one new entry in the top 10 in two weeks. Nothing climbing (as ever) after week one and no oldies climbing into th charts to become hits again.

Not really happening is it?

Arguably, it could be said that some oldies climbed in at 26 in the midweeks, but as you say failed to move after.

Yes the huge media interest and exposure with very limited chart action proves...
the majors still dominate the chart because share holders still think chart placings indicate profits (wrong) and the old executives are only capable of following the old model (prime example Jason Iley and Orson).

Oldish people still don't buy music be it physicals or downloads.

It was very much a novelty, fun track rather than a truly musically enjoyable one (like the American Coldplay cover which was actually a wonderful musical triumph).

the weight wrote:
one new entry in the top 10 in two weeks. Nothing climbing (as ever) after week one and no oldies climbing into th charts to become hits again.

Not really happening is it?

Just to quote this, for some reason, yes I do agree its not happening, less new single releases are hardly entering the chart when compared to 10-16 new entries of last year on a weekly basis. Hardly setting the charts alight this year.

Dwonload units have really slowed the chart down, its too slow and rather dull, record companies need to pull their fingers out and do something about it.

"Download units have really slowed the chart down"

This is really amazing. Before the inclusion of downloads into the charts everyone was predicting that this would be a positive factor (more new entries, more diversity, more independents etc) So what went wrong? Any ideas?

I recall the charts being rather stale before the introduction of downloads. Every Number One seemed to be a new entry, and whatever position a song entered at was generally as high as it got. Hardly anything was moving upwards. At least that has changed for the better. It's still quite uninspiring compared with three decades ago, but at least there is a bit of movement now. We still have a problem with many good songs not getting the airplay. The majors still seem to control that side of the business, and maybe the internet makes many songs too readily available for people to be bothered actually buying copies. Just switch on and go to the website for as many free streams as you want. My feeling is that it will sort itself out in time. This is almost a transition period, and many people in the music world - including the punters - are still adapting.

I think maybe there may be a couple of reasons.

1. The sheer unpredictability of getting your music on the download services makes it difficult for independents to co-ordinate their releases.

2. Alternate suggestion is that downloads are not as easy to sell to punters as originally thought. So the big radio tracks and hyped tracks win again.

Personally the more i think about it the prospect of independents junking selling downloads and giving them for free looks more appealing. Free mp3s linked to artist blogs, newsletter (with discreet ads), or even a commemorative auction for a hand made vinyl copy for fans or even t-shirts and of course live music.

Maybe im being cynical but something is happening behind the scenes to keep the status quo.