Greetings Pop Pickers !
Welcome to my new thread.
Back in 1958 the BBC chose to compile it's own chart by averaging out the charts from the published music papers of the day.
I believe the principle of doing so was sound as an averaged chart compiled from these music papers ironed out any discrepancies and extremes from any individual chart thus giving a more meaningful chart.
However beyond this principle unfortunately the methodology used was weak and was inconsistent. The BBC used a strange method of awarding points to chart positions, 1 point for a No 1, 2 points for a No 2 and so on down the chart to 20 points for a No 20 then later 30 points for a No 30. However this led to many tied positions within their chart. Also the BBC awarded 21 points then later 31 points to all records for all records falling outside a chart which was unfair as obviously all records outside the chart could not hold this position equally therefore giving inaccurate data. Also this method assumed all charts were equal, but they were not as each paper used a different number of store returns to compile their chart so obviously all charts were not equal in the amount of data they used for chart compilation. An example of this shows how in the mid sixties MM was using around 250 store returns but RR by comparison was using around 85. NME was around 200 and Disc around 100.
Furthermore, once compiled the chart was not thoroughly checked for accuracy as it came to light that some calculations were erroneous leading to some inaccurate charts which were never corrected.
All of this was a pity, because this was the chart that was broadcast on Pick Of The Pops and Top Of The Pops until February 1969 and was therefore accepted by millions as the chart of choice that they grew up with.
So, I have gone back to basics to correct these weaknesses and produce a much more reliable 'averaged chart' to compile a chart not only based on Inverse Points but also factoring in the the number of Store Returns that the Music Papers used for chart compilation to produce a much more reflective, accurate, balanced, and consistent chart. I will post these here as I compile them and as an added bonus will add the positions of each of the music papers used and also the BBC chart to give a full picture in one graph displaying history for all to see.
So, finally to the methodology.
All records in every Top 30 will qualify for a chart position.
Each record for starters will be allocated points based on the 'Inverse Points' basis, 30 for a No 1 down to 1 point for a No 30.
Then points based on proportion of Record Store Returns used by each Music Paper will be factored in. Alan Smith (ASM) did considerable research into this number of store returns so I have chosen to use his reliable research as the basis for my calculations.
EP's in the earlier years were placed in all the charts except those compiled by RR. To overcome this I took an average of the MM, NME and Disc positions if the EP charted on all three and awarded this to RR to ensure consistency.
For split sides in NME where both sides are placed close in the chart I have discounted the NME chart position and I again have taken an average of the other charts and awarded this to NME. Where the split side is a considerable distance apart in NME, eg, one side in the top ten and the other at the bottom end of the top twenty or further, I have used the higher chart position.
For the No 1 position where one record has most points but another tops most charts see post #1364 for a detailed explanation as to how #1 is determined.
On the rare occasion should a tie occur at any position this will be broken by the store used with the highest number of store returns.
Finally, to assist with reliability with my figures and calculations I am very grateful to RokinRobin for his invaluable assistance in structuring a spreadsheet to compute all the calculations necessary to produce this chart.
I am going to start in January 1964 for that was when I bought my first records after watching Top Of The Pops, till 1969, then do 1960 to 1963, then the fifties.
So on with the show ! Enjoy, and feel free to let me know what you think of the first chart about to be posted. Brian.
Welcome to my new thread.
Back in 1958 the BBC chose to compile it's own chart by averaging out the charts from the published music papers of the day.
I believe the principle of doing so was sound as an averaged chart compiled from these music papers ironed out any discrepancies and extremes from any individual chart thus giving a more meaningful chart.
However beyond this principle unfortunately the methodology used was weak and was inconsistent. The BBC used a strange method of awarding points to chart positions, 1 point for a No 1, 2 points for a No 2 and so on down the chart to 20 points for a No 20 then later 30 points for a No 30. However this led to many tied positions within their chart. Also the BBC awarded 21 points then later 31 points to all records for all records falling outside a chart which was unfair as obviously all records outside the chart could not hold this position equally therefore giving inaccurate data. Also this method assumed all charts were equal, but they were not as each paper used a different number of store returns to compile their chart so obviously all charts were not equal in the amount of data they used for chart compilation. An example of this shows how in the mid sixties MM was using around 250 store returns but RR by comparison was using around 85. NME was around 200 and Disc around 100.
Furthermore, once compiled the chart was not thoroughly checked for accuracy as it came to light that some calculations were erroneous leading to some inaccurate charts which were never corrected.
All of this was a pity, because this was the chart that was broadcast on Pick Of The Pops and Top Of The Pops until February 1969 and was therefore accepted by millions as the chart of choice that they grew up with.
So, I have gone back to basics to correct these weaknesses and produce a much more reliable 'averaged chart' to compile a chart not only based on Inverse Points but also factoring in the the number of Store Returns that the Music Papers used for chart compilation to produce a much more reflective, accurate, balanced, and consistent chart. I will post these here as I compile them and as an added bonus will add the positions of each of the music papers used and also the BBC chart to give a full picture in one graph displaying history for all to see.
So, finally to the methodology.
All records in every Top 30 will qualify for a chart position.
Each record for starters will be allocated points based on the 'Inverse Points' basis, 30 for a No 1 down to 1 point for a No 30.
Then points based on proportion of Record Store Returns used by each Music Paper will be factored in. Alan Smith (ASM) did considerable research into this number of store returns so I have chosen to use his reliable research as the basis for my calculations.
EP's in the earlier years were placed in all the charts except those compiled by RR. To overcome this I took an average of the MM, NME and Disc positions if the EP charted on all three and awarded this to RR to ensure consistency.
For split sides in NME where both sides are placed close in the chart I have discounted the NME chart position and I again have taken an average of the other charts and awarded this to NME. Where the split side is a considerable distance apart in NME, eg, one side in the top ten and the other at the bottom end of the top twenty or further, I have used the higher chart position.
For the No 1 position where one record has most points but another tops most charts see post #1364 for a detailed explanation as to how #1 is determined.
On the rare occasion should a tie occur at any position this will be broken by the store used with the highest number of store returns.
Finally, to assist with reliability with my figures and calculations I am very grateful to RokinRobin for his invaluable assistance in structuring a spreadsheet to compute all the calculations necessary to produce this chart.
I am going to start in January 1964 for that was when I bought my first records after watching Top Of The Pops, till 1969, then do 1960 to 1963, then the fifties.
So on with the show ! Enjoy, and feel free to let me know what you think of the first chart about to be posted. Brian.
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