Madonna webcast smashes record

Madonna claimed a world number one this week by smashing the record audience for a webcast with nine million users logging on to watch her perform.

MSN, the Internet subsidiary of Microsoft, transmitted the 30minute concert, which Madonna put on for 3,000 fans at a venue in Brixton, south London.

The online audience beat the previous record of three million for a concert webcast by former Beatle Paul McCartney last year.