We have cases of missing data in midweeks almost on a weekly basis. And I'm pretty sure sometimes the companies aren't able to sort it out until the deadline, so OCC needs to use some kind of extrapolation of the missing data to make the chart look more accurate.

 

But, as far as we know, they don't fix the previous weeks' data, and they don't adjust the future sales figures if there is some inaccuracy between the data sent not on time and the modeling made by OCC. If so, that could very well mean that some weekly, let alone overall, data is some kind of fake. And for sure they can't give exact figures like 45838 because they could be incorrect. Not to mention that in close battles a missing data can define a #1.

 

What is the current mechanism of supplying missing data? Should the former #1s and other positions be revised if the missing data changes an actual chart? Or should those new figures be taken into account in the future charts? Or "what's done is done", and the charts and sales figures should stay as they are with adjustments/extrapolations made by the calculating company?

The missing/incorrect data is almost always acquired by the time the chart is published.

 

Instances where this has not occurred have resulted in the chart being re-run, and some minor changes to the published chart. The most recent example being the chart for 26th December 2010.

music week w/e 17/05/2014~

 

There's no sign of Austrian winner Conchita Wurst's Rise Like A Phoenix nor the entries from Sweden, Iceland, Malta, Finland or indeed any of the others. The main reason seems to be not that they aren't selling but that iTunes data for Saturday was not available to OCC for compiling the chart this week, which meant they had to upweight data from earlier in the week to compensate - a sensible solution which occurs whenever necessary but one which is unfortunate on this occasion, as many Eurovision entries would have had sudden and dramatic increases in sales on Saturday.

 

;)

Edited July 8, 201510 yr by Ethan

Ah yes, forgot about that week. Well it is a shame that they didn't re-run the chart when the data was available. It won't have made much of a difference but it is a little annoying when that happens, especially when it affects certain records a lot more than others.

But how is it acquired on Sunday when they aren't able to do the same on Tuesday/Wednesday? If the system is crashed it is crashed. But I guess / hope the (at least main) retailers are responsible enough, especially given I'm sure it's all written in the contract with all the penalties for missing/wrong data etc.

I really do think it probably happens more often than we even know.

But how is it acquired on Sunday when they aren't able to do the same on Tuesday/Wednesday? If the system is crashed it is crashed. But I guess / hope the (at least main) retailers are responsible enough, especially given I'm sure it's all written in the contract with all the penalties for missing/wrong data etc.

 

It comes through late, it doesn't just disappear. Hence you'll see this week that Spotify streams will all be added in either tomorrow or on the chart reveal day. It does show up how much the download market has collapsed though with such low sales coming through on the midweek flashes!

You don't think you actually are seeing record sales issued out of the OCC computer?

What you are seeing each week is a computer program of what the record sales should look like according to the terms dictated by the music industry. It has to take in a great deal of errors each week, caused by consumers and retailers, plus electronic issues. Then there are the complex rules about streaming data. Millions of streaming information all needing adjustments, so they don't cause an in balance between sales and streams.

Name one piece of complex software you have used that doesn't crash or produce data errors. Then imagine trying to collect data from all over the UK using it.

 

Apparently the OCC chart once had a packet of KP salted peanuts top of the chart, till somebody noticed it.

Don't forget the chart's have to be completed in just over 12 hours, after close of play.