March 10, 2008

By By Tom Ferguson, London

U.K. alternative rock band the Charlatans is claiming success for the ?giveaway? approach taken with its new album, ?You Cross My Path,? which the act says has been downloaded in its entirety more than 60,000 times since it was made available last Monday (March 3).

The album is currently exclusively available free on the Web site of U.K. modern rock station Xfm?s website (www.xfm.co.uk).

According to chart compiler the Official U.K. Charts Co, this week?s No. 1 album ?Rockferry? by Duffy (A&M/Universal) sold over 180,000 copies between March 2 and 8. No. 2 this week is Amy Winehouse?s deluxe version of ?Back to Black? (Island/Universal), with sales of 31,000.

Charlatans? manager, Alan McGee, said in a statement: ?I feel we are totally vindicated with the philosophy that if you go free and make a great record, you can exceed your dreams. No longer does music have to work in the traditional major label dominated way.?

?You Cross My Path? will be made available from the band?s official site www.thecharlatans.net on March 17; a physical release through U.K. independent Cooking Vinyl will follow May 12. The indie will issue the album in 33 countries globally, including the United States.

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