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UK Independent Singles and Albums Charts

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The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums , respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart , the relevance of the chart dwindled in the 1990s as major-label ownership blurred the boundary between independent and major labels.

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45-472: Separate independent charts are currently published weekly by the Official Charts Company . In the wake of punk , small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered commercially attractive to those companies. By 1978, labels like Cherry Red , Rough Trade , and Mute had started up, and

90-500: A business model focused on fairness, service and transparency. The launch of the new BMG came amidst the 2008 financial crisis, and within two weeks of the collapse of Lehman Brothers . Since Bertelsmann could not supply the required funds on its own, a 51% stake was sold to financial investor KKR in 2009. Bertelsmann retained 49% and the right to appoint the company's management. The transaction allowed BMG to increase its equity ratio. Initially, Bertelsmann had announced that

135-739: A link to the full Hot 100/albums 200 via billboard.com). The Scottish chart is a listing reflecting how sales towards the UK Albums Chart are faring in Scotland . Until December 2020, the OCC published a Scottish singles chart on its website as well, though this chart may only be available via the UKChartsPlus newsletter. This subscription newsletter also includes the Official UK Top 100 Welsh Singles and Albums Charts, which serves

180-492: A record company that was not one of the main four record companies. This prevented major record companies from qualifying for the chart by outsourcing the shipping of their singles to smaller distribution services. These new changes were first unveiled at the 2008 annual general meeting of the British Phonographic Industry on 9 July, and the new chart went live on 29 June 2009. The first song to top

225-506: A record had to be distributed independently of the corporate framework of the major record companies; the genre of music was irrelevant. Large independent distributors emerged such as Pinnacle and Spartan, and there later emerged The Cartel, an association of regional distributors including Rough Trade, Backs, and Red Rhino . The first weekly independent chart was published on 19 January 1980, with " Where's Captain Kirk " by Spizzenergi topping

270-539: A row. In July 2015, Official Charts changed its chart methodology from traditional Sunday slot to the new Friday slot, effective on 10 July 2015 to coincide with the 'New Music Friday - Global Release Day' campaign set by IFPI which effective on 10 July 2015 as well. Beginning in 2017, the Official Charts Company changed its methodology for calculating the Top 40, intending to more accurately reflect

315-539: A support structure soon followed, including independent pressing, distribution and promotion. These labels got bigger and bigger, and by 1980 they were having Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart . Chart success was limited, however, since the official Top 40 was based on sales at large chains and ignored significant sales at the scores of independent record shops that existed. Iain McNay, of Cherry Red, suggested to

360-589: A year. BMG Rights Management BMG Rights Management GmbH (also known simply as BMG ) is an international music company based in Berlin , Germany. It combines the activities of a music publisher and a record label . BMG was founded in October 2008 after Bertelsmann sold its stake in Sony BMG to Sony . From 2009 to 2013, the investment firm KKR held 51% of the company, which became one of

405-528: Is a British inter-professional organisation that compiles various official record charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. In the United Kingdom, its charts include ones for singles , albums and films, with the data compiled from a mixture of downloads , purchases (of physical media) and streaming. The OCC produces its charts by gathering and combining sales data from retailers through market researchers Kantar , and claims to cover 99% of

450-684: Is present in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, the Benelux countries, the United States, Canada, and Scandinavia. BMG's senior management includes Thomas Coesfeld ( Chief Executive Officer ), Mathis Wolter ( Chief Financial Officer ), Ama Walton ( General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer ) and Ben Katovsky ( Chief Operating Officer ). Masuch has been a member of Bertelsmann's Group Management Committee since 2013. In

495-584: The Irish Singles Chart , Irish Albums Chart and other Irish charts on behalf of IRMA. In December 2020, the OCC announced it was taking over the contract from German company GfK , in compiling the French music charts for Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP)/National Union of Phonographic Producers (SCPP) with the OCC taking over on 1 January 2021. All of the OCC's charts are published weekly on Friday nights, and cover sales for

