Music Charts: Are they needed?

Back before the undisputed champions of music streaming powerhouses were evident in our music industry, we understood who reigned supreme at the top of the food chain that one week because of music charts. But as we become more complicated with more and more artists sharing the same streaming numbers in the millions, it seems it has become harder to tell who is top in the charts. And above all else, does it really matter now?

How we are consuming our music has changed. Radio plays and CD purchases no longer become important in calculating the music charts. Ever since Billboard starting taking streaming numbers and plays via the Internet into account when working out the chart spots, the shift in power changed. I don’t know if I feel this way because I’m older, but there was a certain feeling of trepidation and excitement every Sunday when they announced the Top 40 Charts for the week. Now, I barely give it a moment’s notice and it rarely pops up in any important music feed.

The Complication of MANY Charts

Usually, it is used in a passing comment within a conversation that is more important. A conversation probably about the streaming giants of Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Deezer. The more charts there is, the less it means for all us. If an artist tops the YouTube’s video charts, but barely scrapes the top 20 in Spotify’s weekly, are more or less popular who is in the number eight spot? It seems that charts have become more how popular from one site is to another, and measures the rate of consumption as opposed to measuring the popularity of music artists. The key demographic changes, and with it, the workings out of music charting.

Is it just me or are music charts pointless to view – or do they still give people an inclination into what’s popular?

I feel that people have become more self-aware and now make up their own opinions over what is “popular” or not.