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Eldritch · #16 Post by **Eldritch** » Tue 27 Apr 2004, 8:48 am

This really proves the state and the rapid decline of the singles chart. In the previous decades this kind of campaign wouldn't have even ensured the band a place in the Top Thirty. Nowadays it seems that only the Top Five represents genuine sales – all the other placings are there for the most desperate to grab.

dVTB · #17 Post by **dVTB** » Tue 27 Apr 2004, 9:09 am

dVTB · #18 Post by **dVTB** » Tue 27 Apr 2004, 9:14 am

Eldritch · #19 Post by **Eldritch** » Tue 27 Apr 2004, 9:35 am

dVTB wrote:
Eldritch wrote:You're right with your conclusion, but is there anything you can do about it? [/b]

A good question indeed. The best argument against basing the charts on airplay is to actually open a radio. And basing the charts on airplay would create a vicious circle, because most radio stations only play hit music and if what they play automatically becomes hit music, that way there's even less chances for any band or artist to emerge out of nowhere.

Singles have always sold very little here in Finland, so we've never really had a meaningful singles chart. There is however one chart called "50 hittiä" which is based on singles sales, album sales (the album that has the song in question), airplay and club/disco play. This actually shows rather accurately what is a hit in Finland, but it's not shown or published in many places. The biggest chart in Finland is the album chart.

However, the sad thing is that we are rapidly losing the UK charts as an institution. It's hard for anyone to take the charts seriously anymore if any band with a couple of thousand enthusiastic fans can get a Top Ten hit – a hit that ultimately means nothing, because it doesn't really guarantee them any extra exposure.

dVTB · #20 Post by **dVTB** » Tue 27 Apr 2004, 10:13 am

Eldritch · #21 Post by **Eldritch** » Tue 27 Apr 2004, 10:24 am

dVTB wrote:I understand your point. You can indeed doubt the value of that top ten hit, made by a bunch of loyal fans. But what about the latest Poop Idol winner? They're big for a few months, before they're totally forgotten and their singles are given away for free in music shops...

(dVTB)

One hit wonders have always existed – and always will. It's just that this Pop Idol nonsense has institutionalized this one hit wonder thing. The "pop Idol" is the brand: that is "the band" and the ever-changing winners are the hit singles , ready to be forgotten when the next one arrives.

But that's a cultural problem and not that of the chart. If 100 000 people buy a single, it's a proper hit, even though the singer might be driving a minicab in six months time. But a top ten hit single that is bought in several copies by about 5000 fans and that will stay unknown to the rest of public shows that the charts which have never correlated with quality are now not even correlating with popularity anymore.

andmaste · #22 Post by **andmaste** » Tue 27 Apr 2004, 2:14 pm

Eldritch wrote:If 100 000 people buy a single, it's a proper hit, even though the singer might be driving a minicab in six months time. But a top ten hit single that is bought in several copies by about 5000 fans and that will stay unknown to the rest of public shows that the charts which have never correlated with quality are now not even correlating with popularity anymore.

And this is the rule for PSB
And it's a pity