No contenders for this years Christmas Number One again this year.

With X Factor charting at Number 9 last year, -it would have been nice for some more established artists to release some big singles.

But no- this weeks top 10 virtually the same again as the past 4 weeks. And nothing noteworthy in the new releases this week either.

Come on -make some effort !!!

Nobody cares about the charts anymore. Pop music is dead.

The interest in who will be xmas number 1 doesn't seem to be a big deal anymore like it once was.

Surely Cliff will bang one out before the 25th

There is a choir singing The Living Years in aid of the homeless. It's a good version and features Paul Carrack who sang the original. Stands a good chance I think.

I really like The Living Years by Mike & The Mechanics and it's one of the most heartfelt songs from the late 80s.

As someone who works in Manchester city centre, it astonishes me the number of homeless people I see sleeping outside some of the big retail stores. The government/local councils should be doing more to help these people. They have foreign aid. How about having some UK aid for a change? -_-

I think the problem here is streaming. It seems to block new songs from entering the charts at all. Remember earlier this year when Drake's One Dance was No 1 for 14 weeks because of streaming?

There is a song in tribute to MP Jo Cox being released in mid-December. It's a cover of You Can't Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones and features a choir consisting of female MPs and guest singers like KT Tunstall & David Gray

It's for Hospices but still a very worthy cause

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBLgZikvM3U

Agree. The charts should exclude streaming.

I must say I think that Gaga might be the Bieber of this year and go very close to being Christmas number one. A Million Reasons is getting it's promo on X factor tonight, and I've got a feeling it's going to be very big for her in the UK. The Living Years will probably pip her to the post though.

The problem, like cnbcwatcher points out, is that even if Lady Gaga went to #1 on iTunes tonight, she will probably drop out of the iTunes top 10 by Tuesday and I can't see many people streaming Million Reasons so she definitely won't be a contender for Christmas #1.

As for The Living Years, if the media get behind the song just like they did with the NHS Choir last year, then that publicity will help the song be a contender for the Christmas #1.

However, if it does make #1 then it'll only take a dramatic drop down the chart the following week. It's a shame that acts like Adele or Ed Sheeran have never released a one off Christmas song as that would surely sell bucketloads and would also do well on streaming too. We would have a proper Christmas #1 again.

How about Mariah Carey, she's number 4 on spotify and doing well on itunes, could just do it

I'm hopeful for GEM

But music consumption has changed, It's like the change over from physical to downloads it can't be ignored. I'm not a fan but it is what it is and streaming is where we are.

As for the xmas number one I think X factors reign more or less ended interest. It is always X factor or some charity dross.

I actually predicted a Mariah Xmas #1 about a week ago based on how it shoots up Spotify, and how streaming wins the day. Although if it did finally achieve its status as a Christmas #1 in the UK, imagine how fast it would drop down the chart the following week.

That said, Little Mix have announced their new single is going to be Touch. It looks like the girls will be performing on The X Factor Final next weekend so maybe Touch will get a boost in the week leading up to Christmas.

It's a crime it was never number one 😂. That said would also be her only original UK #1 her other two are covers.

The charts are totally irrelevant today with the volatility of streaming. There was a time when having the current No. 1 was an achievement but who gives a flying fig now!

No it should include streaming as it gives more genres of bands the chance to shine, before streaming came into affect you only had the same old generic R'n'b / Dance / Pop crap enter the charts as those were the only singles that would make the shop shelves. Since streaming has started, more indie / rock bands have entered the charts and added more variation into it.

I think you have that the wrong way round? The charts used to have artists from numerous genres but that is no longer case largely because of streaming.

Mariah's Christmas classic at No.9 in today's first mids and a lot on music forums think she may do it this year.

true 'consumption' has changed but the chart has now changed from measuring 'discovery' of music (I hear a song I like and go and buy it..on whatever format) to 'engagement' (I know this song and I listen to it a lot). Which is why the charts are so slow and blocking out a lot of new music and stifling diversity of genres and acts.

The chart needed to change to reflect the decline in sales but just switching to measuring streaming was a very short sighted and self-defeating step. What was/is needed is a chart that measures 'discovery' of music, not simply 'engagement' with what's out there. Only then will the ills of the charts be sorted out. But I expect by then few people will care.

Streaming is the very opposite of 'volatile' It's made the chart slow, positively constipated in fact!

We should work together to get this to the top of the charts where it rightfully belongs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcSk0YNw_f8

I was going to say that I'd love to see Kate Bush's 'new' song at number one for Christmas but I think Madge and Harolds' is probably the better song