UK OCC Charts: Midweeks Thread 2022

[Blondini]

^ just look at the streaming chart (which annoyingly still isn't on the index but i post the link along with video streaming every week in the OCC Charts thread). That's basically the "real" chart. You just get more album tracks - there's no great revelations.
https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/streaming-chart/

[braindeadpj]

I don't think the streaming chart reflects the free:premium sales ratio so it isn't an exact replication.

[kingofskiffle]

^ just look at the streaming chart (which annoyingly still isn't on the index but i post the link along with video streaming every week in the OCC Charts thread). That's basically the "real" chart. You just get more album tracks - there's no great revelations.
https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/streaming-chart/

Not on the Index? PM me a link to the place you want it and I'll add in.

[Gambo]

^ I thought Tony meant on the OCC's index of charts on its site - it still only offers the separate audio streaming chart, but the video and overall streaming charts aren't given and so he kindly posts these for possible interest on his weekly chart threads. So I don't think you can help with this one Lonnie!! Would be great if you had control of the OCC site though.... Oh how different it would be!!

[kingofskiffle]

So I don't think you can help with this one Lonnie!! Would be great if you had control of the OCC site though.... Oh how different it would be!!

You have a point there!

[97mde]

More proof (if it were needed) that streams are destroying the whole fabric of the charts. Whoever is in charge of OCC needs locking up.

[Blondini]

Once again we go through the same arguments and i have to trot out the same defence.

If they had a sales only chart the figures counted would be so small that nobody would look at the charts or listen to the chart shows.
They have to include streaming because it is the main form of consumption by today's music lovers. The Big Top 40 on commercial radio has a sales/airplay chart but i suspect they keep listeners through annoying phone-ins and competitions. iTunes sales (which they use) are in the hundreds at best. The iTunes thread that i post in on here barely gets any comments (though it does on Haven).

The Christmas charts would still be full of these old songs if it was downloads only, anyway. Not to the same extent but you'd still see them. Digital media "killed the charts" as we used to see them. You can't go back to before downloads.

[Blondini]

Official First Look Chart: Update
Source: OCC / Radio 1

1 Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
2 Wham! - Last Christmas
3 Ed Sheeran & Elton John - Merry Christmas
4 Raye feat. 070 Shake - Escapism
5 Stormzy - Firebabe
6 Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
7 Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero
8 Michael Buble - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
9 Lizzo - Someday At Christmas
10 Megan Trainor - Made You Look

11 The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York
12 Venbee & Goddard - Messy In Heaven
13 Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
14 Kelly Clarkson - Underneath The Tree
15 Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me
16 Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
17 Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock
18 Oliver Tree & Robin Schultz - Miss You
19 Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas
20 Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of Year

Following the release of her long-awaited sophomore album SOS, two tracks from SZA could enter the Top 40; Kill Bill (24) and Nobody Gets Me (25).

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart...mber-1__38064/

[MyFriendJack]

Once again we go through the same arguments and i have to trot out the same defence.

If they had a sales only chart the figures counted would be so small that nobody would look at the charts or listen to the chart shows.
They have to include streaming because it is the main form of consumption by today's music lovers. The Big Top 40 on commercial radio has a sales/airplay chart but i suspect they keep listeners through annoying phone-ins and competitions. iTunes sales (which they use) are in the hundreds at best. The iTunes thread that i post in on here barely gets any comments (though it does on Haven).

The Christmas charts would still be full of these old songs if it was downloads only, anyway. Not to the same extent but you'd still see them. Digital media "killed the charts" as we used to see them. You can't go back to before downloads.

Hear! Hear! The OCC can only produce a chart of the most popular music using the data available. Streaming hasn't killed the charts at all, the charts have had to change to keep up with technology.

[SholasBoy]

Hear! Hear! The OCC can only produce a chart of the most popular music using the data available. Streaming hasn't killed the charts at all, the charts have had to change to keep up with technology.

