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UK Music Charts to include Downloaded Singles
• Downloaded Singles forecast to be 80% of market in 2007
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By
The Minx, Music Business editor
Saturday,
6 January, 2007
The Official UK Chart Company announced that from January 2007 the UK singles charts will include songs downloaded from the internet.
This opens up the way for a band to reach number one in the singles chart without ever selling a physical record. The change also includes records from entire back catalogues.
Until now, downloaded singles only counted towards the charts if a physical copy was available in the shops. Without that incentive, some record companies are likely to stop pressing CD singles altogether.
When The Beatles' back catalogue becomes available to download in 2007, the band could go back to number one 40 years after their heyday.
Paul Gambaccini, the DJ, said: "Novelty will always guide the singles charts. But we will see some surprises. If an Elvis song features in a hit film, then expect to see him competing for number one through downloads."
The internet has already hit sales of physical singles. In 2004, 26.5 million records were sold, compared with only 5.8 million downloads. In 2006, an estimated 14 million physical singles will be sold, compared to 65 million downloads. In 2007 downloaded songs will account for 80 per cent of the market.
Neil McCormick, The Daily Telegraph's pop critic, said: "Rather than having 100 or so singles available to buy in a shop, there are now two million songs available to buy online. The consumer is the winner with that sort of choice. Some people will be nostalgic for the old times, but there's no stopping it now."
UK artists recently lost a court battle to have the 50 year performing rights copyright current in the UK and the EU, extended to the 95 years standard in the US.
On the Lam 2007
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