The Official Charts Company has unveiled a revamp of the singles chart aimed at speeding up the Top 40 and boosting opportunities for labels to break new artists. The changes were first revealed exclusively in this week's Music Week magazine.
Following controversy over all 16 tracks from Ed Sheeran’s ÷ album charting in the Top 20, and multiple entries by the likes of Drake and Stormzy, there will now be a cap on the number of tracks by an artist that can feature in the Top 100.
The new rules mean that only the three most popular tracks by a lead artist will now be eligible, although songs on which a star is a featured artist will not count towards that total. The changes will kick in on Friday (June 30), with the first chart under the new rules published on July 7.
In addition, after a record has spent at least 10 weeks on the chart, any track which has declined for three consecutive weeks will see its streams:sales ratio change from 150:1 to 300:1, in an attempt to accelerate their disappearance from the chart.
Major and independent record labels, retailers, digital music services and BBC Radio 1, which broadcasts the new chart every Friday, have all approved the measures.
“This is all about supporting new music,” Official Charts Company chief executive Martin Talbot told Music Week.
For the full interview with Talbot, giving exclusive insight into the reasons behind the changes and what they'll mean for the chart, pick up the new edition of the magazine or click here. To subscribe to Music Week and never miss another big music biz story, click here.
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