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How do you feel about a music chart based on user 'votes' rather than sales?


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Old 06-11-2012, 13:55
easyman
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So, based on the fact most music charts are based on sales figures (manipulated by big production/promotion companies), and not necessarily popularity, is there space for a user-generated chart?

I realise that suggestion lists and popularity lists exist on various platforms, based on users listening figures, but what about what users actually want to vote for?

Pick The Charts seeks to address this issue with a music voting chart, where each registered user gets one vote per song, per day. The chart is compiled each Sunday at 2pm GMT. At the moment you can only vote if you have a Facebook account, but I believe that this will be made more open to a simple email registration in future.

http://www.pickthecharts.com/
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Old 06-11-2012, 13:57
LandslideBrad
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The one we have is fine.
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Old 06-11-2012, 14:03
easyman
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The one we have is fine.
Hi - I'm interested in any comments - so which one that you have is fine and for what purpose?
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Old 06-11-2012, 14:05
toanythingtaboo
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If there's voting, overzealous fans will abuse the system.
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Old 06-11-2012, 14:09
Hav_mor91
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Isn't buying a single technically voting for the artist anyway just in the form of a 99p purchase.
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Old 06-11-2012, 14:17
shackfan
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Ridiculous idea. The "chart" is the weekly list of the highest number of purchased singles. The only one that matters is the official one on radio1. All others have radio plays included, which is easily manipulated. The idea of voting is fine for a seperate chart, but could never be taken seriously.
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Old 06-11-2012, 14:41
cnbcwatcher
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It's a good idea but they should allow people without Facebook accounts to vote as well. Some of us don't have FB. I for one am sick of Facebook integration on so many websites.

*mini rant over*
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Old 06-11-2012, 14:52
Jen-B
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Crap idea.

It would never be accurate. How would one stop fans of 1D, Gaga, <insert-artist-here> etc. abusing the system? It would become a chart measuring how loony and "dedicated" a group of fans are, regardless of how small said group were, rather than actual popularity.

It would never be accurate and it would never be credible, unless you could outright guarantee it wouldn't be abused, and you couldn't.
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Old 06-11-2012, 15:05
Casual
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Bad idea, too open to abuse for the results to be worth anything.
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Old 06-11-2012, 15:40
MiresiaVerteta
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Bad idea. Labels and fans would abuse the system.

You could have what is in force in Eurovision which is a jury vote. This could make up 25% of the chart and could stop the likes of 1D getting top tens. On top of that the emphasis could focus on the sales.
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Old 06-11-2012, 15:51
Littlegreen42
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If there's voting, overzealous One Direction/Beiber fans will abuse the system.
^ Corrected and i agree.
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Old 06-11-2012, 16:02
O.Michel
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Why would we do that though? How would it be useful? The purpose of the current chart system is to show which tracks are the most popular and place them on a countdown form so that they can compare them to each other. It's never been about quality. And in all honesty, even though I'm always checking the charts, I understand that they don't apply to the general public. They're made strictly for the labels and the enterprises, who care about actual sales so that they can get profit. Votes would mean nothing to them
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Old 06-11-2012, 20:07
easyman
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Isn't buying a single technically voting for the artist anyway just in the form of a 99p purchase.
Well, that requires a person to part with cash, which is not always the best incentive to say that you like something, or at least rate it highly, without actually spending money!

On the voting abuse point I totally agree that it could be taken to extremes, but with a realistic and fair voting policy, why would this be unfair? It's the same for all...

Another point made is basically the question 'what worth is a chart?' Well, in this case it's just a way of saying - hey - here are some songs you maybe did not see in the main 'paid for' charts. Maybe you didn't see some new releases, or hear this older song that is popular for some reason right now. Instead, here is a chart of stuff people like, but maybe are not popular enough to get into the paid-for charts - which basically means a slightly different list of 'good' stuff to get interested in - call it trying to provide some diversity.

Of course less known artist can use this to their advantage, by ensuring that their songs are available for voting, and encouraging people to vote for them (yes - this could be construed as a form of abuse, but it depends on what you constitute as abuse). Voting or purchasing are in essence the same and have the same affect, but in the case of voting, no money or purchase is required.

