Cross the streams!
UK Singles Chart to include streaming figures from July
A hundred streams will count for one purchase in the new chart rules.
Streaming figures through services like Spotify or Deezer will be included in the UK singles chart from July, the Official Charts Company has revealed.
The move follows the massive increase in streaming music in recent years. Between January 2013 and 2014 figures increased from 100 million streams a month to 200 million, with the figure hitting 260 million currently.
In the new figures a selection of services, including Spotify, Deezer, Napster and Xbox Music will report figures each week. 100 streams will count as the equivalent to one download or physical purchase. YouTube video streams will not be included in the figures, though the OCC will regularly review the situation.
Official Charts Company chief executive Martin Talbot explains, “Audio streaming has grown at an extraordinary rate over the past year – and the time is now right to take this important step.
“The UK’s Official Singles Chart is culturally among the most important and influential in the world. We have been looking at this possibility for some time and now feel comfortable that our methodology is correct and that summer 2014 is the time that we should take this step.
“The Official Singles Chart is (and always has been) the most trusted and definitive measure of Britain’s music tastes. Just as it has evolved through the years to reflect the most popular music in the UK, from 12” to 7”, vinyl to cassingles, CD singles to downloads, this is the latest stage of that progression – and will align the Official Singles Chart with the consumption habits of the future.”
At the same time, an Official Breakers Chart will be launched to highlight the fastest growing new tracks, showcasing the 10 biggest new songs each week that have seen an increase in sales and streams. The BPI has also updated the criteria for Platinum, Gold and Silver awards to ensure streams will count towards certifications of singles.
As pointed out by the BBC, the change is unlikely to effect the top end of the chart too seriously, but more likely album based acts who perform well in streaming terms compared to single purchases. Alt-J, for example, are currently the 14th most streamed UK act, but have a highest single chart position of 75.
The first Official Singles Chart Top 40 to incorporate streams will be on the 6th July.
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