James Arthur X Factor single success

While the ratings for the show may be on the slide, those who are watching the X Factor have been buying winner James Arthur’s song making it the fastest selling single from the show so far.
The Official Charts Company data released today shows that Arthur’s ‘Impossible’ had sold 187,000 download copies by midnight Monday. The song went on sale on Sunday evening after the final of the ITV1 talent series.

 “There has been a lot said about X Factor’s popularity this year and questions have been raised that perhaps its momentum is beginning to wane. But this amazing opening performance by James Arthur suggests that it remains the pre-eminent launch pad for new artists. Whether Arthur will match Shayne Ward’s 2005 total, only time will tell – but he has a fantastic chance.” Official Charts Company Managing Director Martin Talbot said.

The single will be bolstered in the sales chart further by the single’s CD release tomorrow.
No previous X Factor finalists’ debut single has hit such heights so quickly the Chart Company note. They state that in 2008, Alexandra Burke’s Hallelujah had sold 147,000 copies by the end of Monday, while Matt Cardle’s When We Collide in 2010 had sold 112,000 and Leona Lewis’ A Moment Like This in 2006 had sold 101,000 during their first two days on sale. Last year’s winners, Little Mix’s Cannonball had sold 69,000 at this stage of its opening week.

“Comparisons with Shayne Ward’s all-time fastest selling X Factor winner’s single, 2005’s That’s My Goal, are difficult because it was issued in the early days of digital. The single had sold only 46,000 copies on download by Monday midnight, but exploded when the CD was released on Wednesday – it sold 289,000 copies on that day alone, on its way to a record X Factor opening week total of 742,000.” The Official Charts Company note.

The other previous biggest opening week totals are Alexandra Burke’s Hallelujah (576,000), Leona Lewis’ A Moment Like This (571,000) and Joe McElderry’s The Climb (451,000).
The fact the single is also for ‘a good cause’ in times of need may help boost sales too. Proceeds will be donated to children’s charity, Together For Short Lives, who support children and the families of children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions.