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Internet sales to impact UK Top 40 chart
14-04-2003
by John Cradden
Traditional methods of generating UK pop singles charts look set to change thanks to the growing popularity of downloading music files.
The Official Charts Co. (OCC), a joint venture between the British Phonographic Institute and the British Association of Record Dealers, said that it is developing a special chart to specifically track sales of music downloads, with the eventual aim of incorporating into the official UK singles chart.
OCC Internet chart is currently in development and the group said it should be up and running by October. When launched, the rankings are not expected to be based solely on downloads of singles, with downloads of music bundles and albums set to tie into the ratings system. The firm has already signed up on-line music distributor OD2 and it is in talks with several other major legitimate distributors of music on-line.
The news comes as figures recently released show that world sales of recorded music fell by 7 percent in value and by 8 percent in units in 2002, according to figures recently released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
And the industry has, for the most part, rejected the suggestion that falling sales of CDs and audiotapes reflect a falling enthusiasm for music. Instead, the expanding variety of ways to access music products, including through the Internet and as mobile ring tones, has impacted only on CD and audiocassette sales.
In fact, IFPI claimed that mass downloading from unauthorised file sharing on the Internet and the massive proliferation of CD burning continues to be the major causes of the fall in CD sales globally, combined with competition from other entertainment sectors and economic uncertainty on consumer spending.
"This year's figures hold no surprise, said Jay Berman, chairman and CEO of IFPI. "Widespread use of illegal sites, made easier with the growth of broadband access in the major markets, is affecting an industry that is also having to compete with increased sales of other entertainment formats such as DVD films and new video game consoles."
"At the same time there are exciting new opportunities opening up to music. The recording industry is pressing ahead with legitimate on-line music services, and the past few months have seen several new sites, such as dotmusic.com, popfile.de, hmv.co.uk and imusica.com.br, go live."
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