The Best charts

1. United Kingdom 12,4%: brilliant mix of culture and stability
According to Top40 Charts users the UK Singles Chart by OCC (Official Charts Company) is the best for 2005. This is a chart which binds variety, stability and artistic quality.
The findings between those who voted show that 24% of them prefer it for its variety. New songs, perfect way to introduce new artists but not so open to foreign cultures. The appearance average on the UK Singles Chart for the new songs is 6-10 new songs, having a life cycle inside the chart, around 2-3 weeks. This duration isn't satisfactory, but people think that's the unique weapon of the chart it's the consumers' power: the fast (sometimes violent movements) are being less virtues this year than the 'quality' factor or the stability that offered in the first 10 spots.

However, 22% voted "quality" and still 13% voted the "diversity" component. This is confirmed by the elements: within the UK Singles Chart during 2005 there are some musical categories/styles (Jazz, R&B, Country & Film Music) that were ostracized! It is maybe the only Singles Chart in Western Europe that confirms a 'localistic' behaviour and it gives the opportunity to local labels to have the advantage of non-competition within the country. The proportion of local production compared to foreign production in the UK Singles chart is 60%-75%. Moreover, the research between voters shows that the UK Singles Chart is selected by 24%, for its diversity; openness to foreign cultures/songs accounts for 5%, stability 31%, integration 12% and quality of songs 21%.

What makes people from abroad to vote for a 'localistic' chart? How did they achieve it? In the middle of 2005, OCC changed the rules of the Chart and made it more accessible to consumers. This year, the UK Singles Chart represents more than anything else every music fan (INDIVIDUAL). For the first time after the 50s (maybe), we are having an Official Chart that is giving back the control to the people: this factor is called 'digital downloads' and gives the perception globally to the people that they are riding the wave and not the labels. THIS IS THE BIGGEST SUCCESS FOR THE UK SINGLES CHART THIS YEAR!

In the end, nobody can ignore the local (UK) music production: it is rising after the 2002 with a lot of UK bands/names sprang up and made worldwide success (examples are Robbie Williams, Dido, and James Blunt etc.) Also, for the first time after the 1987, the UK labels are releasing first in UK many names from abroad. Until 2004, everybody waited for a cd to be released globally (in other markets) and then to promote it at UK. This year this 'strange phenomenon' changed and this significant factor attracted many votes and interest concerning the Singles Chart.
We strongly believe that if UK Singles Chart included more R&B and Country songs, the distant difference from the second chart would have been increased at least 5%. A major problem is the limitations in the use of the Chart, something that does not follow the modern trends (maybe the successful model of Germans with the free Top40, can push much more the UK Music Industry sales).

2. German Chart 11.5%: the demand and diversity
Last year's No1 Chart now falls to the second spot: still, not so bad since it attracts the same percentage of votes as 2004. Media Control runs the German Official Chart and it is still the most significant market for every musician who wants to have an appearance/career in Europe. North Americans voted as the second best Chart in our voting procedure and the stats shows that Germans have a totally different consuming behaviour than UK people: they are consuming much more R&B, Jazz and Country songs than anyone else in Europe and this is proved by the numbers according to "quality" and "diversity" terms.

Moreover, most songs on German Singles Chart (Top 100) are having a life cycle of 6-7 weeks. The stability is remarkable (the mean is 5-7 new songs/week) and its main qualification is the big variety: open to every genre and it has the biggest track/song number of Country/Blues/Orchestral/Jazz in Europe!
The German Top100 is produced by the Media Control and it is a great tool for everyone: quality songs, domestic artist promotion and big genres diversity which make it one of the leaders for this year across the World. If the Europeans ask for a 'fast' view for modern music, this has been done perfectly this year by Media Control!

3. China 8.4%: the highest 'climb'!
The biggest market for everyone: People's Republic of China has opened the frontiers to global trade during the last decade. The Chinese Chart reflects the 'revolution' in the global context and not only in music.
The Chinese Chart is depending on airplays and it has big variety of styles/genres - including local bands/artists. The Chinese people have a great cultural background and learn very fast how to use the English-language songs. It is oriented to the North American music production and this is the reason that it has attracted the 14% of US voters in our poll.

During 2005 the Chinese Chart had all the known hits, spread amount of Modern/Nu-Rock, RnB and even country-style songs. It is not strange that many British artists like Kashier Chiefs, Mylo, Dido or Robbie Williams took the advantages of big success and released cd-single in Chinese market. So, the high ranking (new entry this year) is not strange phenomenon.

The best of the best national charts for 2005 (review):

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