With just one week to go until download sales are due to be incorporated into the main singles sales chart, the Association of Independent Music has called on the Official Charts Company, who compile the chart, to postpone their revamp plans. Key players in the independent sector are concerned that, because iTunes has an 80% share of the UK download market, those labels yet to get a distribution deal with the Apple download platform will be unfairly disadvantaged in their attempts to score chart successes. As previously reported, some (and may be most) independent labels in Europe have struggled to get a distribution deal with
Apple sorted, even though in theory Apple has agreed a template contract that is available to all AIM member labels.
However the BPI says they are confident the combined physical and download sales chart can launch next weekend without any major imbalance being caused. The BPI themselves persuaded the Official Charts
Company to push back the original launch date of the revamped chart from 20 Mar because of the same concerns, however they say they are now happy that the independent labels will be properly represented in the combined chart, pointing out that had last week's chart incorporated download sales the independent sector would have done better overall.
In a statement, the BPI told reporters: "No one is pretending that indie representation on the download platforms is as good as it could and should be, and there is a long way to go. That said, it's simply not true to suggest that indie representation on the charts is an issue ahead of the chart merger. In fact, looking at this week's midweek download chart, the indies have in fact outperformed the majors."
But some key independent labels say they remain concerned over the influence iTunes will have over the singles chart given that they have not been able to get their artists added to the Apple download platform's catalogue. Lohan Presencer of the **Ministry
Of Sound** label told reporters: "The problem is that the download data will come largely from one supplier which controls in excess of three-quarters of the market. Ultimately they dictate what happens."
Presencer confirmed that his label had had problems getting a distribution deal done with iTunes, hindered by the fact most of Apple's music operations are based in the US where European contracts don't seem to be all that high a prority. Ministry has now signed a contract with the computer firm, but their tracks are still not available via the download platform. Presencer explains:
"We haven't been told where to deliver the tracks, what format they want them in or what label codes they want assigned.
It's like banging your head against a brick wall."
Speaking for AIM, Sam Shentob told reporters: "We have asked for the chart to be delayed. We are very pro the new chart, but there are one or two operational issues that could result in independents being quite significantly disadvantaged."
It remains to be seen whether the independents are successful in their attempts to further delay the launch of the new chart.
Insiders at the Official Chart Company suggest the revamped
Top 40 is more than likely to launch next weekend as planned despite the continuing concerns in the independent sector.