Arctic Monkeys make chart history

Arctic Monkeys have had two number one singles

The first album from indie band Arctic Monkeys has become the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history.

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was released on 23 January and has sold more than 360,000 copies.

The Sheffield band's album is currently outselling the rest of the top 20 album chart combined.

A spokesman for music retailer HMV said: "In terms of sheer impact... we haven't seen anything quite like this since The Beatles."

Internet

He added: "In the space of just a few weeks the Arctic Monkeys have gone from being relative newcomers to becoming a household name."

Arctic Monkeys built up their fan base on the internet, after demo CDs they handed out at gigs in 2003 were put on the web for other people to hear.

They were eventually signed by independent record label Domino Records.

Arctic Monkeys have already had two number one singles in the UK with I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor and last week with When The Sun Goes Down.

Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker, who is also from Sheffield, told the BBC the Arctic Monkeys' success was a lesson for the music industry.

Jarvis Cocker said Arctic Monkeys' success was 'real'

"I think it's very important because they've done it without trying," he said.

"The only reason people have got into it [the music] is because they've listened to it and they like it, so it's something real.

"I guess all the music industry will probably think 'how can we emulate that or what can we do?'

"I think there's nothing they can do about it because it's something that has happened naturally, there's no way to apply spin doctorism to it."

Arctic Monkeys easily beat Richard Ashcroft's latest album Keys To The World which sold 75,000 copies - a total that would have normally guaranteed the top spot.

But they were denied simultaneous number ones in both the singles and album charts after When The Sun Goes Down was knocked off the number one spot by Notorious BIG, Diddy and Nelly with Nasty Girl.

Other singles in the top ten include X-Factor winner Shayne Ward, The JCB song by folk-pop duo Nizlopi, and 1980s band A-Ha with their new entry Analogue (All I Want).