Billboard charts now include downloads

[LynneSin]

http://www.salon.com/ent/wire/2005/02/11/billboard/index.html

For the first time, Billboard magazine will include songs sold by download in its weekly calculation of the nation's top hits. The change reflects the booming popularity of digital music players like Apple's iPod, which has accounted for dramatic increases in download sales.

Billboard's Hot 100 list has always been the music industry's chief hit barometer, from the days of sheet music to 45 rpm records to now, when many people buy songs through services like iTunes. It's the list people cite when they talk about having a No. 1 hit -- as Mario has had for seven weeks in a row with "Let Me Love You."

The list was calculated for years using a combination of radio airplay and retail sales. That changed in the late 1990s, when the music industry largely phased out the single as a product. Some singles were being sold at a deep discount in what Billboard concluded was an effort to manipulate the charts, so for the last several years the rankings have been almost totally based on radio play, said Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts.

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I love this because the music on the radio is backed by payola (even though they are cracking down on it). I think more independant bands will have a shot at getting in the Billboard 100 and making a name for themselves because they no longer have to rely on payola play (to a larger extent) or record sales. Now the download numbers will count for the list!!