I don't have a problem with streaming being the main source of the charts, but it's all the other random rules that manipulates the chart to make an entirely fictional list that doesn't rank anything at all.

[Robbie]

A bit of (a nightmare) chart chit chat... LadBaby has confirmed that he's going to release another Christmas single. Teaming up with Martin Lewis (he of moneysavingexpert fame) he will be releasing a cover of 'Do They Know It's Christmas'

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart...mber-1__38067/

[Wayne]

A bit of (a nightmare) chart chit chat... LadBaby has confirmed that he's going to release another Christmas single. Teaming up with Martin Lewis (he of moneysavingexpert fame) he will be releasing a cover of 'Do They Know It's Christmas'

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart...mber-1__38067/

Another unsurprising Christmas #1, here we come!

[Blondini]

A bit of (a nightmare) chart chit chat... LadBaby has confirmed that he's going to release another Christmas single. Teaming up with Martin Lewis (he of moneysavingexpert fame) he will be releasing a cover of 'Do They Know It's Christmas'

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart...mber-1__38067/

with a host of celebs Band Aid style as well (unless that's just the video). The single is called Food Aid at present.

It is absurd how they keep saying it's a "surprise" announcement (for the second year running) when we knew full well it was coming.

Donate food to Trussell directly and buy/stream F*ck The Tories instead.

[greek_boy]

any idea when we're getting actual numbers for album sales since Friday?

[Blondini]

any idea when we're getting actual numbers for album sales since Friday?

after 6 pm tonight

[Blondini]

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart...e-man-__38069/

12 December 2022
Sam Ryder takes flight towards debut Number 1 album with There’s Nothing But Space, Man!

The sky is the limit for our Eurovision hero, currently outselling his nearest competitor almost 2:1.
By George Griffiths
Sam Ryder’s debut album There’s Nothing But Space, Man! is heading towards Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, the Official Charts Company can confirm.

Pipped to the top spot on both the Eurovision stage and the Official Singles Chart, could a Number 1 finally be on the cards for Sam Ryder this week?

The Eurovision hero – who claimed the UK’s highest points score ever at the competition in Turin earlier this year before landing the highest-charting entry of any UK Eurovision contestant in 26 years – is out-selling his nearest competition, US alt-R&B siren SZA, almost 2:1 at the midweek stage.

There’s Nothing But Space, Man!, containing the Number 2 hit SPACE MAN, could become the first debut album by a solo artist to hit Number 1 in the UK since Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour in 2021. Discover Sam Ryder’s Official Charts history in full here.



At Number 2 midweek, SZA’s long-awaited sophomore album SOS could net the singer her first UK Top 10 album. Her influential debut LP Ctrl previously peaked just outside the UK Top 40 upon release in 2017 at Number 45.

With the festive season ramping up and snow falling across the UK, Michael Bublé’s festive staple Christmas rises one (4).

North Tyneside superstar Sam Fender could net two Top 10 LPs this week; his new live album Live From Finsbury Park, which could debut at Number 7, and his former chart-topper Seventeen Going Under, which is looking to rise a massive 34 places at Number 9.

Elsewhere, Scouse rock band Echo & The Bunnymen’s 25th anniversary re-release of their seventh album Evergreen zones in on a Top 20 return (17). Upon its original release in 1997, the record peaked at Number 8.

New York rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s fourth album Me Vs Myself could become his third Top 40 entry (21), while Idles’ Brutalism celebrates its fifth anniversary (26); the Bristol rock band’s influential debut could chart for the first time ever in the UK, following a special re-release on red vinyl which includes a second disc featuring their secret set at Glastonbury 2022.

North West London rapper Knucks eyes up a return to the Top 40 with Alpha Place (34) following the release of its deluxe edition, and finally, Welsh actor Luke Evans’ A Song For You could rebound twenty places back into the Top 40 (35).
See the full Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 here from 5.45pm.


Article Image: Simon Emmett

[97mde]

Thanks for the clarification. I have no object to them being included in the chart if it was based on downloads, but no matter how it’s glossed up by OCC a stream is not and never will be a sale.

