Arctic Monkeys formula for success?

Poll on the case for free online music

24 Oct 05 - As the Artic Monkeys celebrate going straight to Number One with the help of the internet, Music Week magazine have launched a poll debating the case for free online music. 

The Sheffield band topped the charts yesterday with I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, sparking the music industry rag's website to ask: "Does the success of the Arctic Monkeys validate the practice of making music available online free of charge?"

The group previously made their music available for download for free, complemented by initially concentrating their touring in their native Yorkshire.

Stuart Clarke, Music Week's A&R editor, told 6 Music: "I think an important part of any band's development now is a strong web presence. Online is equally important as what you do in the physical world." 

He said the The Arctic Monkeys were unique as they still stormed the charts and bagged the top spot, despite previously offering the single for free on their website.

"An important part of any band's development now is a strong web presence"
Stuart Clarke, A & R editor Music Week magazine

However, he warned that breaking bands shouldn't use the Arctic Monkeys formula as an easy recipe for success.

"To get the mindset that this is how you build a buzz and this is how you build a massive fanbase isn't always going to work."

He added: "If somebody like Robbie Williams had made his latest single available for free for six months, before it as released physically, I don't think he'd see it really selling." 

Kellie Redmond