I couldn't understand why the Noel single was allowed in the singles charts... the song itself is doing nothing on Spotify/itunes, so basically it's the physical single... and that has 5 tracks, so cannot chart in the singles chart I believe

I've just checked the running time of the EP on iTunes and it is 25:23 (I assume the 12" vinyl versions have the same running time) which exceeds the 25 minute maximum allowable under chart rules. The EP would otherwise be eligible for the Singles chart under chart rules for CD, 12" vinyl and digital bundle variants which allow a maximum running time of 25 minutes and no more than four songs plus alternative versions of featured songs. Remix (Maxi) singles rules (one song plus any number of remixes) extend the running time to 40 minutes but this does not apply here.

 

Under chart rules the single should be treated as a full price album as the Singles and Albums chart rules work alongside each other. In the Albums chart rules an album is classed as being "over 25 minutes OR more than four songs where the format does not qualify as a “Maxi” single or remix single as defined by singles eligibility rules".

Edited October 3, 20196 yr by Robbie

I am fairly sure those 'rules' are there for show and the OCC don't rigidly follow them and instead just do whatever they feel like doing. Which they've clearly changed their mind about midweek on this occasion. I thought it was strange that they'd count the sales this time when they didn't for 'Black Star Dancing' so at least they're being consistent with that but it means that Noel is once again falling into a grey area which the OCC won't count as either a single or an album which is a bit of a mess. (I would think it makes sense to count them both to the singles chart as they're essentially just singles with a couple of B-sides and remixes, it's a stretch to even call them EPs).

^

Years ago Noel's single would have ended up in the Budget Albums chart which is where a number of CD and 12" singles that fell foul of singles chart rules on either timing or number of tracks could be found. However that was back in the days of physical singles when pricing of the single meant it was easy enough to treat the release as a budget album. These days a number of physical singles releases are priced much higher and are therefore not eligible for the Budget Albums chart. Allowing them onto the main Albums chart could create problems which the OCC may wish to avoid so perhaps they just think it's easier to make the single ineligible for either chart.

Edited October 3, 20196 yr by Robbie