Mark Ronson Rush Releases 'Uptown Funk' After Fleur East Performance

The release of Mark Ronson's new single Uptown Funk has been moved forward by five weeks after X-Factor contestant Fleur East performed a stunning rendition of the song on last week's show. The live recording shot to the top of the iTunes chart on Monday, prompting Ronson to rush-release his version.

Some bookmakers subsequently stopped taking bets on the track to become Christmas number one.

Speaking after the performance, Lily Allen criticised the move on Twitter: "Is this even out yet? #XFactor ... Well done to @sony for managing to get a not yet released song of theirs sung on prime time weekend telly. #uptownfunk #shazam #airplay."

"It is an amazing song and Fleur did it justice but it's still a great example of music industry corruption. #uptown funk".

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Featuring Bruno Mars on lead vocals, the energetic Uptown Funk is the first single from Ronson's fourth album, Uptown Special.

Fleur's mentor Simon Cowell said he decided to give his act the song after he heard it the previous week. Her rendition won her a spot in this weekend's final, where she is the heavy favourite to triumph ahead of Ben Haenow and Andrea Faustini. Before Fleur's late surge, it had been the Italian who was considered unbeatable in the competition.

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It's probably worth noting that Ronson's record label, Columbia UK, is part of Sony Music, along with Cowell's label Syco.

Mark Ronson's track was originally due to be released on 11 January.