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540-488: The Nashville music industry and its overall impact on the United States market. In 2022, BMG announced its first new British record label within the group since 2009, Tag8 Music. This label was set up in association with ex-Bros member Craig Logan and his management company Logan Media Entertainment, with Tag8 Music featuring established acts such as Pixie Lott, Roachford, and Louise Redknapp as part of its roster. On

585-603: The Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50 , which tracks the progress of records (singles and albums) released on independent record labels or distributed by independent companies (not WMG/Sony/UMG) regardless of the genre/music released. The Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 appears in listings on the Official Charts Company's site alongside its charts for the Republic of Ireland and Billboard' s Top 20 singles and albums (with

630-445: The 2018 financial year, BMG posted revenues of €545 million. Rights and licenses accounted for 91.1% and products and merchandise 8.9%. Almost half of its revenues (44.1%) were generated in the United States. Other important markets were the United Kingdom (24.7%), Germany (6.3%) and France (3.9%). BMG offers musicians the services generally provided by music publishers and record labels. Unlike its major competitors, it runs them under

675-513: The MRIB chart and adopted the Music Week chart instead. Other weekly music papers also published their own charts, often compiled from single record shops. By 1990, the significance of the chart had been diluted by major record companies forming their own 'indie' labels, with independent distribution, in order to break new acts via exposure from the indie chart. To be included in the indie chart,

720-523: The OCC tracks purchases (DVDs/blu-rays) and downloads of television programmes, films and sports/fitness videos from a range of retailers and online sites. As the OCC is jointly operated by the BPI and the ERA, a Chart Supervisory Committee is in place with panel of representatives from both the record industry and from retailers. Five representatives from each sector are selected, with record companies represented by

765-488: The Official Albums Chart Top 100 of 4 November 2022, the label charted its first hit album in the form of Blue's Heart & Soul . In October 2023, BMG signed with Universal Music Group for physical distribution, and started self-distributing its own catalog on digital platforms, thus ending their partnership with Warner Music. The transition of physical distribution to Universal took place over

810-498: The Official Charts Company and introduced a new company logo. It later dropped the word 'Company' and became just "Official Charts". From May 2012, a new chart was launched – the Official Streaming Chart . This counts audio streams from streaming services Spotify , Deezer , Blinkbox Music , Napster , amongst others. The chart is the first of its kind to rank streams from ad-funded and subscription services and

855-550: The Official Streaming Chart Top 100 is now published weekly on the Official Charts website, and in music industry trade magazine Music Week . In April 2015, the UK's first vinyl record chart of the modern era was launched by the Official Charts Company due to 'the huge surge of interest' in the sector. The chart was launched following the growth of the sector in the UK for the seventh year in

900-551: The catalog of The End Records . By acquiring Basement, BMG entered the market in Brazil, one of Bertelsmann's growth regions. In 2016, the company also signed an agreement with Warner Music's Alternative Distribution Alliance for the physical and digital distribution of music, allowing BMG to consolidate its longstanding sales structures. BMG further expanded by entering the Chinese market in cooperation with Alibaba , allowing

945-414: The chart for years. This meant that Bush's song, which had been a Top 3 hit 37 years before, would have to obtain twice the streamings of Harry Styles ' song " As It Was " to earn the same 'sales', despite easily being the most streamed and most downloaded song. The OCC granted a 'manual reset' in order to reflect the success of the revival of Bush's hit. As well as genre -specific and music video charts,

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990-551: The chart under the new system was " Bonkers " by Dizzee Rascal , which also made it to No. 1 in the main UK Singles Chart . During the 2000s and 2010s, even though many indie rock / post-punk revival bands like Arctic Monkeys topped the OCC's chart (with Arctic Monkeys' single " Do I Wanna Know? " reaching No. 2 in the chart in June 2013 while also making it to No. 11 in the main chart), many more dance, rap and heritage acts (in this case due to new large independent BMG ) ended up in

1035-652: The chart with number ones coming from people like Dvbbs and Borgeous (who reached number one with " Tsunami " featuring Tinie Tempah) or Major Lazer. Official Charts Company The Official Charts Company ( OCC or Official Charts ; previously known as the Chart Information Network , CIN , and the Official UK Charts Company ; legally known as the Official UK Charts Company Limited )

