There is a good article about the Top 40 in the Guardian today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/22/top-40-music-chart

"After years of disposable dross, the charts are returning to a golden age.

So the charts we have now are closer to those of the 1970s and 80s, when hits were genuinely, enduringly, unifyingly popular, rather than transient blips."

Maybe the charts are "closer" to those of the 70s/80s - but only in terms of the "chart life" of singles.

The cultural/financial status/impact of the Top 40 is nowhere near the levels of the past.

Yes, Dorian raves about the huge increase in quantity of sales without pointing out that, at 79p a time, they are practically worthless.

79p too cheap...what are you on about JK .How much did people pay in the 60's to buy singles such as "Everyone's gone to moon" ?2 shillings and sixpence. I supppose that was too cheap as well.
the Chart is back as a stable, consistent public indicator of popular songs that have engaged the public's interest.

Walter - you know as well as I, in 1965 two and six was worth a fortune (and we had to pay 95p in the pound tax).

I assume Dorian is a reader?

www.recordoftheday.com/cgi-bin/rotd-mb/r..._2009.pl?read=168479