Are the charts about to become relevant again?
When was the last time you looked at the music charts, UK, Irish or otherwise?
Well as of today, the Irish charts are making an attempt to be more relevant by including more sources to gauge a more accurate chart than one based on just sales.
New chart info
- The new Irish chart, like the UK, it now includes streaming data from Spotify, Deezer, Xbox and Qobuz (what? who?).
- 100 streams count as a single purchase according to the new rules.
- Each track must be played for 30 seconds before counting as one stream.
- Ella Henderson’s ‘Ghost’ became the first number one of the new chart.
- GfK Chart-Track who put the chart together (see below how), say that streaming has TREBLED between July 2013 and July 2014 in Ireland.
- According to GfK Chart-Track, the Top 50 most streamed tracks in Ireland have been generating an average of approx. 1.4 million streams per week across all platforms.
What next?
- Google, Sony Unlimited and Rdio may join the chart metrics soon.
- No sign or mention of Youtube and Shazam as possible metrics right now.
- There are no plans to do the same for album charts.
How the chart works – a brief history
Pre 1992 the Irish Charts were based on ship-out figures. IRMA’s contract with GfK Chart-Track in 1992 was the first time the Official Charts would be based on consumer sales. Originally the music charts were based on physical products, downloads were added in July 2006 and now streams have been included. (Streams included at a ratio of 100:1 streams to sales). Charts are based on a panel of retailers comprised of physical stores (e.g. HMV, Golden Discs), download stores (e.g. iTunes, 7digital.ie), mobile phone operators (e.g. Nokia) and now streaming sites (e.g. Spotify). Data is collected electronically every night. Charts are compiled on a weekly basis from Friday-Thursday.
