EMAP have released information about the new chart show it will broadcast on its commercial radio stations in place of the Pepsi Chart. And the big news is that it will be fronted by Mark Goodier – who left Radio 1’s chart show last month as part of the BBC’s attempts to give the Top 40 show a more youthful edge.
EMAP first announced its attention to drop the Pepsi Chart Show last October when the other major radio groups renewed their contract with independent production company Unique who make the show. The Pepsi Chart, formerly known as the Network Chart, has traditionally been broadcast by all commercial stations in competition with Radio 1’s flagship chart show. Although it is actually compiled by the same company as the main BBC chart, it takes in radio airplay data as well as record sales meaning it tends to be slightly ahead of the BBC’s exclusively retail based Top 40.
Capital, Chrysalis, GWR and Scottish Radio Holdings all renewed their contracts with the Pepsi chart, but EMAP decided to move their own Smash Hits Chart, currently aired by most EMAP stations on a Saturday, into the prestigious Sunday tea time slot. Compiled by research company MRIB the Smash Hits Chart will include viewer/listener voting alongside retail and airplay data – principally based on which videos are most requested on the company’s Smash Hits and The Box jukebox TV channels, but also on listener votes made via the Smash Hits website or via mobile phones. The revamped Smash Hits chart show will be broadcast on all of EMAP’s local stations, plus on its national digital Smash Hits station. It will be fronted by Mark Goodier, Radio 1’s chart host for years, who will present the pop chart show as well as a classical countdown show for Classic FM.
The show will be launched at the start of January, a month ahead of Radio 1’s relaunched chart show which, as reported yesterday, will be fronted by the relatively unknown former Galaxy DJ Wes Butters.