Sorry, but that’s just basic facts.

Once again we go through the same arguments and i have to trot out the same defence.

If they had a sales only chart the figures counted would be so small that nobody would look at the charts or listen to the chart shows.
They have to include streaming because it is the main form of consumption by today's music lovers. The Big Top 40 on commercial radio has a sales/airplay chart but i suspect they keep listeners through annoying phone-ins and competitions. iTunes sales (which they use) are in the hundreds at best. The iTunes thread that i post in on here barely gets any comments (though it does on Haven).

The Christmas charts would still be full of these old songs if it was downloads only, anyway. Not to the same extent but you'd still see them. Digital media "killed the charts" as we used to see them. You can't go back to before downloads.

[Blondini]

Official Singles / Albums Chart Update
Source: OCC
Missing Data:

Top 100 Singles

1 Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You (19,481)
2 Wham! - Last Christmas (19,295)
3 Ed Sheeran & Elton John - Merry Christmas (17,169)
4 Raye ft 070 Shake - Escapism (15,613)
5 Stormzy - Firebabe (14,482)

6-10
7 Michael Bublé - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
9 The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York
10 Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock

11-20
11 Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me
12 Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
13 Lizzo - Someday At Christmas
14 Kelly Clarkson - Underneath The Tree
18 Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
19 Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas

21-30
21 Elton John - Step Into Christmas
22 Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
23 Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
24 SZA - Kill Bill *
26 Leona Lewis - One More Sleep
27 Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
28 SZA - Nobody Gets Me *
29 Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
30 The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride

31-40
33 José Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
36 Sia - Snowman ^
37 John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
38 SZA - Blind *
39 Sidemen (ft Jme) - Christmas Drillings *
40 Justin Bieber - Mistletoe ^

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Top 100 Albums

1 Sam Ryder - There's Nothing But Space, Man! (16,470) [14,588 physicals, 1,164 downloads, 718 streaming] *
2 SZA - SOS (8,308) [8,108 streaming] *
3 Taylor Swift - Midnights (6,311)
4 Michael Bublé - Christmas (4,783)
5 Harry Styles - Harry's House (4,550)

6-10
7 Sam Fender - Live From Finsbury Park *
9 Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under ^

11-20
17 Echo & The Bunnymen - Evergreen ^

21-30
21 A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie - Me vs. Myself *
26 Idles - Brutalism *

31-40
34 Knucks - Alpha Place ^
35 Luke Evans - A Song For You ^

Click on the above relevant links.

[Blondini]

Thanks for the clarification. I have no object to them being included in the chart if it was based on downloads, but no matter how it’s glossed up by OCC a stream is not and never will be a sale.

Sorry, but that’s just basic facts.

and the charts would be dead without streams

another basic fact

[Blondini]

Sales now added to today's update ^^.

[Gambo]

The irony is that with all this talk about sales being somehow a more apt way to compile our charts than streams (sadly that is patently no longer the case), and that they have so little effect in such low numbers that it would render the resultant charts almost irrelevant (generally now true), in the case of releases like the LadBaby charity singles, it is of course their huge single-week download paid-for sales that drive them to No 1, regardless of an almost negligible number of streams. For that one daft week we get a complete reversal of what we would now normally see, but given its time-limited impact, I don't really take any joy from it myself. While those of us older chart fans will always miss the clarity and simplicity of charts compiled just when people bought music rather than rented it, I think we must own to having some dismay on the rare occasions where actual sales do dominate the proceedings and contribute the bulk of units to an overall chart-topper's total, as it's nearly always just the one-off result of a raid on people's pockets and consciences for charitable causes rather than part of a wider trend in consumption or anything to do with the actual music (noting of course that this phenomenon has always produced skewed sales tallies unrepresentative of the usual market picture even in the pure sales era - some of the largest tallies recorded back then were driven by similar campaigns that only had a few weeks' life in them before things returned back to usual levels).

