nothing changes, does it?
Except (majors haven't noticed) nobody cares about the chart anymore.

Meanwhile McFly drops from 2 to 21.

Dear oh dear.

Oh, I still care about the charts (yes, I know, sentimental old fool that I am but I've never shaken off the habit of following them and suspect I never will) and IMO they're looking in pretty good shape at the moment - probably as a result of the download culture restoring old-fashioned stability to the charts (so that McFly-By-Night's tactics actually look dated and old fashioned in comparison) such that hits are actual "hits" again instead of reflections of marketing strategies. It's as if the chart can breathe again.

Do we think that the absence of any pressure or influence from TOTP on the chart has been beneficial or detrimental?

I think TOTP had failed to have much impact on the charts or pop culture for some time, mainly due to the people in charge not having a clue how to run it. The later presenters lacked the character and enthusiasm of their predecessors and it had become bogged down in routine. Fewer people tuned in - partly because the charts had become lifeless and dull, and partly because the show had lost it's sparkle.

So, at the time TOTP ended it was having virtually no impact on the pop charts. However, I do think that the lack of shows such as TOTP has meant there are fewer pop "Icons" and "Heroes" of the calibre of (for example) Marc Bolan. TOTP helped to put more than a face to the music. We no longer have a pop culture such as we saw in the 1960s/70s, when we had shows such as Ready Steady Go, Oh Boy, TOTP, 45, Lift Off, Supersonic, Marc on Wax, etc. - and do we still remember the yearly Swap Shop Supergroup?

Now it's mostly videos. Entertaining as they are, they don't bring the bands to us in the same way. We get a clinical visual representation instead of a close look at the human beings. There was always the TV between us and them, but now it's like a TV within a TV; another layer to seperate us.

I think that's maybe the problem with the charts also. A great choice of music on the market, but not much soul (and I don't mean the genre). It's a bit like having a supermarket with automated checkouts instead of the friendly corner shop.

The charts have improved slightly of late, but they will probably never recapture their old glory or find their way back into the hearts of the populace.

Um JK I think you have written this with a clever journalistic mind. However let me pick you on something. We have 4 major labels plus the indies (the 5th major). There are a total of 5 indies in the top 20.

1. Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris "Dance Wiv Me"
(Dirtee Stank).

2. Basshunter "All I Ever Wanted" (Hard2Beat).

3. Ironik "Stay With Me" (Asylum).

4. Ida Maria "I Like You So Much Better When You're"
(Waterfall Records).

5. Adele "Hometown Glory" (XL Recordings).

All of the indie labels in the charts are AIM/Merlin/WIN members so effectively they are the 5th major so even though nothing changes, the indies are still in a healthy position and there is nothing to be alarmed about. Arguably the indies have more acts in the top 20 than each of the "seperate" majors.








5.

(...) probably as a result of the download culture restoring old-fashioned stability

Are there really any (major) changes in the charts since downloads are included?

KZ You're younger than me (isn't everyone?) and I'm afraid I've moved into the "they don't make 'em like we used to" age bracket.

I do like the Ironik track though and quite like the Dizzee Rascal hit.