X Factor star trails in charts

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

X FACTOR winner Joe McElderry faces his own Climb after sales figures yesterday showed that he is trailing in the battle for the Christmas number one.

The teenager is running behind Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name, which is being championed by an anti-X Factor internet campaign.

However, when a CD version of McElderry’s track The Climb is released today it is thought he will overturn the lead.

Until now the battle has been waged on downloads alone.

The Official Charts Company said it was "the fiercest battle for years" for the festive chart-topper.

The gap between the two records is only around 10% of Rage Against The Machine’s sales.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, December 16, 2009