butler has successfully become one of the highest selling independent artists in his country after years and years of constant touring.
He has also managed to keep a healthy fan base around the world, although for his international releases he uses record companies, claiming it is hard enough being the label boss in one country, let alone the whole world.
