U.K. rock band Arctic Monkeys scores record debut

Up-and-coming British rock band Arctic Monkeys has smashed the U.K. record for the fastest-selling debut album.

The group sold 363,700 copies of Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, which was released on Jan. 23, according to figures released in the United Kingdom on Sunday.

"A band like this comes along maybe once every 10 years, and I think their words and energy (have) struck a chord with the British public," a spokesperson for the band's record label, Domino, told Reuters.

Domino, an independent label, also represents popular Scottish band Franz Ferdinand.

Arctic Monkeys' record-breaking debut follows the group's multiple nominations last week for four NME Music Awards. The band has also had two chart-topping singles in the U.K.: the current hit When the Sun Goes Down and last fall's I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.

The four members of the Sheffield, England band, which formed in 2003, developed a name for themselves by building buzz on the internet and sharing their demo with fans before they signed with Domino.

The previous album debut record was held by Popstars, the 2001 release by the pop group Hear'Say which sold 306,631 copies in its first week.

Despite earning the debut-album record, Arctic Monkeys was unable to secure the top spot on the U.K. singles chart.

When the Sun Goes Down fell to No. 2, eclipsed by the new topper Nasty Girl, a posthumous release from rapper Notorious B.I.G. that features P. Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge and Avery Storm.