I've been thinking, what with the UK indie scene being controlled by record companies/the NME more than ever, is there a sure-fire weay to UK indie ubiquity? I mean it seems to me that A band destined for success will release a few small, 7" only or whatever singles in the latter half of the year, tour a bit, mostly support slots play a few 'so hot right now' gigs in London, possibly smoke some crack with Pete Doherty for a bit of NME sponsored cool... Then come the new year, they'll have their breakthrough single (ala Take me out by FF), play the NME awards tour (ala the coral & FF in recent years)
They then get around to releasing their album around March/April, release another single & let the hype build until festival season with their Mid-afternoon slots (always negotiated so they've got the option to change stage/times) (i.e Razorlight, The strokes, The vines) then whore themselves about a bit, T, V, Carling Weekend. get that Festival weekend cover of the NME, then announce a major tour in the autumn, which all but sells out, confirming their Indie ubiquity, then the cycle continues as they get next years big thing on tour supporting them.
Then comes attempted US domination/The difficult/dissapointing second album...
Thats just how it seems to me, having observed for the past few years, what do you guys think?

Sean