The British pop chart will undergo one of the biggest shake-ups since its inception 54 years ago on Sunday when any song downloaded from the Internet will be able to compete for the number one single spot.
Up to now, only songs which were physically available for purchase in shops counted toward the weekly chart.
Downloads could be included, but only a week before an actual CD single went on sale and for two weeks after it stopped appearing in stores.
This Sunday’s number one could be any track whether it has been sold in stores or online.
It said the “dramatic development” would be more reflective of what music Britons were buying, and could mean that old tunes, tracks by unknown artists or unreleased songs on albums hitting the top of the charts.
“This new ruling changes the nature of a single and puts the consumer in the driving seat,” said OCC director Steve Redmond.
“Literally any track can be a hit — as long as it sells enough.”
“For a long time we’ve wanted the chart to reflect what the consumers are actually buying,” said a spokesman for the BPI, the British record industry’s trade body.
That is amazing! Simply amazing. Now tell the U.S. fools about this method so we can copy it and get Ziplok on the board. Im on 54sites online with mp3s for sale. Thank God this has happened. Its 2007 a huge year for music sales to make a giant comeback.
Literally any track can be a hit — as long as it sells enough.�paided off program directors at radio stations and no nothing A&R guys are really going to be lost.do you think the buying public will really know what a hit is without a major label or a radio station telling the public whats hot or not?maybe one hit no talent pro-tooled to death bands will come to an end.