Seattle folk rock band Fleet Foxes has scored the first gold-certified record for U.K. indie Bella Union in recognition of shipments of 100,000 copies.
The band’s self-titled debut was voted the best album of 2008 by Billboard critics. It was released by Sub Pop in the U.S. and through Bella Union in the U.K and Europe.
The June release was also the first for Bella Union in the U.K. under a new arrangement with Co-Op Music, the international marketing network taken over by Universal Music in 2007 as part of its acquisition of V2.
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Bella Union and Co-Op Music have worked together in continental Europe for four years. Universal Music has also recently taken over the Bella Union distribution from Pinnacle, which went into administration (roughly equivalent to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection) on Dec. 3.
In North America, “Fleet Foxes” has sold 141,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Beyond Billboard, it has been voted the No. 1 album by publications in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Italy, Belgium and the U.K.
Fleet Foxes will seven shows in Australia and New Zealand beginning Dec. 29 in Lorne. The group recently acquired a piece of property outside Seattle, which will serve as a headquarters for work on its sophomore album in 2009.