Seeing as it (rightfully) doesn't have a thread on this forum, I have to share this Pitchfork Tweet about CB's newest album because it's genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen! LMAOOOOOOOOO

CB used to mean Clean Bandit on this forum!

I thought it was Chemical Brothers lol

4 hours ago, scratchy23 said:

I actually quite like the new trend of old songs being given a new lease of life many years later (Bloody Mary, Lush Life, Breakin Dishes) but the rate at which it's happening seems to be increasing, to the point that they're taking over the rate at which new songs and artists are breaking through, and that's when it becomes an issue.

Has there ever been so much diversity in the age of songs in the charts (Christmastime excluded?)

Why is it an issue though? If that's what people are listening to it should be reflected in the charts

I think old songs are doing well because of all age demographics streaming now (so the people under 30 are not as decisive group any more as before) but also because everything is easily available so the viral hits are always very random and case dependent. But beyond the surface there are always clear trends and now it's the music from 10s (Bieber, Pitbull, Zara Larsson etc). However, trends come and go, the next Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter or Alex Warren might be waiting just around the corner.

Personally, I like the idea of songs going viral because of the surprise factor. Who would've thought that Zara Larsson or Dominic Fike would get several new hits in 2026?

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Sour Candy

49 minutes ago, Sour Candy said:

I think old songs are doing well because of all age demographics streaming now (so the people under 30 are not as decisive group any more as before)

Like it or not, this is part of the reason why songs like ‘Ordinary’, ‘Rein Me In’ - and even artists like Sabrina Carpenter are so successful these days: their music is accessible across the generations. Dance music and rap music have had their periods of dominating the charts, but they are only limited in their appeal.

I have mixed feelings about this – generally I feel quite positive about it, but it does sometimes mean that the biggest hits are quite bland.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by GreyAsh

7 minutes ago, GreyAsh said:

Like it or not, this is part of the reason why songs like ‘Ordinary’, ‘Rein Me In’ - and even artists like Sabrina Carpenter are so successful these days: their music is accessible across the generations. Dance music and rap music have had their periods of dominating the charts, but they are only limited in their appeal.

I have mixed feelings about this – generally I feel quite positive about it, but it does sometimes mean that the biggest hits are quite bland.

This is definitely true, but has always been a case to some extent if we look at the longest running #1s. Also, for instance Abracadabra is way too aggressive to become a big hit in a traditional way. However, I think it will be remembered very well in the long run.

Just spotted the Monday update hasn't been edited into the front page as is the norm.

Its a bit sad that young people can't culturally define themselves through the charts as much anymore. MCR going number one was a generational indicator. The hipster Mumford and Sons, Ben Howard era of millennial early 20s. The EDM of millennial young adulthood. What are Gen Z doing? I can't say I can tell.

8 hours ago, TheSnake said:

CB used to mean Clean Bandit on this forum!

8 hours ago, Sempachorra said:

I thought it was Chemical Brothers lol

Poor forgotten Cat Burns!

8 hours ago, TheSnake said:

CB used to mean Clean Bandit on this forum!

CB for Clean Bandit and TCB for Chemical Brothers

I’m loving the old songs charting again or for the first time in some instances, but I agree it’s becoming more and more common.

10 hours ago, Tafty said:

Seeing as it (rightfully) doesn't have a thread on this forum, I have to share this Pitchfork Tweet about CB's newest album because it's genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen! LMAOOOOOOOOO

I'm sure its a turd but Ptitchfork are so performative.

26 minutes ago, Paddington James said:

I’m loving the old songs charting again or for the first time in some instances, but I agree it’s becoming more and more common.

I only agree with old songs charting when they haven’t charted before and I only agree with songs recharting when it’s because of films ie. MJ and not because of TikTok ie. Lush Life

Yeah I do enjoy the occasional old song getting a second wind (or even first 'proper' wind in the case of Go) when listening to the weekly chart shows but there will become a point where it gets ridiculous and it'll sound like you're just listening to a random Spotify user's favourite playlist with a smattering of classics mixed in with the odd sprinkling of new music.

I know 2016 is seen as the darkest year for chart followers on this website but if you think about the charts that year it was pretty much ALL songs from that year which made it a much more realistic and accurate reflection of what was going on (especially since it was pre-ACR). I remembering thinking at the time at how impressively 'relevant' it looked despite its sluggish nature and let's be honest ACR hasn't fixed anything. Arguably now the charts are even more slower than they were then PLUS you have less room for actual new songs making a dent in the charts with the non-stop revivals of old to ancient music.

Just looking back to this exact week in 2016: Official Singles Chart on 13/5/2016 | Official Charts pretty much every single song in the top 40 was less than half a year old - we didn't know how good we had it! (the actual quality of course being subjective I hasten to add).

1 minute ago, Dobbo said:

Yeah I do enjoy the occasional old song getting a second wind (or even first 'proper' wind in the case of Go) when listening to the weekly chart shows but there will become a point where it gets ridiculous and it'll sound like you're listening to a random Spotify user's favourite playlist with a smattering of classics mixed in with the odd sprinkling of new music.

I know 2016 is seen as the darkest year for chart followers on this website but if you think about the charts that year it was pretty much ALL songs from that year which made it a much more realistic and accurate reflection of what was going on (especially since it was pre-ACR). I remembering thinking at the time at how impressively 'relevant' it looked despite its sluggish nature and let's be honest ACR hasn't fixed anything. Arguably now the charts are even more slower than they were then PLUS you have less room for actual new songs making a dent in the charts with the non-stop revivals of old to ancient music.

You do wonder if the OCC might have to consider taking the Australian approach of shifting catalogue songs to another chart. It has really got completely ridiculous of late, like you say, there have barely been any hits actually released this year. How will we come to define 2026 exactly? And how does new music ever break through? Chart success breeds further success through being more visible to the public and awards committees etc, labels and artists feel more positive when they are having hits and invest more into new talent and music, but so few artists and songs are actually managing to make big waves.

But then again, you don't want to be blocking old songs getting a genuine organic second wind like Go and Beauty and A Beat from getting their new peaks, so I don't have a solution exactly.

Well of course I'll forever be in the banish ACR camp so the genuinely huge viral re-entries will still more than likely re-chart but they'll be on an even playing field with all of the current hits whereas now once they're on SCR they have an unnecessarily large advantage over every other song in existence bar the 20 or so others that also happen to be on SCR at the exact time of reset.

But otherwise it's a tricky one as I think it is just a case of music nostalgia seemingly more being powerful than ever before and a lack of effort and desire from labels/streaming companies to promote new artists. I don't know the listening stats but I'd imagine radio is playing a less important role of being a platform as well.

47 minutes ago, Paramore said:

I'm sure its a turd but Ptitchfork are so performative.

I actually don’t disagree with you. But we can make a couple of exceptions!

If I was in charge of the singles chart, there won’t be any unnecessary/random resets and definitely no resets for songs that have already reached number 1 and Christmas songs that are over 3 years old will be removed from the singles chart and the market rule will also be scrapped

Edited 21 minutes ago21 min by Hadji

2 minutes ago, Hadji said:

If I was in charge of the singles chart, there won’t be any unnecessary resets and Christmas songs that are over 3 years old will be removed from the singles chart

its may... the christmas songs arent affecting the charts currently so whats the need to bring them up, they aren't causing the current overload of older songs in the top 40