BBC1'S PRICE PROPOSES CHART SHAKE-UP

BBC Radio 1’s playlist boss, Chris Price, is concerned about the recent stagnancy of the U.K. Singles Chart. The same five tracks have comprised the Top 5, give or take a handful of new entries, over the last six weeks.

His solution? Discount curated playlist streams from the chart or include radio airplay. “That would bring the U.K. chart into line with most other charts in the world, actually, including the U.S. chart—which has included radio airplay for decades,” he told NME.

Airplay isn't included in lots of charts around the world, as Price suggests. The U.S. is a fairly special case in that respect.

The Official Chart's sales and streaming formula, where 100 streams count as equivalent to one single sale, has resulted in the charts measuring engagement over time, rather than one-off purchases. Drake’s “One Dance” (Island) has now spent 13 consecutive weeks at #1, coming third place in the longest consecutive U.K. #1s of all time, behind Bryan Adams’ “(Everything Do) I Do It For You” (16 weeks) in ’91 and Wet Wet Wet’s “Love Is All Around” (15 weeks) in ’95.

The remaining Top 5 during that time has consisted of Kungs vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners, Calvin Harris, Rihanna and Justin Timberlake, as well as entries from Adele and The Chainsmokers. As MBW noted Monday, the U.K. Official Singles Chart is getting boring.

Because some of those streams come from within curated playlists, that are “much more akin to radio airplay than to consumption of a track that’s been purchased,” Price said.

Will Price’s calls go unheard? The Official Charts Company declined to comment.