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Web of mystery(The Express On Sunday Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)HER rise to fame from lowly Internet performances to the verge of the coveted Number One spot has been nothing short of remarkable. But Scots singing sensation Sandi Thom is at the centre of controversy amid claims her route to the top is not all that it appears. She has become known as the girl signed from her basement with the debut single, I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair), today tipped to knock Gnarls Barkley off the Number One spot after eight weeks. Sick of touring the country for next to no money, in February the Banffshireborn singer-songwriter began webcasting concerts from her home in South London, at first to a few dozen people, then to tens of thousands as word spread. Within weeks, she was signed, live online via a GBP60 webcam, to major label RCA for a rumoured GBP1million and is being line up for a special performance for the Prime Minister. But now there are claims the webcasts were a controlled stunt by a leading PR agency and the high viewing figures didn't happen until after Sandi's story hit the news. It has also been revealed the seemingly unknown artist had previous deals with not one, but two, recording companies, including Orkneybased Legacy Records. Ironically, the allegations are being circulated on the Internet. Online rumours have begun circulating claims that, rather than being a raw talent struggling for a break, Sandi had the backing of a well-oiled machine. They say her rise to the top was orchestrated by Quite Great PR, an innovative firm she signed with last summer, which has handled Mariah Carey, Van Morrison, Meatloaf, Simply Red and Stevie Wonder. Quite Great is said to have put out a news release, in January, publicising the fact Sandi, from Banff, was to do the webcasts. Yet, in numerous interviews, Sandi has said her inspiration for the webcasts came after her car broke down en route to a Welsh gig, in February. However, a spokesman for Quite Great claimed he did not have the information to elaborate on this. He added: "We did represent Sandi Thom, but her interests are now looked after by RCA." Figures from Internet traffic monitors Alexa and Technorati show there was limited traffic and no evidence of any buzz surrounding Sandi's name or site before March 5 - when her webcasts were splashed over the media. Technorati - the supposed vehicle that swept mention of Sandi's gigs around the globe - confirmed there was no rise in related posts during the term of the webcasts. A spokesman said: "There has been a big increase in the amount of discussion about Sandi Thom but this seems mainly to have been over the last 30 days." Bloggers have further claimed that last year Sandi signed with Windswept Pacific Music and was whisked to America and Sweden to work with musicians and writers, with the webcasts managed by specialists Streaming Tank. RCA confirmed Sandi had been signed to Legacy but would not be drawn on any deal with Windswept. A spokeswoman added: "Sandi was signed to Legacy. Her single is being re-released as last time it only reached number 75." |