I shall now sit here and wait to see what flack this post produces!
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Old 06-11-2012, 20:16
Eraserhead
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Well, that requires a person to part with cash, which is not always the best incentive to say that you like something, or at least rate it highly, without actually spending money!
Ever heard of the saying "put your money where your mouth is"?

If you like it buy it, then the sales figures speak for themselves.

Voting is pointless and will largely be undertaken by internet-savvy teens and tweens and would not be a representative reflection of an artist's popularity.

Besides, music is an art form and not a popularity contest. This is the legacy that shit like the X Factor has left us with.
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Old 06-11-2012, 20:21
elasticlove
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I don't think there's a problem with how the charts are now.

I prefer charts without the radio play as it means that they can't be influenced by Radio 1 DJ's deciding that Robbie Williams (who has our current #1 single) is irrelevant and therefore shall not be played on their show. I think having to buy the single/album also shows how many people actually like the song enough to buy it rather than just logging on and pressing a few buttons.

I like how most singers have to get out and do a lot of promotion to try and chart well. Whether the promotion is online, on TV or whatever isn't important.
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Old 06-11-2012, 20:25
easyman
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Ever heard of the saying "put your money where your mouth is"?

If you like it buy it, then the sales figures speak for themselves.

Voting is pointless and will largely be undertaken by internet-savvy teens and tweens and would not be a representative reflection of an artist's popularity.

Besides, music is an art form and not a popularity contest. This is the legacy that shit like the X Factor has left us with.
The point is a free vote chart is not paid for by the music business, it is it's intention to be more fair, or at least attempt to reflect user feelings.

Remember the Rage Against the Machine versus Simon Cowell Christmas number 1 in the UK? That's why. Users vote for what they want, not what the music business pays for.
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Old 08-11-2012, 10:22
StratusSphere
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Its interesting, and there's no reason why there can't be lots of alternative methods to measure popularity :P


The internet is a big place after all.

I'm also going to add my rant about Facebook invading my privacy all the time. I don't want to "share" everything with everybody, nor do I want to integrate all my accounts so I'm the same person in all of my acquaintance circles :P if youre reading, ever-present Facebook bots
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Old 08-11-2012, 10:58
paperplanes_
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It'd be interesting but OTT fans would almost certainly mass vote.
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Old 08-11-2012, 13:00
Alrightmate
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It would also corrupt the chart itself due to weighting the poll towards frenzied groups of fans who campaign each other to shout the loudest.

I think it would be more accurate to represent the general population and simply record sales.
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Old 08-11-2012, 13:09
nikproffitt
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Would just mean than psychotic fans would vote numerous times and the chart would be full of one direction, the wanted and Justin Beiber
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Old 08-11-2012, 14:11
Slojo
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The charts are fine as they are - simple - easy to understand and pretty robust to any manipuilation

Everyone in the countrty has access to them by buying a record and that is the ultimate vote for the product

What is being suggested is complicated - would only attract a minority - is wide open to abuse and eliminates anybody without internet access - and yes there are plenty of them
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Old 11-02-2013, 16:53
easyman
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Ok - so not everyone is in favour of a voting site for various reasons - some I agree with, others I think might require some time to pass to see if they are right or not. But if you want to influence a chart in a positive way - because you want to promote music you think others might enjoy or that you think should be heard, then you can now vote on the http://www.pickthecharts.com/ site without using Facebook - simply use your email account to register and start helping lesser known or alternative bands got their singles into a chart. Look - it's an alternative to the 'manipulated by money/music business UK top whatever chart' - not a faultless alternative, but a start

Vote now!
http://www.pickthecharts.com/
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Old 11-02-2013, 17:53
Hav_mor91
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If you like it you buy it that is a vote in itself. The chart doesn't need to change its about fair exposure and distribution of all music so every one has a fair and equal chance after having an informed and broader palette of songs to choose from. Rather than certain artists bieng playlisted and heavily promoted whilst some artist maybe with a better song being blacklisted and losing out.
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Old 11-02-2013, 18:41
AdzPower
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One Direction would be number one for YEARS.
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