I voted for the download era. I think I started following the charts in 2003, so I don't have a long memory of the physical era. But one memory that stands out is Jamelia's 'Superstar' climbing the chart! I remember finding it a novelty to see a single going up instead of down.

Yeh I remember Superstar - another one from that era was Outkast Hey Ya!

For anyone that know or remembers, were singles released On Air On Sale in the 1980's? I ask because looking at the chart runs of songs in 80's on the OCC website I saw that a lot of them debuted low and climbed to their peak positions about 6-11 weeks later.

Yeh holding back tracks only became the norm post 1994!

 

 

Yeh I remember Superstar - another one from that era was Outkast Hey Ya!

'Hey Ya' had one of the most bizarre chart runs from that era. It dropped down the charts for 4 weeks in a row, from 6 to 22 while selling more copies each week. I remember posting at Dotmusic that it was probably going to go back into the top 10 after the New Year and sure enough it did..! it reached its peak, at number 3, on its 13th week on the chart which was quite unbelievable for the time.

 

Physical era for me... but only because in the 90s you didn't have the same level of access to information like you do now so the charts were a genuine surprise. Oh and also there was simply more variety in the genres and acts making the charts that they never felt stale. The types of tracks that these days stall between 40-100 (if not further) would have easily made the charts for a week or two at least in the physical era.

 

I liked the download era also but, like many others, the streaming element has totally killed off any interest I had in the chart.

Edited February 8, 20178 yr by dandy*

The physical era sounds like a great time to be following the charts, although I can't judge seeing as I grew up with downloads and started paying close attention to the charts in 2010.

 

Although it is ridiculous how many new entries there were each week which kinda devalues getting a top 40 hit single whereas now it's a big achievement to make the top 40.

I think the low points since I've been into the charts have been the Elvis Presley re-release series, and how much streaming has slown down the charts - but it will pick up I'm sure.

I got into the charts in Jan 2009 thanks to Gaga. 2009-2012 were the best for me

'Hey Ya' had one of the most bizarre chart runs from that era. It dropped down the charts for 4 weeks in a row, from 6 to 22 while selling more copies each week. I remember posting at Dotmusic that it was probably going to go back into the top 10 after the New Year and sure enough it did..! it reached its peak, at number 3, on its 13th week on the chart which was quite unbelievable for the time.

 

Yeh I remember that - it made me realise the potential of letting a track grow in popularity and how self defeating held back releases were at the time (this was 2003)!

 

I assume the fall but increased sales were due to xmas and then the new year peak saw an actual fall in its sales?

Yeh I remember that - it made me realise the potential of letting a track grow in popularity and how self defeating held back releases were at the time (this was 2003)!

 

I assume the fall but increased sales were due to xmas and then the new year peak saw an actual fall in its sales?

Yup, its sales remained steady due to Christmas though it also did increase in sales in the New Year. It's top selling week was when the single reached number 3, with it selling 18,500 copies that week.

 

Another single that sold more copies for several weeks despite dropping down the charts was 'Rockstar' by Nickelback which managed to increase its sales for 5 weeks in a row despite dropping from 20 to 25 in those 5 weeks, again that was in December (2007). Then the record came to life and climbed to number 2 and almost broke the record for the slowest climb to the top. It never made the top but then Ed Sheeran broke the record for the slowest climb to the top a few years later...

Edited February 9, 20178 yr by Robbie

What I found the most fascinating about the download era was how quickly and frequently the chart would change. A song could be performed on a TV show such as The X Factor and it would rise very high up the chart instantly, you don't really see big effects for songs like that these days.

Yup, its sales remained steady due to Christmas though it also did increase in sales in the New Year. It's top selling week was when the single reached number 3, with it selling 18,500 copies that week.

 

Another single that sold more copies for several weeks despite dropping down the charts was 'Rockstar' by Nickelback which managed to increase its sales for 5 weeks in a row despite dropping from 20 to 25 in those 5 weeks, again that was in December (2007). Then the record came to life and climbed to number 2 and almost broke the record for the slowest climb to the top. It never made the top but then Ed Sheeran broke the record for the slowest climb to the top a few years later...

 

Yeh Rockstar was another record which proved that oaos could work in the early days of downloads rise, another for me was two of Jessie Js hits - Do it like a Dude rose slowly and took of lost xmas 2009 then the oaos release of Domino showed how pointless held back releases were for songs that were huge now. Then there was a reaction in 2013/14!

I voted for the download era chart, but if there had been an option for a pre 1994 physical era chart, I think I'd have voted for that instead.

Yeh I remember Superstar - another one from that era was Outkast Hey Ya!

 

Didn't In da Club re-peak weeks after too? Bobbed up and down for ages!

It was in the chart for 21 weeks which was a lifetime for that era and stayed top 10 for ages - falling from 3-9 in the first week before climbing and repeaking in subsequent weeks which was strange for the time. Im not sure why, just remember hearing it way before the release and loving it. Think maybe the album was released before the single? But from memory I think im wrong!