News

Arctic Monkeys Release New Single Through Oxfam Shops

• 4th Aug 2009

Arctic Monkeys are set to record another music industry first when they release their new single, ‘Crying Lightning’, through Oxfam’s network of 700 charity shops, with proceeds going to help the charity’s lifesaving work around the world.

The limited-edition 7”, which is the first single from new album Humbug, features a cover of the Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds’ classic ‘Red Right Hand’ as a B-side, and goes on sale in every one of Oxfam’s 700 high street shops on Monday 17 August.

The release marks the first time Oxfam shops have sold a new release single for 25 years.

The ‘Crying Lightning’ 7” will cost £2.99, and each single will come with a download code allowing fans to get an MP3 version of the songs for free.

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.

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:
“Oxfam is a Great British institution and it's a delight to be working together on this project. There are about seven hundred Oxfam shops in the UK, many of them in high streets that once housed a record shop, so as well as raising some money for a great cause we are able to get vinyl back onto more of the nation's high streets, which feels good.

“We encourage all customers to bring something of value to donate to the store when they come down to buy the new Arctic Monkeys single.”

David McCullough, Oxfam’s director of trading, said:
“We were thrilled when we heard about the idea for the new Arctic Monkeys single and are delighted to be partnering with Domino on something that will be great for music fans, and help us raise money to fight poverty at the same time.

“Oxfam shops have always been one of the best places on the high street to pick up a musical bargain or find a rare treasure, and this is a fantastic reason to pay your local shop a visit. ”

Domino, Oxfam and Arctic Monkeys will each have a dedicated microsite to allow fans to find their local shop stocking the single. These can be found at:
www.oxfam.org.uk/arcticmonkeys