Do your legal mp3 downloads contribute to the Official UK Charts?
Since The Official UK Charts Company started including digital downloads in its charts (see their pdf for some dates), I wondered if some of the newer stores are contributing to this, especially the DRM-free ones.
On page 4 of this pdf from them it says:
Chart eligible retailers include
7Digital, Big Noise Music, Bleep, DX3, easyMusic.com, Woolworths.co.uk, HMV, iTunes, Karmadownload, Meantunes, MSN, myCokeMusic.com, Napster, OD2, Recordstore.co.uk, Tiscali,
The Music Engine, Virgin, War Child and Wippit.
Not seeing Amazon in that list (the pdf is from 2005) I contacted Amazon directly. Their response:
“At this early stage of our MP3 downloads service, we are unable to comment on the inclusion of Amazon.co.uk MP3 downloads in the download charts.”
Not wanting to let Amazon get away with a dodge on that question I asked The Official Charts Company themselves to comment. They did verify that Amazon, as well as Tesco Digital and Play.com did contribute sales figures.
Update December 21st, 2009 - I have also contacted TuneTribe and we7 who both said they also contribute their mp3 sales to the Official Charts Company.
we7 also included an interesting comment about a new official chart next year:
Streams on we7 are sent to the Official Charts Company (OCC) every night and will be used for a new official UK ad-funded chart they will launch in 2010.
Note this is talking about streams, not downloads. The BBC reported on this story earlier this year. The article contains an interesting fact: 98% of all single sales are now digital downloads!
Update January 8th, 2010 - I have also contacted Sky Songs and the Orange Music Store who both said they also contribute their mp3 sales to the Official Charts Company.
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