My instincts tell me - looking at yesterday's charts - that the monied majors have now perfected hype of the charts again (ignoring the fact that they don't matter anymore).

I don’t agree. They have learnt to adapt to the digital world, and they (rightly) use whatever marketing skills they have to ensure the best possible sales for their releases. This is what is reflected in the charts. (As opposed to the old idea of focusing on chart position with no consideration to “real sales”). You don’t actually suggest if you personally like the current situation. I suspect you do. After all, it’s what you started, isn’t it? (So your original idea still lives on!). But, the power that the record companies had, e.g. ability to manipulate stock, and thus sales, has gone forever!

No, the chart is in fine health today.

Most of the people about my age don't know what the official No1 is, and don't care. There are a few alternative music chart. I follow the FAB Chart which has tripled it's fab-base since it introduced the music poll (a kind of poll with a poll). I personally find the official chart a bit stale and lifeless ... and a bit like pigs around the trough.

Well Dixie you know my position - the charts (rightly at the start) only measure sales. I believe these days sales no longer reflect popularity which is why I want a Pop-I (Popularity Index) chart reflecting popularity - like a classic oldie used in a TV ad; a theme tune; an X Factor performance; a dance favourite etc.

The charts do what they say they do, take a snap-shop of sales in the last 7 days. (So, if you bought your favourite record two weks ago, and are still playing it, then it won’t continue to be recognised. So, forget it that the charts are telling you what is the most popular, it’s telling you what people are spending hard cash to own a copy. Today, access to owning is greater than ever. An example of that is Ellie Goulding is back in the charts at 120 after the song being copied on X-Factor only a few hours before the week’s sales audit closed.

But, OCC are now compiling a chart that may be closer to your heart. They publish a Subscription Chart and produce Ad-funded charts. These are based on what people are listening to on streaming services. Interestingly, they do not differ THAT much from the sales charts. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions to that!

Even if someone would be find a formula to compute a Pop-I chart from lots of different sources / charts (sales / airplay / YouTube plays / Spotify plays etc.) - what would be the point?

1) I think Dixie is right: the different charts would be quite similar.

2) If there are great differences between the different charts, this would be an indication that the different channels appeal to difference audiences / market segments: An Pop-I Überchart would gloss over these different markets.

Only majors need (weekly) charts: They hope to maximise (short term) sales of their "priority products" via marketing. Smaller labels should concentrate on profitability / on making money from most / all of the releases, even if it takes months / years.