On a side note, I'm also glad the US chart is shifting away from urban music now. The reason it is is to do with download sales being included and so different genres of music are doing better instead of the chart being dominated by the same urban songs in the top ten all year long.

 

I think the shift now shows just how flawed the Billboard Hot 100 was a few years ago. Because of extremly low physical sales it was pretty much an airplay only chart, so any song that got played endlessly on Rhythmic and Urban radio stations would be in the top 10 all year and any non-American Idol winner single that wasn't urban would have barely any chance of doing well.

 

The lesson for all this for the UK I suppose should be- never start including airplay in the charts.

These days 99% if the chart isn't urban. Lets sample the top 10 for example:

 

1 (1) SexyBack – Justin Timberlake [R&B/Pop]

2 (2) London Bridge - Fergie [Hip-Hop/Pop]

3 (4) Buttons – Pussycat Dolls [R&B/Pop]

4 (3) Crazy – Gnarls Barkley [R&B/Alternative]

5 (5) (When You Gonna) Give It Up To Me – Sean Paul ft Keyshia Cole [R&B/Reggae]

6 (7) Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol [Alternative]

7 (8) Sexy Love – Ne-Yo [R&B]

8 (9) Far Away - Nickelback [Rock]

9 (18) Lips Of An Angel – Hinder [Rock]

10 (6) Promiscuous – Nelly Furtado [Hip-Hop/Pop]

 

Ne-Yo is the only really pure R&B artist there, to succeed in the US now you need to produce a song that is a crossover hit, multi formats. That way you sell more downloads and do well on the chart. Urban dominated a few years ago as single sales were non-existant, the US dropped the single and so airplay dominated the chart (which is majority urban and still is to a degree) with iTunes etc, digital sales have boomed and RIAA have made the chart more downloads leaning so it is a greater representation of the US peeps taste.

 

A good example of this is Chingy, who is Hip-Hop, #1 on airplay, nowhere on digital sales, a few years back he'd be rooted at #1 but his song isnt popular with people so it isnt topping the chart.

 

True... but most of the top 10 is still heavily urban influenced?

 

True... but most of the top 10 is still heavily urban influenced?

I'd say most of it is more pop-influenced these days. Its not all that urban anymore. There are twinges but its not like 3 years ago. FAR less bias. JoJo for example is heading for a possible #1 over the enxt few weeks, wouldn't have had that a few years ago...