1080-638: The chart. In mid-2019, the company also compiled the Asian Music Chart Top 40, alongside BritAsia TV. The chart highlights UK's biggest Asian songs of the week, based on sales and streams across a seven-day period. In 2022, the success of Kate Bush 's " Running Up That Hill " after its use in the fourth season of the Netflix series Stranger Things brought a challenge against the rules introduced in 2017. The rules were intended to prevent streaming of older songs potentially keeping them on

1125-483: The company began to represent rights to songs by Robbie Williams and the Rolling Stones . Record labels were also added to the portfolio including Union Square Music (distributor of Universal Music 's ZTT Records and Stiff Records ), Vagrant Music and Infectious Music (2014), as well as S-Curve Records and Rise Records (2015). Other acquisitions followed in 2016, including the label ARC Music and

1170-509: The conclusion that established music publishing companies and record labels were not appropriate for an increasingly digital music business, Bertelsmann sold its stake in the Sony BMG joint venture in 2008. The company was subsequently renamed Sony Music Entertainment . In October 2008, Bertelsmann launched the new BMG with a small portfolio of recorded music rights of around 200 artists it retained from Sony BMG. It declared it would pursue

1215-467: The course of 2024 and is set to officially change over in October of 2024. BMG's parent enterprise is BMG Rights Management GmbH, a limited liability company according to German law. The company's objective is "the marketing of music, as well as its development and delivery" for use in media, at concerts and for other purposes. BMG has numerous subsidiaries and shareholdings , for example, BMG Rights Management (Europe) GmbH. In addition to Germany, BMG

1260-434: The major label corporations WMG , Sony Music and UMG alongside a couple of large independents, BMG Rights Management and PIAS Group . The Chart Supervisory Committee is the body which discusses and decides on any chart rule changes, whether it be changes to physical/digital formats or with the chart ratios ACR and SCR (Accelerated Chart Ratio and Standard Chart Ratio), with representatives meeting approximately four times

1305-489: The new BMG would focus on the European broadcast market. After KKR became the majority shareholder, the company set its sights on expanding internationally. A key step towards achieving this goal was acquiring Cherry Lane Music Publishing in 2009, which provided BMG with its first foothold in the United States. BMG made several other purchases in 2010, including Evergreen Copyright Acquisitions . In 2011, Bug Music

1350-499: The online company to distribute the work of musicians and composers via its web channels while securing copyrights. In the 2015 financial year, BMG was part of the Corporate Investments division at Bertelsmann. In 2016, the media group turned the subsidiary into a stand-alone division. Today, BMG is considered a prime example of how growth platforms are created and leveraged at Bertelsmann. In 2017, BMG announced

1395-424: The preceding week, Friday to Thursday. From 3 August 1969 until 5 July 2015, the chart week ran from Sunday to Saturday. In the United Kingdom, genre-specific charts include Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 , Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 , Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 , Official Progressive Albums Chart Top 30 and the Asian Music Chart Top 40. It also produces charts such as

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1440-494: The production of the "official" charts, various less comprehensive charts were produced, most notably by newspaper/magazine New Musical Express ( NME ) which began its chart in 1952. Some of these older charts (including NME ' s earliest singles charts) are now part of the official OCC canon. In 2017, the OCC made a five-year deal with the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) to compile

1485-521: The publishing catalogues of EMI Virgin Music and Famous Music UK from Sony/ATV. In 2013, KKR sold its stake in BMG to Bertelsmann, making it the sole shareholder of the company. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Thomas Rabe , who had been a key driver of BMG's expansion during his time as Chief Financial Officer, Bertelsmann again cited music as one of its strategic growth areas. In 2013,

1530-415: The purchase of BBR Music Group , including the labels Broken Bow Records, Red Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records, Wheelhouse Records and the music publisher Magic Mustang Music. With a value of more than 100 million dollars , the transaction was the largest recorded music acquisition in the company's history. BMG thus improved its position in the country music segment and ensured its long-term presence in

