Billboard Hot 100
Billboard will now count downloads in its Hot 100 Chart. This chart is the gold standard. It's an important chart, which is why I mention it. When you talk about a Top 40 hit, that's the first 40 spots on this list. I've researched these lists going back to '55, the beginning of the rock era, in order to make sure my music library was complete. Historically, I think it gives the best view of popular music. But, not anymore.
Frankly, I think they would have been better off staying an obvious dinosaur. But to count paid downloads and ignore the fileshares which outnumber them by a factor of a billion.... come on.
This is a singles chart. It used to be based on sales of singles, which was pretty straightforward. In the 80's, sales started to contract as boomers became more corporate, music followed suit and sales then sunk even more. This is when the execs realized they could sell the single for 10X the price if they put it in an album with a bunch of shitty songs. They stopped selling singles as we transitioned to CD's.
At that point, Billboard had to more fully enter the messy world of radio airplay to try and figure out exactly what singles the public wanted to listen to. Bad move, I think these boys need a little chat with Elliot Spitzer ( who, BTW, just subpoenaed Clear Channel!!) . If you check out the charts from this period you see Madonna, Mariah & MJ. With some exceptions, radio plays what it's paid to play.
Now it's easy to find out what everyone wants to hear... check out Big Champagne. E! recaps their chart nightly. As far as I'm concerned, it's the only count that counts, it's the equivalent of counting box office receipts. From everything I've heard about their system, at least from its Prez., it's an accurate reflection of download activity. The numbers are so big, they can't be manipulated by labels, or anyone else. Any other list is either a microcosm, an opinion, or biased. Check out this article about how labels use it for market research.
Many people, if not most, look to these lists for song suggestions. They do shape the market, so it's important to understand exactly what they are measuring. I look for more than popularity from a song though and sites like Soundclick and Pure Volume can lead to you good, lower level acts that are local and can be supported live.
Frankly, I think they would have been better off staying an obvious dinosaur. But to count paid downloads and ignore the fileshares which outnumber them by a factor of a billion.... come on.
This is a singles chart. It used to be based on sales of singles, which was pretty straightforward. In the 80's, sales started to contract as boomers became more corporate, music followed suit and sales then sunk even more. This is when the execs realized they could sell the single for 10X the price if they put it in an album with a bunch of shitty songs. They stopped selling singles as we transitioned to CD's.
At that point, Billboard had to more fully enter the messy world of radio airplay to try and figure out exactly what singles the public wanted to listen to. Bad move, I think these boys need a little chat with Elliot Spitzer ( who, BTW, just subpoenaed Clear Channel!!) . If you check out the charts from this period you see Madonna, Mariah & MJ. With some exceptions, radio plays what it's paid to play.
Now it's easy to find out what everyone wants to hear... check out Big Champagne. E! recaps their chart nightly. As far as I'm concerned, it's the only count that counts, it's the equivalent of counting box office receipts. From everything I've heard about their system, at least from its Prez., it's an accurate reflection of download activity. The numbers are so big, they can't be manipulated by labels, or anyone else. Any other list is either a microcosm, an opinion, or biased. Check out this article about how labels use it for market research.
Many people, if not most, look to these lists for song suggestions. They do shape the market, so it's important to understand exactly what they are measuring. I look for more than popularity from a song though and sites like Soundclick and Pure Volume can lead to you good, lower level acts that are local and can be supported live.
posted by Intervision at 9:13 PM
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