The Official Charts Company has released guidelines regarding the eligibility of USB releases for the UK albums chart. As previously reported, music released on the USB stick format is now eligible for both the singles and albums chart. There are various rules regarding eligibility, which I never understand, but I'm assuming if you're in the business of releasing USB sticks you already do. Hybrid vinyl/CD releases will also now be recognised by the chart people - whatever they are.
OCC MD Martin Talbot says this: "With a number of labels gearing up for the introduction of new formats, and a clear demand at retail for innovation on physical formats, we look forward to seeing the impact of these new initiatives".
OCC Chart Director Omar Maskatiya adds: "This is a continuation of our aim to keep the chart rules relevant to the market and proactively encompass new initiatives from within the industry. OCC's ongoing challenge in a rapidly changing market is to ensure its guidelines for chart eligibility embrace developments across physical and digital formats".