Music News: UK Charts Company changes rules for downloads

Callum

Quote:

The Official Charts Company has changed the rules for the UK singles chart.

Tracks offered as a free download when pre-ordering a digital album - also known as instant grat tracks - will be chart eligible from this week.

As long as pre-agreed criteria is adhered to, instant grat tracks will be considered the same as traditional downloads from digital stores such as iTunes, reports Music Week.

The change was unanimously passed by the CSC committee, which consists of retailers and labels.

The move brings the UK singles chart in line with most of the other international charting rules regarding instant grat eligibility.

The move follows confusion back in January when David Bowie offered his new single 'Where Are We Now?' as a free download for customer who pre-ordered upcoming album The Next Day.

The new rule begins in the week commencing February 10, 2013 and will be reassessed periodically to monitor its impact on the overall chart. (source)

their old system was outdated anyway

adrianbeane

*starts meltdown over Madonna's latest lead single*

americanshameless

The UK charts always knows the tea.

Billboard compared to it is a ****ing mess.

coddiecollins

thats good ....

PopBoi

Don't most people download the song then cancel the pre-order? I don't think this is right.

brndksk

Quote:

Originally posted by PopBoi

Don't most people download the song then cancel the pre-order? I don't think this is right.

If you cancel the pre-order, the next time you sync the free song will be deleted. So the only way you can cheat is by pre-ordering the album, downloading the free song, cancelling the pre-order and then never syncing your iPod/iPhone again which just isn't worth it for 99p.

Cz!

They should add streaming to their formula.

Callum

Quote:

Originally posted by Cz!

They should add streaming to their formula.

the UK singles chart works completely differently to the hot 100 though as it measures sales figures specifically, therefore there is no 'formula'. it's a matter of whoever sells the most charts higher, really. radio airplay, streaming, on demand etc have never counted towards chart positions here, though i guess including those kinds of things would make for a chart which better represents a songs popularity.

PopBoi

Quote:

Originally posted by brndksk

If you cancel the pre-order, the next time you sync the free song will be deleted. So the only way you can cheat is by pre-ordering the album, downloading the free song, cancelling the pre-order and then never syncing your iPod/iPhone again which just isn't worth it for 99p.

People copy the track to another device and/or take the tags off. IDK I just don't see why this would be a good thing.

keshaspearsxo

seems kinda stupid. the UK charts is specifically about sales..i dont think something free should count as a 'sale'. doesnt make sense to me.

NickBassett1981

They don't need to count all 'free' downloads. When a track is released as part of a preorder offer, more often than not, casual fans can choose to buy the track without preordering the album - David Bowie and Justin Timberlake's Mirrors being recent examples. The OCC simply needs to be able to differentiate between those who pay for the track and those who don't.