Capital Summertime Ball 2024

[Jono]

Album tracks, B-sides and golden oldies could enter the top 40 when chart rules are changed on 1 January.

The shake-up means that any download will count towards the top 75, even if it is not available on the high street.

Test charts show that Christmas songs by Wham and Mariah Carey would have been in this week's festive top 40 under the new rules.

CD singles will also be allowed extra tracks and extended running times to help them compete with downloads.

"This new ruling changes the nature of a single and puts the consumer in the driving seat," said Steve Redmond, director of the UK Official Charts Company.

"Literally any track can be a hit - as long as it sells enough."

The first revamped top 40 will be revealed on JK and Joel's Radio 1 Chart Show on Sunday, 9 January.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6216535.stm

[matt_32510]

The first revamped top 40 will be revealed on JK and Joel's Radio 1 Chart Show on Sunday, 9 January.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6216535.stm

or maybe Sunday the 7th January

[Jono]

Any date and day around then...

[theeveningsaviour]

Also the 52-week rule will be abolished... because it was Christmas they made a couple of exceptions to Christmas tunes a couple of weeks ago.

[MaryMary]

Its the final admission that singles sales means absoutely nothing, and a last desperate attempt to maintain the Chart as something people will be interested in. Could work.

[bolinbenny]

Hooray!

Its about time any downloads were put into the chart. This is surely finally the thing that actually could revitalise interest in the singles chart.

A question though if someone buys all tracks off an album will it be counterd as an album sale or 12 single sales?

[Jono]

It seemed stupid in the first place not to include these things, I was unaware that there were these restrictions - I presumed they were just unpopular.

[Serin]

Someone on BBC News 24 said when The Beatles finally end their legal wrangles with Apple and become available for legal download, they could, in theory, re-enter the Top 10 as they remain quite popular....

[Jono]

I didn't think any internet store was offering them to download. I couldn't find any.

[Ianeddie65]

Hello - long time lurker, first time Poster!

On subject: this has the possibility of making the playlist more interesting, or will the radio stations try and stick rigidly to the 'current' crop of artists?

[Serin]

I didn't think any internet store was offering them to download. I couldn't find any.

Yeah, they remain the only act you cannot legally download, as the label they own (Apple Corps) remains in a legal dispute with Apple Computers who make iPods. Until that's sorted, they won't be available for download.

[goldengirl]

I think it's a great idea

How will the single / album thing work tho? Will it be lik 12 singles like bolinbenny asked?