How downloads will change the chart

Thanks Janie for posting that article. I think it's funny how the record companies attitudes keep changing about the whole chart situation. When illegal downloading was happening, they complained that it was impacting sales, and yet when legal sites first began gaining popularity, they disagreed with the idea of including them in the charts on the grounds that they weren't a big enough share of the market. Surely a case of double standards?

I think it's a really positive move, but in some ways I could see why the companies would not be enamoured with the idea, as I don't believe their influence over what is downloaded is widespread. Far easier to influence the chart positions by, say, releasing too few singles of an artists songs to record stores etc. I was thinking of how difficult it was for people to get hold of the Darkness single in Australia, and the reflection of that in the chart position. They don't have a great deal of control over the choice that downloaders make. Interesting to see the difference between the two 'marketplaces' too.

This bit had me particularly intrigued:
'And a move for downloads to be included in the Top 40 before the song is released on CD single has so far been resisted.

Such a decision could herald a return to the days of tunes slowly climbing the charts as buzz and popularity grow'.

I'm not sure that is strictly correct, as I read on Teletext today that it is widely expected for the Gorillaz to reach number 31 in the chart on downloads alone, as it is not yet available in the shops. This seems to contradict what the Beeb are saying, but I hope it is correct, as the old way of the charts was not only far more interesting, but there is more scope perhaps for people to learn about songs which aren't making an impression on the chart as singles.

Last year I can particulary remember how Maroon 5 had 3 singles in the top 10 of one of the download charts for months, and She Will Be Loved in particular had a higher chart position and lingered longer in the download chart than it did in the proper chart.

You never know, perhaps this is the opportunity that we as Darren fans have been hoping for. The online fanbase is large, and if just one song were to catch the imagination of downloaders - people already enjoying the connection between music and the net - then perhaps our little secret that TTATS seems to be will finally get the acknowledgement it deserves.