UK Album Charts to now include streaming data

The Official Charts Company (OCC) has announced that from 1st March they will incorporate album streams as part of the weekly chart.

The announcement follows the change taken in 2014 when the OCC added streaming data into the singles chart, alongside physical and digital sales. The changes have been made to coincide with the OCC’s 60th year, with chief executive Martin Talbot saying:

“It is important that we get in and make a change like this before it becomes a really significant part of the market and so ensure that it can evolve and grow as the streaming of albums evolves and grows”

According to The Guardian, in 2014, the OCC tracked a jump of 192m streams per week compared to 360m per week at the same time this year. The OCC’s decision follows the same change in America for its Billboard chart, with Sweden being one of the first countries to remodel their charts in 2013.

Read more about the Official Chart Company’s change here.