RADIOHEAD - IN RAINBOWS 'TO TOP CHARTS'

IN RAINBOWS 'TO TOP CHARTS'

Radiohead's album In Rainbows looks likely to be the first number one album of 2008, according to midweek sales figures.

The acclaimed album was first released as a download-only release on October 10th 2007, with fans able to pay whatever they liked.

But the download service was halted towards the end of December in preparation for the album's physical release on December 31st.

And while its launch may have changed the face of the music industry, a traditional CD release still looks to be favoured by fans, with In Rainbows on course to sell around 50,000 copies by the end of the week, according to HMV.

The album is currently outselling Take That's Beautiful World, sales of which have received a huge boost since their New Year's Eve concert at London's O2 Arena was broadcast on TV.

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said the success of In Rainbows since its physical release "underlines the enduring appeal of the CD".

"As true fans we love to buy and collect albums by our favourite artists in their physical form while also having the opportunity to create our favourite playlists via downloads," he explained.

"The simple truth is we want to have the best of both worlds - to be able to mix and match between physical and digital music, and as retailers we're doing more and more to cater to this growing trend."

X Factor winner Leon Jackson is expected to keep the number one spot in the singles chart for a third week with his cover of the 1998 Mariah Carey/Whitney Houston duet When You Believe.