Chart toppers make history

YOU’RE a Star runner-up 21 Demands yesterday made chart history by reaching No 1 in Ireland on download sales alone.

The north Dublin band, which finished second in the RTE talent show, saw their Give Me A Minute single knock Mika’s Grace Kelly off the top spot.

Waterford singer and former jockey David O’Connor won most public votes with his performance of On Borrowed Wings in last Sunday’s grand finale.

He won a recording contract with Universal Music, a publishing contract with Sony ATV Publishing and €10,000 worth of musical equipment from Roland Ireland.

Most music fans logged onto the UK-hosted www.7digital.com website to download the 21 Demands song.

US act Gnarls Barkley also reached No 1 in Britain in 2006 with downloads of the hit single, Crazy.

7 Digital managing director Ben Drury said: “Digital downloads are having a dramatic impact on the charts. People no longer have to invest in producing a physical CD single to have a serious chance of reaching the elusive number one spot.

“By using the tools that are available to artists today, such as SMS payment and charting, reaching number one is achievable for any band with a good single and a strong following.”

21 Demands first began rehearsals and writing songs in 2005.

Band members are Vincent May, Steven Garrigan, Mark Prendergast and Conor Linnane.