UK Charts

How useful are the UK record sales charts and do you believe they have a future?

A ‘top 12’ was first compiled by the New Musical Express as a marketing gimmick, and having a run down of the top selling music in the country quickly became a sought after aspect of music journalism.This means that the charts are useful for reporting back to record companies on how their artists albums are being received and what type of music genres and bands the public enjoy at that moment. It became a competition to reach NO.1 in the charts as seen when the reality TV show ‘The X-Factor’, had its contestants at NO.1 for christmas for the past 5 years.

They are reported back to companies by putting them up on their website for the companies to review. This is also how the audience can receive the charts as well as on BBC Radio 1 Top 40 chart show on sundays. The companies can use this information to either bolster their  advertising or production rates depending on how the album is received. 

Points of exchange in the music industry have shifted massively in the previous few years. From 2005 Downloads have been included in the charts after the massive leap from CD's to downloads. Reflecting the fact that there had been a huge drop in physical sales of singles. Including downloads makes it easier to track the sales and make more accurate charts. This has allowed record companies to see how their albums do on both charts together. 

The music industry has been trying to tap into the mobile technology market. They provide customers with licensed, quality versions of their favourite band’s tracks for their phones, as a part of a bundle; when they buy the phone.


Overall the charts will still be around in the future but will mainly be used by record companies to charter their artists rise or fall on the charts.