Indie act reaches no 2 in the UK's download chart
Marillion and Recordstore are celebrating a number two Download Chart new entry for Marillions new single 'The Damage. The single was released on 11th October as a download only (with cover artwork) for a period of a month. It was made available only through a Marillion-branded download shop at www.marillion.com.The number two position, is the highest for any independent-signed act since the launch of the Download Chart.

Said Recordstores Russel Coultart, "Marillion have proven that a band can reach the charts upper echelons solely from sales via their web site. This is proof positive of the democratising effect of the Internet and is great news for the health of British music. Its a shame we didnt reach number 1, but we have U2 to thank for that"

This is what Chelfyn and I have been calling 'The Marillion Effect'. They left their record label a few years ago after being hauled in front of management for 'low' sales. They realised that they had enough fans buying everything they released to live comfortably ever after. So they ditched their label, and now sell to their fans directly online.

Other indies are doing well too. Independent online music retailer CD Baby has now paid over $10 million directly to musicians for CDs sold worldwide through their online store at cdbaby.com. While record labels are blaming piracy for a lack of sales, music sold through CD Baby has almost doubled every year for the past six years.

"It's easier than ever for music fans to find great non-mainstream music," says CD Baby founder Derek Sivers. "So what's reported as a sales decline for a huge pop star is actually a sales boost for the less-famous but more-talented musicians of the world. We sell thousands of CDs a day by artists you've never heard, but will love when you do."