News

Arctic Monkeys To Release Second Single Through Oxfam

• 9th Nov 2009

OXFAM SHOPS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF ARCTIC MONKEYS’ SUCCESS

Band to release a second single through Oxfam shops on 16 November

Following the phenomenal success of the ‘Crying Lightning’ 7”, which was available exclusively through Oxfam shops, Arctic Monkeys are once again teaming up with the charity for follow-up single ‘Cornerstone’.

The ‘Crying Lightning’ 7” sold approximately 10,000 copies in just a few weeks, making it one of the biggest-selling vinyl singles so far this century. Sales of ‘Crying Lightning’ bucked the industry trend for 7” sales, which have more than halved since 2007, and currently command just a 0.4% market share*.

The limited-edition ‘Cornerstone’ 10” goes on sale exclusively in Oxfam’s top 50 music shops across the UK on Monday 16 November. The record is the second single from recent number one album Humbug, features new track ‘Catapult’ as well as exclusive B-sides ‘Sketchead’ and ‘Fright Lined Dining Room’.

The ‘Cornerstone’ 10” will cost £4.99, and each single will come with a download code allowing fans to get an MP3 version of the songs for free. Oxfam will be giving away pairs of ‘golden tickets’ to the band’s forthcoming sold-out UK tour in each area.

Domino and Arctic Monkeys are also calling on music fans to bring in any unwanted albums or singles to their local Oxfam shop when they pick up their copy of the single, to help Oxfam keep turning yesterday’s hits into vital funds for years to come.

Laurence Bell, founder of Domino, said:
“Our co-operation with Oxfam around the 'Crying Lightning' single was a great success for all parties and did plenty of good. We are extending the partnership for the release of 'Cornerstone', which will hopefully drive many more punters to both shop in and donate to Oxfam stores.”
David McCullough, Oxfam’s director of trading, said:
“Oxfam shops have always been one of the best places on the high street to find great music, as the success of ‘Crying Lightning’ proves.

“The partnership with Domino has broken new ground for us, and we’re delighted to be continuing it. Arctic Monkeys fans can pick up an exclusive from the band at the same time as helping us to fight poverty around the world.”

Oxfam has an illustrious musical history spanning decades:

• More than 600 Oxfam shops across the country sell second-hand music – double the total number of independent record shops in the UK**.
• The charity sells around £6 million of music every year, enough to fund its entire programme in Indonesia for a year, buy 187,000 emergency shelters, or provide safe water for 8 million people.
• Oxfam sells around 1.8 million CDs and records every year, all donated by the British public. The largest single donation was of 4,000 vinyl albums to an Oxfam shop in Devon in 2008.
• The charity’s Oxjam festival has raised more than £1 million through 3,000 events featuring more than 36,000 musicians, including Jarvis Cocker, Fatboy Slim, and Hot Chip.

The band’s UK tour dates are as follows – selected Oxfam shops in each area will be giving away a pair of tickets to each show:

Friday 13 November Liverpool Echo Arena
Saturday 14 Sheffield Arena
Monday 16 Newcastle Metro Arena
Tuesday 17 Wembley Arena
Wednesday 18 Wembley Arena
Friday 20 Birmingham NIA
Saturday 21 Manchester MEN Arena
Sunday 22 Nottingham Trent FM Arena
Tuesday 24 Glasgow SECC
Wednesday 25 Belfast The Odyssey
Thursday 26 Dublin The O2