BPI calls for further chart rules review

Source: Music Week

 

The BPI is pressing for qualifying restrictions for the combined singles chart to be further relaxed, allowing every download sale to be included within the rundown.

 

Just weeks after the regulations were changed to allow a track's digital sales into the countdown a week before an equivalent physical format becomes available, the issue is set to figure prominently at the next Chart Supervisory Committee meeting on June 20.

 

It is understood that the BPI will use the meeting to forcefully re-state the case that downloads should be included in the main singles chart without restrictions. As part of its argument, it is expected to point to the fact that downloads' share of sales within the main Top 40 is now around the 50% mark, reaching 49.4% a week ago.

 

This marks a rapid rise in share for digital, which only claimed a 14.6% share of Top 40 sales when the combined chart launched in April 2005.

 

"Consumers are leading this change in the market," says BPI director of communications and development Steve Redmond. "If the chart is accurately reflecting what's going on in the singles market, downloads have to count from when they are made available."

 

The issue was brought up at last Wednesday's quarterly meeting between BPI and Bard, which jointly own chart compiler the Official Charts Company, but it will be at the CSC meeting later this month when any proposed rule changes will be formally debated. However, it is likely to face a rough ride from retailers, whose trade organisation Bard is angry that the matter is back on the agenda.

 

"How many times do we have to move the goalposts?" asks Bard chairman Steve Knott. "Six weeks ago, we changed the rules to allow for digital sales into the chart a week before their physical release. Some members of the BPI want to change the rules every week."

 

 

 

Funny how the BPI have "changed their tune" from a few years ago.

i think they should do that because the songs will sell loads more and if the song is allowed to chart a week before its release then they might as well let it as soon as the song is avalible

i agree, as this what i thought originally the plan would be when downloads were introduced.

 

Would make complete sense aswell.

I think this would really improve the chart. All this red tape (52 week rule, d/w chart 1 week before, starring out deleted singles) is ruining the chart -_-

Maybe that guy from BPI loves the Gnarls Barkley tune Crazy a lot.

 

 

All this red tape (52 week rule, d/w chart 1 week before, starring out deleted singles) is ruining the chart -_-

Totally agree, these rules in particular are ridiculous :angry:

I definitely think every download sale should be included. If it's selling enough to make the chart then it should make the chart.

 

 

Good idea, it would make the chart a much more accurate representation on the popularity of tracks, which is the whole idea of a chart really.

There are so many stupid rules that are unnecessary.

It would be a lot better as physical sales were only declining in the first place cos most people had downloaded the track before it was even released in the shops.

This would be far better-so many songs are suffering from lost sales which will not count in their totals-a current example being Unfaithful by Rihanna :-(

In my opinion, every sales should be included, but 1 physical copy should count as 2 downloads. It´s not fair that a 0.99 download counts the same as a 3.00 CD single.

In my opinion, every sales should be included, but 1 physical copy should count as 2 downloads. It´s not fair that a 0.99 download counts the same as a 3.00 CD single.

 

Don't be ludicrous. The price doesn't enter into it. If it had then dance singles which were primarily bought on 12" back in the day would have outsold the pop singles (primarily 7") considerably.

 

Every sale should be counted, every week. If it leads to James Blunt's 'You're Beautiful' hanging around for 5 years then so be it...such is the price we pay.

 

Also, when are they going to get rid of the ridiculous format rules, number of track rules...in fact, EVERY rule? If a record sells then it sells.

Edited June 13, 200619 yr by richie

In my opinion, every sales should be included, but 1 physical copy should count as 2 downloads. It´s not fair that a 0.99 download counts the same as a 3.00 CD single.

Price must factor with purchases, 99p for Maneater wasn't it?

Edited June 13, 200619 yr by Mr Soundbite

Price must factor with purchases, 99p for Maneater wasn't it?

 

Where? I paid £2.99 for the CD on Friday.

Edited June 14, 200619 yr by vidcapper

Where? I paid £2.99 for the CD on Friday.

See the "Nelly Furtado" (single price!?!) thread.

I agree with RICHIE it's just stupid.

They call it the official sales chart - how can it be when many sales are not allowed.

All these so called stupid rules should go.

 

If a single is available for sale on download it should be chart eligable from when it becomes available in either format not just one week before physical release.

 

After all a sale is a sale.

 

If the new rule comes into being, then that should be good for the charts (making them interesting again) by making a single gradually climb to it's peak (like the good old chart days pre-1995) instead of just charting lower on it's first week and suddenly peaking on its second week.

 

The only rule should be that multiple mixes of the same single shouldn't be allowed.

As for the starring of deleted singles the record companies should take responsibility for that through deleting a charting single anyway. Why should a still charting single (Gnarles Barkley for example) be deleted just to make way for a future release. If the next release deserves to it will chart anyway.

I think physical singles should be available for at least a year or two even if you have to order it like they used to be.

I also think that the rules on chart re-entry should be scrapped.

 

Also I do think that a single with 4-6 tracks should be counted although listed as an EP.

More than 6 tracks and they should be off the singles chart but eligable for the Album chart.

 

ANY SALE IN ANY LEGAL FORMAT SHOULD BE COUNTED.

 

Also there should be a rule on promotion and that is a single shouldn't be promoted more than 14 days before release. This would provide healthier sales as people wouldn't become bored of hearing a single by the time of release through overkill of promotion (on Radio or TV).

Edited June 17, 200619 yr by Euro Music

Rather predictably, quite a few in the BPI are resistant to downloads having unfettered access to chart placings as it could potentially render record companies obsolete if every band in the planet could potentially bypass having to release a physical copy.. It's what I've always argued for - bands and artists doing what Mick Hucknall did, sticking two fingers up at the record companies and taking control of their own destiny and most importantly, getting a much better financial deal for their music if they set up their own websites to be the sole provider of their music....

 

I'm all for it, bring it on....This is a step in the right direction... :cheer:

 

 

In my opinion, every sales should be included, but 1 physical copy should count as 2 downloads. It´s not fair that a 0.99 download counts the same as a 3.00 CD single.

 

Nonsense. People are buying the main song when they buy a single, not a bunch of crappy remixes or a studio out-take....

Nonsense. People are buying the main song when they buy a single, not a bunch of crappy remixes or a studio out-take....

 

^Spot on!

 

I think this Sunday's chart is going to be a bit of a joke with the Gnarls Barkley single being excluded because of the record company/artist say so, yet the physical single of "Crazy" is still freely available to buy in Woolworths, HMV, Virgin, etc as well as the download. :arrr: