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MIDAS TOUCH DESERTS LOCAL BAND IN HYPING ROW

30-08-2007

Up n'coming Black Countryband Midas have been robbed of their chance of enjoying their first hit record in a row over alleged "hyping".

Their current single "Red Shoes" was expected to make the Top 20 last Sunday, after registering at 16 in the midweek chart - just below the Kaiser Chiefs.

Instead, it was removed from the list altogether, after being disqualified by the Official Chart Company.

Stourbridge-based Midas have been told the problem relates to their tactic of selling pre-loaded mobile phone SIM cards at gigs, making it easier for fans to download the latest release.

This won them praise in last week's edition of the industry bible Music Week for their innovative approach to digital sales.

That's not how the OCC saw it - they told the band they didn't believe all their 2,000 or so saleswere genuine.

Midas efforts to have the decision reviewed by the chart supervisory committee were rejected.

Stirrer readers will remember that we encouraged you to download their first single "Don't Dance" on pre-release and it reached Number 59.

The way the band see it, they are just using "people power" to turn the tables on the record industry who've used their financial muscle for years to secure chart placings - and therefore radio play - for their acts.

Midas lead singer Kris Lloyd commented, "We're obviously disappointed that the chart company have decided to take this action.

"We've worked extremely hard to achieve sales, and it seems we're being victimised for using the very methods we've been praised for by the industry. We have a fanbase of over 20,000 fans, so in fact only just over 10% of our fans have purchased this single."

The band strenuously deny any attempt to hype the charts, and question the way in which the OCC came to their decision.

"As far as we know," Kris says, "the OCC have made no attempt to actually contact anyone who has bought the single and check if their purchases are genuine.

"They've seen a sales pattern they've not come across before, but as we're deliberately trying to think of new and innovative ways to sell our music they're going to see trends that are out of the ordinary.

"We haven't broken any of their chart rules, and think their decision lacks the fundamental principles of natural justice and proportionality you'd expect from any official body.

"We feel that the OCC gave us no time to formally appeal against their decision by letting us know at the eleventh hour when we were actually travelling to a sold out gig in Nottingham. We feel in this case, they've acted as police, judge, jury and executioner."