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BBC Launches Downloaded Music Charts
PReDiToR writes "The BBC today aired its first chart rundown of downloaded music. 'The Official UK Download Chart is based on the most popular, legally downloaded tracks in the UK. It's compiled from the sale of permanently owned single track downloads and doesn't include streamed downloads, subscriptions or free downloads.' The Chart played on Radio 1, the UK's most listened to station, and will be a regular feature."
Can this be a reasonably good statistic? Most of the music that I listen to online either comes from online radio stations, Poisoned (mac app), or iTunes. What clout would this have over any other song statistics?
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...as well as The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and every other band that matters.
It would be nice if they posted a bit more info. Like for example exactly how the figures are tabulated -- is it a straight weekly sum, or are past results worked in somehow either through strict accumulation or a weighted average... Furthermore, do audio books get tossed into the mix (not that one is apt to win)? It would also be neat to see what formats people were downloading the music in.
..that all the sites are stacked with crap pop music and have hardly any decent real proper music on them.
Not to mention The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, The Clash, The Smiths...
I can keep going.
I wonder how long it takes for music companies or artists to artifically inflate the "legal downloads" of their music so that people think it is "popular" when they hear it on the radio on the Top 20.
And of course once it is "popular" people will start buying it to see what the fuss is about, thus selling more. Maybe I'm just a skeptic, but it seems like another way to get the same stuff to sell even more. Oh well.
give me a site that lets me download whatever song john peel is currently playing and i'll be happy.
I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
I am greatly disappointed in so far as the chart offered automatically discounts legitimate artists that do not choose to sell their tracks online but give them away for free. Examples being Brad Sucks and the Acedia Music Netlabel under licenses such as the Creative Commons music license. It will take something like the BBC or other mainstream music outlets (MTV or other such dribble) to recognize this music distribution model to get artists any exposure. That being said I can see how from a purely practical level that one would have to rely either on the artists themselves or mirrors to provide statistics which may be skewered. In addition, artists like Brad Sucks may get significantly more downloads from the simple fact of being free (in every sense) rather than another indie band that has only pay downloads.
Bah humbug.
P.S. Brad Sucks is one of my favourite bands
With any luck, the music industry will have a more difficult time in manipulating this chart, and it will therefore more accurately reflect the musical tastes of the UK's youth.
... Pink Floyd ...
Jesus Fucking Christ, I'm sick of you indie kids. Just because something is "manufactured" doesn't make it BAD. Half the shit that you listen to will be as contrived as Avril or Britney, and the thing is you don't even realise it!
Meanwhile Avril releases Don't Tell me and Britney releases Toxic and obliterates virtually every release this year that meets your cool quotient but you've got your head stuck too far up your ass to realise it.
Free iPods - now in the UK!
The Spice Girls are a good example, as they were a manufactured band, and this chart is designed to give official validation to a 'chart' that will be even easier for the big labels to manipulate.
The BBC's independence doesn't quite extend to DJs and producers being able to resist big bribes by labels wanting to get their songs onto playlists. Ever wonder why Radio One DJs have big houses and lots of cars? Let's face it, it's not because they are talented.
The BBC has the resources to look at doing a far more interesting chart of what people are really wanting to listen to, by sampling p2p networks, but haven't got the imagination or balls to follow through, as for some reason they are beholden to the big labels.
I pay my licence fee for independence from state interference, how about freedom from big business interference?
Humorous signatures are over-rated.
Let's not forget Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, Roni Size, Sneaker Pimps, and so many more...
MY SECRET DIARIES
Exactly. Finally, another person who understands. Honestly, part of the reason why people keep classifying this manufactured music as bad is because other people claim that it's bad. It's just the cool thing to do. The power of influence can really blind you over what's really your own opinion and what isn't. These artists don't hit the top of the charts because everyone hates them. Think about it.