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Presseaussendung = Fact File vom 1. Okt. 2008
Press-Release of Universal-Music London by Louise Ringrose, Press Officer, UCJ Music, 364-366 Kensington High Street, London W14 8NS, www.classicsandjazz.co.uk
YOUTUBE MONKS
THE MOST UNLIKELY POP STARS OF 2008
The Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz, the world’s largest continually habited Cistercian monastery, have achieved gold sales in the UK and Germany, platinum in Belgium and Poland and double-platinum in their native Austria
Chant reached an incredible position of no. 7 in the UK pop charts, alongside Amy Winehouse and Duffy, and spent nearly 2 months in the pop top 20
Chant also spent 15 weeks at no. 1 in the UK classical charts
The album received incredible reviews from Gramophone and Classic FM magazines, and a 5-star review from BBC Music Magazine – testament to the quality and authenticity of the performances
Chant has been released across the whole of Europe and as far afield as China, Australia and Brazil
The monks’ success in Austria has been astounding; Chant reached no 1 in the pop, iTunes and classical charts simultaneously. It was only ousted to no.2 by Coldplay after two weeks, but stayed in the pop top 3 for two months
The album’s launch in Austria was overwhelmed with international TV crews and media from as far away as New Zealand
The album also reached no 1 in the Belgian and Polish pop charts, no 5 in Germany and no 1 in the classical charts in the US and Canada
The BBC’s coverage of Euro 2008 included a 10-minute profile of the monks both singing and playing football
Pope Benedict XVI praised their devotional singing when he visited the monastery in September 2007
For the monks their singing is their prayer, so they are delighted to introduce so many people to their devotion
The Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz scored their recording contract with the worlds largest record company Universal Music Group after sending them a YouTube clip
On October 4th the monks will appear on Wetten Dass, the largest TV show in Europe
The monks are among Universal Music’s 30 best-selling albums of 2008 and the 63rd best-selling album overall, outselling the likes of Kanye West, Sam Sparro, Portishead, Sharleen Spiteri, Sugababes and The Fratellis.
They come just one position behind The Best of Radiohead, at no. 62
