I still enjoy Xmas chart battles, Spice girls vs Chef (South Park), Bob the Builder vs Westlife, Michael Andrews/Gary Jules vs Darkness & Rage vs Joe Mcelderry all great weeks. In the streaming era this will decrease. I do think though one day Mariah Carey could finally get to No.1.

Sadly, they amended the streamings rules earlier this regarding songs that are more than 3 years old. Unless they are being ‘actively promoted’ (basically ask the OCC to reset it), old songs cannot be taken off ACR, so will be on a streaming disadvantage to all the songs without their streaming figures halved.

I still enjoy Xmas chart battles, Spice girls vs Chef (South Park), Bob the Builder vs Westlife, Michael Andrews/Gary Jules vs Darkness & Rage vs Joe Mcelderry all great weeks. In the streaming era this will decrease. I do think though one day Mariah Carey could finally get to No.1.

 

One thing that has not been mentioned is how music channels were beneficial for chart success. The Box (music channel) played a huge importance for a song doing well. Each Friday new videos were added to the playlist selection at least 6 weeks before release.

It's going to be a lot harder from this Christmas as tracks more than 3 years old can only revert from ACR back to SCR if the track is being actively promoted. I feel that this rule has been introduced with Christmas hits in mind. While Christmas tracks will still chart having their streaming downweighted will help prevent them from dominating the upper reaches of the charts like they have done in recent years.

 

When The Box was in its prime and viewers phoned in to select videos (do they still do this? I've not watched the channel for well over a decade) a number of viewers requests were actually made by people working for record labels such as pluggers etc etc. What was telling was how often a new video would be featured in high rotation but then when the record was released and the new chart was announced if the single in question hadn't performed well the video would usually never be seen again. In the era when records peaked at their entry position labels knew that if the record hadn't sold well there was no point in requesting the video any more.

Edited September 12, 20186 yr by Robbie

It's going to be a lot harder from this Christmas as tracks more than 3 years old can only revert from ACR back to SCR if the track is being actively promoted. I feel that this rule has been introduced with Christmas hits in mind. While Christmas tracks will still chart having their streaming downweighted will help prevent them from dominating the upper reaches of the charts like they have done in recent years.

 

When The Box was in its prime and viewers phoned in to select videos (do they still do this? I've not watched the channel for well over a decade) a number of viewers requests were actually made by people working for record labels such as pluggers etc etc. What was telling was how often a new video would be featured in high rotation but then when the record was released and the new chart was announced if the single in question hadn't performed well the video would usually never be seen again. In the era when records peaked at their entry position labels knew that if the record hadn't sold well there was no point in requesting the video any more.

 

It's funny you mentioned that about The Box, I've suspected that labels would call the selection numbers. No they don't do this anymore, I noticed around 2005 this was phased out. An unknown act at the time that would be played on the box, then debut in the top 10/20 then drop rapidly the next week. Many video requests were made as the numbers would show on the screen.

 

I would also try and count but I could never keep up. :lol:

On the effect of the new rules on Xmas records, I understand why they have introduced the rule to make the chart relevant to the now but due to the same changes in consumption many Xmas records no longer peak or become popular tracks on the year they are made or released - it can sometimes take many years for a new Xmas classic to become apparent. A example from Dec 2017 was Sia Santas Coming For Us peaking at 39 on Xmas week. Who's to say this won't grow in AirPlay or popularity in Decembers to come as it comes more engrained in the public consciousness.