Are music charts relevant anymore?

boyobarker · 01-05-2012, 11:59 AM

If you look at any "what song are you listening to" thread or viral video - none of the songs mentioned are in the current charts? So... are the charts relevant anymore since they are based only on sales??

14232949 · 01-05-2012, 12:07 PM

Well, the charts would indicate the most popular music in terms of downloads and physical releases bought legally.

Chart music is available to the vast majority and the market for pop music tends to be those who are most likely to have disposable income and those most likely to be easily targeted. I.E. It is easier to exploit teenage girls with boy bands than it would be to target the same artists at geriatrics.

And since there are a lot more teenage girls buying music than geriatrics, the markets desired artists will be most successful in a commercial sense.

In short, having greater exposure will allow one to have greater sales.

Top 40 charts have never claimed to contain the best technical pieces of music nor have they claimed to have the most talented artists, they have always been based on sales.

They are no less relevant now than they were at their inception.

boyobarker · 01-05-2012, 12:11 PM

hmm.. i see your point. I think I phrased my point incorrectly. I didn't mean to suggest the charts are irrelevant but more so that it would be great to have a chart or some sort of indicator that measured what is being played currently across the globe instead of whats being purchased.

starrynight · 01-05-2012, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mankycaaant

They are no less relevant now than they were at their inception.

Not really. The best selling singles of the past sold in millions, they were heard by everyone, people listened to the radio more. That was certainly the case back in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s.

14232949 · 01-05-2012, 12:16 PM

If you have Spotify, they have just that.
It measures which tracks are most played on their service across the world as well as in different countries.

The American charts also incorporate radio airplay into their Top 40 charts.

Ben Butler · 01-06-2012, 08:14 AM

I think they are a measure of sales, it doesn't demonstrate who the popular or talented artists is for me.

**Janszoon** · 01-05-2012, 12:36 PM

The bigger question is: were they ever relevant?

Taz · 01-05-2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

The bigger question is: were they ever relevant?

Yea when the Beatles and the stones were big, that's when the charts were good, now it's just auto tuned shiit :L

**Janszoon** · 01-05-2012, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taz

Yea when the Beatles and the stones were big, that's when the charts were good, now it's just auto tuned shiit :L

Whether or not you like the bands on the charts doesn't mean the charts are relevant.

Burning Down · 01-05-2012, 01:36 PM

Well, they're not relevant to me. I don't need to know what's popular. I buy the music that I like to listen to, whether or not it shows up on a chart.

01-05-2012, 11:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
boyobarker Groupie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 4	Are music charts relevant anymore? If you look at any "what song are you listening to" thread or viral video - none of the songs mentioned are in the current charts? So... are the charts relevant anymore since they are based only on sales??

01-05-2012, 12:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	The bigger question is: were they ever relevant? __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

01-05-2012, 12:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
14232949 The Big Dog Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,989	Well, the charts would indicate the most popular music in terms of downloads and physical releases bought legally. Chart music is available to the vast majority and the market for pop music tends to be those who are most likely to have disposable income and those most likely to be easily targeted. I.E. It is easier to exploit teenage girls with boy bands than it would be to target the same artists at geriatrics. And since there are a lot more teenage girls buying music than geriatrics, the markets desired artists will be most successful in a commercial sense. In short, having greater exposure will allow one to have greater sales. Top 40 charts have never claimed to contain the best technical pieces of music nor have they claimed to have the most talented artists, they have always been based on sales. They are no less relevant now than they were at their inception.

01-05-2012, 12:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
boyobarker Groupie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 4	hmm.. i see your point. I think I phrased my point incorrectly. I didn't mean to suggest the charts are irrelevant but more so that it would be great to have a chart or some sort of indicator that measured what is being played currently across the globe instead of whats being purchased.

01-05-2012, 12:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
14232949 The Big Dog Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,989	If you have Spotify, they have just that. It measures which tracks are most played on their service across the world as well as in different countries. The American charts also incorporate radio airplay into their Top 40 charts.

01-06-2012, 08:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ben Butler Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rudheath Posts: 393	I think they are a measure of sales, it doesn't demonstrate who the popular or talented artists is for me.

01-05-2012, 01:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Burning Down The Music Guru. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Beyond the Wall Posts: 4,858	Well, they're not relevant to me. I don't need to know what's popular. I buy the music that I like to listen to, whether or not it shows up on a chart.