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One of the biggest new bands in the UK at the moment is Arctic Monkeys. Their first two singles went straight to number one in the charts and their debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ has become a record-breaking album. It’s the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history.

Arctic Monkeys are not only high-profile because of their massive success. They achieved their success thanks to the Internet. Usually a new band signs to a record company and it is through marketing and promotion that people then buy singles. The single sales then get the band into the charts and they become popular that way.

However, Arctic Monkeys became well-known in a slightly different way. Back in 2003 when the band first started, they handed out CDs at their gigs. Certain fans liked the music so much that they put the music up on the web. The general public gained access to this music because it was on the Internet and, because people liked the music, the band’s popularity increased.

The band’s popularity was starting to get noticed by major radio stations in the UK. When the band appeared at two major UK music festivals in the summer of 2005, they were quite low down in the billing. However, an unusually large crowd turned up because music fans knew the band’s music from the Internet.

Arctic Monkeys released their first single in October 2005. Previous to that, their music had only been available to download on the Internet. When they did finally release a single and an album, they both shot to the top of the charts.

Music fans welcome the use of the Internet this way - Arctic Monkeys became popular simply because people liked their music when they heard it. There was no hype and no marketing campaign. Many people are saying this is a taste of things to come. As music downloads continue to increase in popularity, we can expect to see more and more bands make it big in this way.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

straight to number one
直跃榜首

charts
流行乐排行榜

debut
首张专辑

record-breaking
破纪录的

high-profile
知名度高的

signs to a record company
与唱片公司签约

handed out
赠送；散发

gigs
音乐演奏会

up on the web
挂到网上

general public
公众

gained access
接触到

to get noticed
引起…注意

low down in the billing
名次低下

turned up
出现

download
下载

shot to the top of the charts
跃升榜首

hype
广告宣传

campaign
宣传活动

a taste of things to come
品味新事物

make it big
使--成名