1575-418: The rise in music streaming. Prior to January 2017, 100 streams counted as one 'sale' of a song. From January onward, the ratio became 150:1. Additionally, in June 2017, it was decided that after a record has spent at least 10 weeks on the chart, any track which has declined for three consecutive weeks will see its streams:sales ratio change from 150:1 to 300:1, in an attempt to accelerate their disappearance from

1620-516: The same purpose in Wales as the ones in Scotland, and the full UK Top 200 Albums chart. The Official UK Top 200 Albums is just one of a number of 'industry only' charts not published for the general public, with others including UK Budget Album Chart (with any album including a low dealer price is excluded from the main album chart). Until the OCC changed its chart rules, and brought in criteria like

1665-537: The singles chart, and Dirk Wears White Sox by Adam and the Ants topping the album chart. Although the independent chart has less relevance today, The Official UK Charts Company still compiles a chart, consisting of those singles from the main chart on independent labels. The OCC's Independent Chart was significantly altered in June 2009. Its new system altered the qualification criteria to include only singles from labels that were at least fifty per cent owned by

1710-574: The singles market and 95% of the album market, and aims to collect data from any retailer who sells more than 100 chart items per week. The OCC is operated jointly by the British Phonographic Industry and the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) (formerly the British Association of Record Dealers (BARD)) and is incorporated as a private company limited by shares jointly owned by BPI and ERA. It

1755-573: The three-track rule (a maximum of three singles within the Top 100 by the same artist will be chart eligible), a Top 200 Singles chart was also published for people within the music industry. The OCC also charts sales of DVDs and Blu-rays within the United Kingdom. While its music charts are now Friday to Thursday, its video charts remain Sunday to Saturday. On 5 September 2008, the Official UK Charts Company rebranded itself as

1800-476: The weekly trade paper Record Business the idea of an independent record chart to address the problem, and the first independent chart appeared in 1980, published in Record Business , and later licensed to Sounds . The definition of whether or not a single was 'indie' had depended on the distribution channel by which it was shipped —the record needed to be delivered by a distribution service that

1845-531: The world's largest music companies. Its various subsidiaries were brought together in 1987 to form Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG), which did business in a number of genres, including folk , pop , and in particular classical music . In response to declining sales in the overall music market, Bertelsmann agreed to merge its record label interests with Sony in 2003; the company was called Sony BMG. Furthermore, in 2006, Bertelsmann sold its subsidiary BMG Music Publishing to Universal Music Group . Having reached

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1890-477: The world's largest music publishers during that time. BMG is 100% owned by Bertelsmann and one of the group's eight business divisions. In the 1950s, Bertelsmann entered the music business when it added music to its book club. Ariola , a record label, was launched and Sonopress , a pressing plant, was established. In 1975, Ariola opened an office in the United States. Bertelsmann acquired Arista Records in 1979 and RCA Records in 1985, thereby becoming one of

1935-489: Was bought by BMG, followed by music publisher R2M Music in 2012. Bertelsmann was also reported to be interested in buying EMI , but EMI was ultimately acquired by Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group (record labels) and Sony/ATV Music Publishing (songwriters). The regulatory authorities approved the deal subject to some conditions, including the sale of several labels. BMG was thus able to acquire Mute Records (2012) and Sanctuary Records (2013), as well as

1980-631: Was formed in 1990 as the Chart Information Network by the BBC , BARD, and the publishers of Music Week . CIN took over as compilers of the official UK charts in 1990, and the company has continued in that role, as the OCC, since 1994. Before then, the charts were produced by a succession of market research companies, beginning with the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) in 1969 and Gallup in 1983. Before

2025-443: Was independent of the four major record companies: EMI , Sony Music Entertainment , Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group . In 1981, compilation of the chart switched to research company MRIB . The chart served to give exposure to the independent labels and the artists on those labels. In 1985 the trade publication Music Week started compiling its own indie chart, and both Sounds and Melody Maker later switched from

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