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Big Top 40 to include streaming and social data
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 21 May 2014
What is basically the successor to the old Network Chart Show – the weekly singles chart carried by commercial radio stations that always differed from the ‘main chart’ by including radio airplay data in addition to sales figures – has announced it will start taking into account streaming data too, plus YouTube and social media stats as well.
The commercial radio sector’s main chart relaunched as the Big Top 40 five years ago, taking ‘live’ iTunes data into account to spice things up a bit. Made by Global Radio and sponsored by Vodafone, this summer the Big Top 40 will become even more complex, mixing in stats from audio streaming platforms and YouTube, plus some social media gubbins, in order to, says Global, “more accurately reflect the way people listen to and engage with music today, making the chart bigger and better than ever”.
The move comes as an increasing number of singles charts around the world start to incorporate streaming as well as download data into the mix, though the main singles countdown from the UK’s Official Charts Company is yet to follow suit. Many reckon it will do at some point later this year, though work still seemingly needs to be done on how exactly download and streaming stats should compare in the chart compilation process.
In some ways bringing new stats into the mix is easier when your chart has always including numbers beyond straight record sales – and in that respect the Big Top 40 is more similar to the big Billboard Hot 100 countdown in the US, which start incorporating streaming data in 2012.
Confirming the upcoming changes to the Big Top 40, Global boss Ashley Tabor told CMU: “More and more people consume music and interact with music on many platforms including downloads, streaming services, YouTube, social media and radio. The new chart will reflect how people listen to music and interact with music in 2014 and beyond. With the new Vodafone Big Top 40, however our listeners are getting their music fix, we’re there and we’re counting their music choices and we will continue to add new relevant data sources as consumption and interaction habits continue to evolve”.
