It seems to me that this year (and for a lot of last year) the charts have been mostly dominated by absolute rubbish. People like Iyaz, David Guetta, Jason Derulo, Tinie Tempah and Cheryl Cole who have little to no actual talent seem to be dominating the charts while established artists like christina, who have serviced the music indsustry greatly over the years with clasic tracks, are struggling. Why the lapse in judgement of the buying public?

Its just your opinion - evidently more people like those artists and buy their music - its as simple as that. The chart is and always has been about what is popular, not about what is particularly good or who is talented. There are probably more bad number ones over the years than good ones, but if somethings popular then its going to do well.

(And I dislike pretty much all the people you listed as awful too - i hate pretty much everything that does well today, but thats just me)

I agree, apart from a few gems (gaga). These rnb artists are just terrgable, espically jason derulo.

I would love to see how you can explain David Guetta as having no talent? Derulo and Tinie are still very good artists; you may not think so due to taste.
But obviously the people in the charts, or the people managing them, know how to churn out an amazing tune. The fact that they reach top ten, or even number one, shows they must have something about them that got them there. Many songs I see at the top are certainly not talentless. Pointless number1's yes. Talentless, no.

Oh great, more patronising. 'Lapse in judgement of the buying public'?? In other words - "Why are people buying stuff I don't like instead of stuff I do like?"

For the record, I also don't like the music of some of those you mentioned, but don't call it 'absolute rubbish' and a 'lapse in judgement of the buying public' purely because you don't personally like their music.

Just because Christina is a hugely talented and established artist, why does that mean anything she releases must do well in the charts? Not Myself Tonight flopped because it was a poor comeback single, simple as. Her new album is expected to under-perform largely because of the bad first single, the management of the album's release i.e. lack of promo, choice of single etc, and the general decline in album sales.

The singles market is fine. It's the albums that are the mess. Only around 35K needed for a #1 album is shocking.

Practically all of the mainstream albums released this year (besides Plan B and Scouting For Girls) have debuted in the top ten (usually at #8, funnily enough) and then dropped to just inside/outside the top 20 the next week, then down to around #32 and then another week in the top 40 before falling right down to the top 75. Some of them have managed to rise with a new single and seem to be sticking around (Ellie Goulding) but the rest just seem to rise into the top 40 for a week or two and then plummet back out again (Marina, Ke$ha).

The fact GaGa has been in the top ten all of this year just shows how little variety the public have in buying albums.

Does anyone actually care about the singles charts any more?

Albums are where it's at, but even that chart gets littered with short term success shite.

I don't care any more. I listen to what I listen to. Everyone else can go pay £10 for an album they'll listen to 3 times then move onto the next piece of plop.

Cheryl isn't in the charts atm........

Aguilera's due for #1 with Alecia just behind (again but her album's decent!) wish Gorillaz got their #1 though :/.
Aguilera's Bionic is fantastic! so thats why it's for #1! and the top 10 singles aren't too bad actually!

I think the charts now mean so little.

A number 1 really isn't something that has meant anything for a long, long time now.

What defines a song and a song's success is how long it stays in public memory and public concious.

I see an argument for scraping 'the charts' altogether. If you want to look up who has sold the most singles this week, fine. But beyond that I think we're way beyond the point where a number one hit means anything.

Unless you're Rage Against The Machine.

"lapse in judgement"? Blimey, how condescending.

Xtina isn't doing too well because her song is a bit shit.

The rot really started setting in the 80's. It was a great decade for music especially pop and is possibly my favourite decade. But towards the latter end of the decade there was an increase in the number of manufactured pop acts. Coupled with Stock Aitken and Waterman. Record labels realised how important the "look" was.

In the late 70's and early 80's there was a lot of artists who had a "look" and used it to create a persona but the majority of them in my opinion were successful on merit.

And that has manifested itself in the charts!

I agree that all you mentioned are just crap.
But if people like what I consider rubbish, then it's up to them, as it's what they want to buy.

I can't say the past year or two has been good for music but that's just down to MY personal taste.

I adore Darren Hayes & think he deserves all the success in the world when he releases new music, but all I get is "who is he?" or "he's awful".

The media have alot to do with it I think, they play what they believe is "cool" & "credible."
& the public think, "I should like that".
& they just do as the media says.

Very well put. Spinning Around and The Real Slim Shady were number ones ten years ago and both still sound great. If OMG, Ridin Solo and Can't Be Tamed are still getting spins in ten years then fair enough, well played. It does seem that chart music is starting to become disposable.

There are a lot of us that still like to hunt around for new music and there is still good stuff to be found but from a chart point of view something can be on TV ad or show one week and top 20 the next. Some smaller acts out there must find this really frustrating and there must be a few musicians throwing it in as they just cannot make any money.

I agree that the chart is full of crap right now, but that's more a reflection of my taste being very different from the mainstream single buyer... there's no 'lapse in judgement'!

I actually think the worst thing about the single chart (IMO) is the way some acts dominate everything. There are too many similar-sounding songs with the likes of David Guetta, Will.i.am and Chipmunk on them, but I guess that's what sells!

For the record I don't think Christina Aguilera is much better than any of those acts you've listed, and I'd personally choose 'Pass Out' or 'In My Head' over most of her back catalogue.