I've changed my mind about the RATM campaign

Everyone knows about the Facebook campaign to buy Rage Against the Machine's Killing In The Name this week to keep X-Factor finalist, Joe McElderry's version of The Climb from becoming Christmas number 1 by now right?

Not that you care (nor should you) but I was initially very sceptical about the campaign. Lets face it, I'm sure we had similar campaigns in each of the last 3 years and none of them amounted to anything. I was sure that the number of people likely to be motivated by such a campaign was likely to be dwarfed by the X Factor fanbase.

When it became apparent that the same record company was going to be making all the profit from the sale of the RATM track, I was also very cynical about the motives.

However, I think I was wrong. Sales figures to date show that, even if it eventually loses, the RATM track is giving Joe McElderry a run for his money. There appears to be half a chance that it might make the number 1 slot.

Why is this year different to previous years? It think this is two-fold. As X-Factor ages and continues to dominate the Christmas music charts, more people will become fed up with it and the number prepared to take part in a campaign like this will increase. Secondly, I believe the exponential rise in the use of Online "Social Media" over the last 12 months has had a big influence. Facebook and Twitter has been responsible for some mighty grass-roots campaigns this year. Think Trafigura. Think Jan Moir.

And is this a genuine protest vote? Or is it a cynical marketing campaign by the record company to make more money from the anti-X-Factor camp? It only dawned on me today that it doesn't really matter? The two are not mutually exclusive. It would appear that the campaign was not started by a record company plant. But, whoever planted the seed, it has grown through genuine interest. It's quite encouraging to see an idea from a single person propagate so quickly and effectively.

So, despite my original scepticism and cynisism, I genuinely hope that RATM - Killing In The Name makes it to the Number 1 spot on Sunday. If you haven't bought it already you only have about 24 hrs left.

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