A useful link http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/d025.gif

http://eil.com/charts/NRChartPage.asp?PageId=9&PageNo=1

Very useful for a lot of bands. Mott the Hoople hadn't heard that name for a while and "new" Pink Floyd will have to get that one. Thanks shell.

New chart rules from 01/01/07

As a result of recent discussions the Chart Supervisory Committee has agreed to amend the chart rules relating to maxi singles and the eligibility of digital downloads within the Official UK Combined Singles Chart.

Maxi Singles

Currently a maxi single is chart eligible with a maximum playing time of 20 minutes and a maximum of three tracks plus remixes of those tracks. From 1st January 2007 the maximum playing time will be extended to 25 minutes and a maximum of four tracks plus remixes of those tracks. The maximum of three physical formats remains unchanged.

Digital Downloads

Currently downloads are eligible for the Combined Singles Chart one week ahead of the release of a related physical single. From 1st January 2007 any download registering sufficient sales to record a chart position will be eligible for the Combined Singles Chart from the moment it is made available for purchase by consumers. Downloads will no longer require a related physical format to be released in order to chart in the Combined Singles Chart.

CHART RULES

The following formats may be combined for chart purposes:
• A maximum of three physical formats
• A maximum of three digital bundle formats
• Unlimited single digital tracks
Number of tracks and maximum timings:
• Physical rules remain unchanged (with the exception of extension of maxi single to 25 minutes and four tracks)
• All digital bundle formats to feature the lead track of a single and comply with the overall rules for timing and number of audio tracks for physical singles
• Current rules on the combination of physical formats remain unchanged and will also apply to the three permitted digital bundle formats
• All physical formats and digital bundles must feature the lead track in original or alternative form. However digital bundles are no longer required to replicate exactly the physical tracklisting
• Maximum length of single digital tracks remains unchanged at 10 minutes
• All digital tracks will be eligible for a chart position regardless of whether they are intended as singles or not (i.e. album tracks made available as single track downloads will be eligible.For example a label elects to release a single digitally first. They release two digital bundles, consisting of a 2 track bundle and a maxi bundle. They also make the title track available as a single track download in its own right. When it comes to the physical formats of a release they could potentially replicate the 2 track bundle as a 2 track CD, the maxi bundle as maxi CD and also have scope for a further physical format which could be DVD, 7" or 12" vinyl. If they don't replicate the digital bundles exactly, provided the overall timings and number of tracks fall within the general rules for singles then the physical formats could feature alternative tracklistings.

Starring-out rule

On the basis that digital downloads will be eligible for the Combined Singles Chart without a related physical format, the current rule which "stars out" any sales recording a chart position two weeks post deletion of a physical single format will no longer apply.

Added Value / Enhanced Content

Rules for both physical and digital releases remain as they are currently.

Chart revamp puts downloads first
source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6216535.stm)

Wham's Last Christmas is number 21 in the download charts


Album tracks, B-sides and golden oldies could enter the top 40 when chart rules are changed on 1 January. The shake-up means that any download will count towards the top 75, even if it is not available on the high street.

Test charts show that Christmas songs by Wham and Mariah Carey would have been in this week's festive top 40 under the new rules.

CD singles will also be allowed extra tracks and extended running times to help them compete with downloads.

"This new ruling changes the nature of a single and puts the consumer in the driving seat," said Steve Redmond, director of the UK Official Charts Company.

"Literally any track can be a hit - as long as it sells enough."

High street opposition

Previously, downloads only counted towards the chart in the week before a song was released on CD, and until two weeks after the CD was deleted.

This meant that record shops could avoid having blank spaces in their displays.

The revamped rules were first revealed on the BBC news website in September, when it was reported that high street retailers had dropped their opposition to the inclusion of download-only tracks.

Reacting to the official announcement of the changes on Thursday, Virgin Megastores called the new chart "a positive move forward".

Several retailers contacted by the BBC indicated they would fill blank spaces in Top 40 displays with notices indicating a song's availability in their online stores.

Sales leap

Downloads have helped to revitalise the UK's singles market, driving sales up from 32.3m in 2004 to 62.1m in the first 51 weeks of 2006.

US hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley became the first act to reach number one purely through downloads in April.

X Factor winner Leona Lewis sold 100,000 downloads in two days


Their single, Crazy, is currently the UK's most-downloaded single, with 397,000 copies sold - although X Factor winner Leona Lewis may overtake that figure this week.

The current top 40 downloads includes 18 songs not eligible for the main chart, including old hits such as Wham's Last Christmas and Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars, as well as future singles by Eminem and Take That.

It is hoped that by including downloads the pattern of singles slowly climbing up the charts will return.

With digital downloads appealing to older music buyers, it is also thought that the singles chart could see a greater diversity of artists in 2007.

The first revamped top 40 will be revealed on JK and Joel's Radio 1 Chart Show on 7 January.

its about time, i think it will be interesting.

My thoughts exactly :)

Its well proven that Rob is one of the most searched for celeb on the internet and if fans of his use the net as much as these polls show then im guessing the majority buy his music from iTunes, wow cds etc so the results will be very telling :)

This will make a huge difference to the charts, about time too. You could easily add another Million to the Rudebox total sales if online stores, iTunes and downloads/orders from his official site were taken into account. As with many artists.

its about time they had a shake up!

if we had had this new system up and running this year i wouldn't mind betting lovelight would have been number 1!

This will make a huge difference to the charts, about time too. You could easily add another Million to the Rudebox total sales if online stores, iTunes and downloads/orders from his official site were taken into account. As with many artists.


Totally agree MMP! Wonder how many decades it'll take for this to come into play in the Irish charts, seeing as there's so many sources of sales that aren't counted.

Rudebox entering Irish charts at No. 2 was a load of crap & I knew something was seriously up!

Well I will continue to order my cds from the UK then, cause I am no help here in the US for Robbies cds.

Does anyone if the cd sales from cdWow & play.com will be included

What is the best website to download the UK chart?
itunes (in Australia) does not allow me to access the UK version!!
I love the UK charts ... any help with downloading would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help or offer advice. :yay:

This Week's Releases: 5 March 2007

Albums and singles released today

The Horrors unleash their debut 'Strange House', Idlewild are back with 'Make Another World' and !!! unleash 'Myth Takes'.

On the singles front there's releases from Lily Allen, The Sunshine Underground, Enter Shikari and Newcastle newcomers Kubichek.

Album releases:

Arcade Fire - 'Neon Bible'
The Horrors - 'Strange House'
The Stooges - 'Weirdness'
Air - 'Pocket Symphony'
Willy Mason - 'If The Ocean Gets Rough'
Supremes - 'Jean Terrell Years: 1970-73'
David Bowie - 'Tonight Japanese LP'
Feeder - 'Picture Of Perfect'
!!! - 'Myth Takes'
Idlewild - 'Make Another World'

Singles:

Lily Allen - 'Shame On You'
Robbie Williams - 'She's Madonna'
Scissor Sisters - 'She's My Man'
Enter Shikari - 'Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour'
Jet - 'Shine On'
Justin Timberlake - 'What Goes Around'
The Sunshine Underground - 'Borders'
The Aliens - 'Setting Sun'
Kubichek! - 'Nightjoy'
Biffy Clyro - 'Saturday Superhouse'

Source (http://www.nme.com/news/arcade-fire/26804)

A useful link http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/d025.gif

http://eil.com/charts/NRChartPage.asp?PageId=9&PageNo=1
Yes it is a good site mon, they have some good back catalogue cds too, I've had it bookmarked for a while. :)