This is a great talking point, have your say about the charts, the ongoing debate of the physical sales, slowing down, the only thing that is saving it at the moment seems to be downloads what else can be done, otherwise we would have had Paris Hilton at No.1 last week.

 

It won't be long before CD singles are gone forever, making the single chart obsolete, does TV shows like TOTP reflects the chart, hence the slow movement in the chart this week since TOTP was taken off the air or is this a stumbling block in the music industry today. I think TV shows are important for an act, for them to promote their music, to make people buy the music.

 

So what is the answer...

 

Even when the physical single dies, there will still be a download chart so no change really.

Good idea Mikey, I was thinking about starting a thread similar to this :lol:

 

Personally, I think the singles chart is still relevant and will be for a long time to come. However, the OCC trying to merge downloads into it - while it is boosting the market as a whole - clearly hasn't done anything to help chart sales. I'm thinking the way it's going the chart might just fade out in 10-20 years when sales are so low it really isn't worth having it.

 

As for TOTP, I don't think it'll really effect the chart - as only a couple of million were watching it at the end anyway. I DO think though that artists need somewhere on TV to show off their music besides music channels that not everyone watches. But if these shows aren't surviving (TOTP, CD:UK) then what?

I may be alone in thinking this, but the new rule to allow a download only single in the chart a week before release ruins it for me. :(

i dont think the singles will ever die out. i dont totp had a great influence either anymore, its just a coincedence that there were weak releases this week.

I may be alone in thinking this, but the new rule to allow a download only single in the chart a week before release ruins it for me. :(

Me too, it 100% ruins it for me too because it isn't actually showing what we're buying every week is it?

'the OCC trying to merge downloads into (th eisngles chart) - while it is boosting the market as a whole - clearly hasn't done anything to help chart sales'

 

It has definately helped it by making it more relevant and increasing sales. Without downloads singles would be selling about 15,000 copies to get to no.1 and we'd have Paris Hilton at no.1 in the main chart when she obviously isn't the nations favourite song as her official position shows.

Allow all downloads in the chart whenever, the physical single is dead, only downloads matter now. The major problem is convincing kids who have been downloading for free for years that music should be bought.

Me too, it 100% ruins it for me too because it isn't actually showing what we're buying every week is it?

Thats true, but theres got to be some stability to the chart, it's still got to be based to around the physical releases, if any old song could enter the chart it would be a mess!

Also to answer the question.. Why stop the singles chart?!?! whats wrong with it? what would be the point? I can't see why it's not relevent anymore?!?! It's seems nowdays people are to quick to shun things off, and scrap them! :angry:

People have been going on about scrapping the singles chart for years now and it still hasn't happened. In fact, it seemed more people were loudly ranting about doing that just before download sales were added. Since downloads were added, the 'scrap the singles chart' rants have died down a little.

 

I don't think the physical single dying out means the end of the singles chart. Look at America. Physical sales there have been practically non-existent for over a decade, but singles have still been released to radio and videos made to promote the album even if it is never released in the shops. Admittedly airplay has always counted on their chart which means even with low sales they had something to base it on, but downloads definitely sell a fair bit over there. Download sales have changed how the Hot 100 has worked- you have more number ones over there now.

 

Plus, does anyone actually remember sales figures from years gone by? You remember songs you like, but how many will be able to say exactly how many that song sold? Very few.

 

The fact is, download sales make the chart more relevent. I see no reason why the physical single 'dying out' will mean the end of the singles chart. Downloading is just a new format, like CDs replacing vinyl.

Cd's will never die out, its mich more personal to own the cd rather than just clicking on your mouse and getting the track you want!

Thank God for downloads.

 

Anyone saying that downloads are ruining the charts is a fool as far as I'm concerned as otherwise I have bought no singles in the last two years instead of 80-100. :lol:

In the same token I've yet to buy a downloaded album, I will continue to buy physical CD albums.

 

What is ruining the charts is allowing records to be deleted artificially by record companies (Gnarls Barkley - Crazy & Nelly Furtado - Maneater) even though the physical single is still available to buy & not allowing tracks to count even though they are selling massive amounts of legal downloads (Christina Aguilera - Aint No Other Man, Justin Timberlake - SexyBack & Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancing) just because the physical single is not available within a week.

 

Legal Downloads have enabled a truer reflection of what is the most popular track in the country, by slowing down the rotation of chart singles. Now people do not have to go to the shop to buy a single, they can download it from their computer instead - where there are a far greater number of singles to buy than in your local Woolworths.

 

I'm glad the late 1990s & early 2000s where the #1s were swapping on a weekly basis have gone (there where 40+ #1s in 2000) as they devalued the chart massively IMHO.

 

What a pity we did not have the current situation back then as Westlife would have got nowhere near their 13 UK#1s. :P

 

As for the "any old single could enter the chart argument"- the solution is simple - have a 52weeks from first charting ruling, so the single is ineligible for the chart after that length of time.

'the OCC trying to merge downloads into (th eisngles chart) - while it is boosting the market as a whole - clearly hasn't done anything to help chart sales'

 

It has definately helped it by making it more relevant and increasing sales. Without downloads singles would be selling about 15,000 copies to get to no.1 and we'd have Paris Hilton at no.1 in the main chart when she obviously isn't the nations favourite song as her official position shows.

Allow all downloads in the chart whenever, the physical single is dead, only downloads matter now. The major problem is convincing kids who have been downloading for free for years that music should be bought.

Yes, this is exactly what I meant. Downloads have boosted sales, but not to a huge extent - and I do love the fact that including downloads has made it the most relevant it has been for years which is why I also said it has a few good years left in it.

And yes I agree with your second point too, all downloads should be included imo. So what if a song from 10 years ago is more popular than a new song? If we're buying it, it should be in the charts -_-

I have to be honest here.

I haven't looked at the UK singles chart in years. I never know what's at Number 1 and I've never heard of half the acts who are stated in the papers to be at Number 1. :unsure:

 

I cast my eye over the album chart though. ^_^

Thank God for downloads.

As for the "any old single could enter the chart argument"- the solution is simple - have a 52weeks from first charting ruling, so the single is ineligible for the chart after that length of time.

 

i do agree with the chart rules about cancelling old singles, but i think the time needs to be extended. i think a chart like a ''re-entry'' chart or ''recurrents' chart which is a chart compiled of tracks no longer allowed inside the normal singles chart should be introduced.

 

and also, a ''older song'' chart would mean that popular songs dont have to be deleted, and that places like hmv can keep hold of the physical singles after 2-3 years.

 

a chart is basically compiled about what are the most popular records of the moment, which makes me think that the ''deletion'' rule is stupid. ''deletion'' to me should mean that the record companies does some kind of control to how much it should be play on tv or radio, not its sales, thats if they really want to concentrate on the next single.

 

 

Even when the physical single dies, there will still be a download chart so no change really.

Very succint. I agree wholeheartedly.

 

People will always care who's #1 so if/when the chart is based on downloads alone that won't change.

 

Charity records, and other novelty tracks, will continue to sell well on physical release for a decade.

Children will still get albums or singles from their granny.

 

The charts have lots more life in them but I think the singles market in the UK will become like the American one. Very few singles will be available physically - you'll have to download them or buy the album.

 

Me too, it 100% ruins it for me too because it isn't actually showing what we're buying every week is it?

 

Not only that, it makes the chart too predictable. :angry:

If the singles chart doesn't matter, why do record companies bother deleting their stock when still high in the charts?

I fully understand why record shops don't want digital only hit singles, as for one thing, it could make their CD singles chart section look like Swiss Cheese.

"This Womans Work" by Kate Bush would have made a top 40 appearance following its use on Footballers Wives last year, but fell well and truly foul of the 52 week ruling by then. :cry:

It would be fun to see quirky things like that happen. Now that would be what I would call a chart reflecting peoples current tastes and bang up to date!

Single sales in the 1950's weren't that great, were they? and yet that is when this modern singles chart began, so why do sales matter now?

I think with the Singles chart, it is either evolve or die.

Singles I guess were up until the 1980's one of the things at the forefront of general entertainment. Perhaps Singles have slipped down the "Entertainment" chart, since these days there are so many other things to grab your attention, not least the Internet along with sites like this!

Edited August 9, 200618 yr by Sound-Bite

Physical singles still sell well, it's just people don't know whats out! to be honest, nowdays I only know what singles are out from this site or the HMV website!! when the public know about somthing being released they will buy, you only have to look at the Crazy Frog campaign last year! or Amarillo, and Shayne Ward (X-Factor), all sold bucket loads of PHYSICAL singles because there was promo! same with Gnarls Barkley this year, It goes to prove there is alot of life left in the physical format, to scrap it would alienate thousands of buyers, who would never dream of downloading! -_-

PS

The UK singles chart is somthing we should be proud of!, and we should never talk about bining it! -_- :D