[Artoo]

I hope Wham gets the edge this week and goes to #1 again. You have to wonder what George would think of it all - would he ignore it or play into like Mariah has over the last few years?

The Charts Company should probably just switch to a ‘streaming’ based chart, and convert sales to a streaming count now that it’s the dominant format. Draw a line completely under the sales era and award certifications based on streaming milestones. Kids still control the charts and it’s pretty meaningless counting ‘sales’ when we have a whole generation of young adults that never once purchased a download as a teenager or ever saw a physical single in a shop.

A few years ago I was watching some kids (teenagers really) and a song came on the TV and I said, ‘I had that on single’ and was promptly asked ‘What’s a single?’ - never felt so old in my life

[97mde]

Well they wouldn’t would they. They would just give the correct indication of what people are buying and not what they are listening to (in most cases for free). The charts only die if no music is made and I can’t see that happening.

I appreciate that the charts are a source of conversation and this forum is a great example of this, however the charts would be far from dead if it didn’t include streams. In fact in confident this forum, the charts and music lovers in general would benefit from it being more honest.

and the charts would be dead without streams

another basic fact

[Blondini]

I cannot afford to buy all the music i like (and i spent many a quid or 8 on CD singles in the 90s and 2000s) so i am grateful that i can contribute by streaming. Artists these days direct people to Spotify more than they do to a pay link. There are different ways of calculating how these streams are converted into "sales" and the UK method seems fair to me.
If only a couple of hundred people are buying the top selling song then it stands to reason that only a few hundred people would be bothered to look at the charts and follow them.

I do follow the sales only charts with interest and find them more lively than the overall charts but not everyone are chart nerds like us. They are "honest" in so much as the public knows streams are included - the only dishonesty is that the ACR and other restrictions don't seem to be highlighted by chart hosts. But then today's radio presenters are chosen more for their personalities than their love / knowledge of music and charts. For sure Mark Goodier would be all over these chart rules.

In terms of the Christmas problem - i don't see what they can do. If they restrict it to 3 only there will be cries of "favouritism" at Mariah, Wham! and whoever the 3rd is. If they downweight the streams more than they already do it will render the charts even more ridiculous.

[97mde]

Like you, I am a chart nerd. I been since the late 70’s and that’s why I fail to see the benefit of the way the charts are currently compiled and the continued damage is has had and is having on the music industry.

You do make great points, but I don’t agree that less sales would make people refuse to monitor the charts. On the contrary, I think would generate more interest as the chart would again consist of more genres and not just the pop/solo artist mess we have now. Who knows, we might even get a band that plays instruments back in the chart again.

Let’s face it, most youngsters today have no idea what the chart is. I have two teenage daughters and although they love music, they wouldn’t have a clue who is Number 1 unless their saddo Dad (me), mentions it to them.

As for the Christmas songs, I don’t mind how
many are in the charts so long as it doesn’t include streams.

Radio presenters, bah!!

I cannot afford to buy all the music i like (and i spent many a quid or 8 on CD singles in the 90s and 2000s) so i am grateful that i can contribute by streaming. Artists these days direct people to Spotify more than they do to a pay link. There are different ways of calculating how these streams are converted into "sales" and the UK method seems fair to me.
If only a couple of hundred people are buying the top selling song then it stands to reason that only a few hundred people would be bothered to look at the charts and follow them.

I do follow the sales only charts with interest and find them more lively than the overall charts but not everyone are chart nerds like us. They are "honest" in so much as the public knows streams are included - the only dishonesty is that the ACR and other restrictions don't seem to be highlighted by chart hosts. But then today's radio presenters are chosen more for their personalities than their love / knowledge of music and charts. For sure Mark Goodier would be all over these chart rules.

In terms of the Christmas problem - i don't see what they can do. If they restrict it to 3 only there will be cries of "favouritism" at Mariah, Wham! and whoever the 3rd is. If they downweight the streams more than they already do it will render the charts even more ridiculous.