If you are a budding singer or band and you believe you are good, but you have not been able to crack a record deal there is hope. All you need is a broadband connection a web camera and away you go to instant stardom.

 In the UK a singer-songwriter who has performed to crowds of up to 70,000 on webcasts from her Tooting basement has landed a record deal with a major label. RCA/Sony BMG heard about Sandi Thom when news of her 21-night run of live webcasts spread over the net. 

Sandi Thom

Thom increased her audience from just 70 on the first night to draw in 70,000 viewers across the globe.”After a number of offers were made by the major recording labels, Sandi Thom has agreed to sign with the newly formed RCA Label Group,” said a statement on her website.

The deal will be the first UK signing for the newly formed RCA music company.  “I’m thrilled that Sandi is the first signing to the RCA Label Group. She is a very talented artist with an already unique story,” said RCA managing director Craig Logan.

“We’re very excited that we’re now going to be a part of that story as she develops into a major artist.”

The deal was signed live on the internet in the spirit of the concerts, and was thought to be the first webcast signing in major record label history. Thom’s debut album, Smile, It Confuses People, is released on 5 June.