So, the music charts are the top story today because, of course, last night saw the release of the very first ever chart to include all the week's download sales, oblivious of whether tracks had a corresponding physical CD release available via traditional record shops.
And while the revamp didn't alter what appeared at the top of the chart, it did mean that old hits from Snow Patrol, Gnarls Barkley, The Automatic, Cast Of High School Musical, Nelly Furtado and The Kooks all reappeared in the Top 40 this week. Respectively, 'Chasing Cars', originally released last July, reenters at 9; 'Crazy', originally released last April, reenters at 30; 'Monster', originally released last June, reenters at 33; 'Breaking Free', originally released last September, reenters at 37; 'Maneater', originally released last June, reenters at 38; and 'She Moves In Her Own Way', also originally released last June, reenters at 39. Which makes you wonder what everyone was doing last June - and why everyone is only getting round to downloading that month's music now.
The revamp also means the Eminem/50Cent/Lloyds Bank track 'You Don't Know' charts for the first time, even though it was released at the start of last December. Physical CD sales for that release were not counted in the main singles chart because the CD single came with a free sticker, and such freebies stop a physical release from being chart eligible. The download, however, does not come with a sticker (not even a virtual one) meaning digital sales can now be counted, hence the track's late entry in the singles chart at 32.
As previously reported, up until now download sales were only counted if a track also had a current physical CD single release - with download stats being included from the week before the physical release until the single release was formally deleted. By counting all download sales there is now the potential for b-sides, album tracks or old tracks, or songs from artists released only digitally, to all chart, especially on relatively quiet single release weeks like last week.
Commenting on the new rules as they launched, our good friend and chart commentator in chief, that Gennaro Castaldo from HMV, told reporters: "Under the new rules, anything and everything is eligible. The charts will now offer a much broader representation of the nation's music tastes".
The new rules could also lead to some interesting quirks. With EMI and Apple Corps reportedly getting ready to officially release the Beatles catalogue in digital format for the first time, some now expect their to be one or more weeks this year when the music chart is dominated by the fab four with multiple chart entries (like in the good old days I guess). On the possibility of Beatles domination in the weeks after any such digital release of their catalogue, Castaldo added that "a top 10 made up entirely of their music would be almost guaranteed".
Anyway, now you've brought up the chart, I suppose we should do our chart update - though with no need to remention those download aided re-entries I assume. As I say, no change at the top of the singles chart, despite the revamp, with X-Factor winner Leona Lewis still warbling 'A Moment Like This' at number one. More exciting than all of that though is that Eric Prydz' really rather fine remix of the Floyd - 'Proper Education' - the first ever approved Pink Floyd remix if I'm not mistaken, is the highest new entry at two. Awesome. Other new entries as follows: U2's 'Window In The Skies' at 4, Jojo's 'Too Little Too Late' at 22 and Amy Winehouse's 'You Know I'm No Good' at 40.
Less to report on the albums chart, where Take That are still at number one, with Amy Winehouse sliding back up the chart to number 2. There's no new entries, although there are some re-entries here too - mainly The Killers' 'Hot Fuss' and ELO's Best Of at 38 and 39 respectively.