New study provides first global overview of how the music charts work

Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), an organisation charged with representing the interests of the global independent music community, has unveiled their comprehensive new study, which they are touting as the “first ever global overview of chart reporting.”

WIN Global Chart Report 2017, collates data provided by independent music trade associations from 28 different countries around the world, and “provides valuable insight into how different territories manage the reporting of chart information and how success is measured, and will serve as useful market intelligence for companies looking for points of entry into new territories.” It is an evolving document, with regular updates made as needed.

Alison Wenham, CEO of WIN said of the report, “As the music industry evolves towards becoming a truly global marketplace it is vital that we have an in-depth understanding of how different territories collate sales information and measure success.

“This new study will also serve as a valuable tool in our ongoing mission to protect the interests of the global independent music community and to ensure fair access to markets and level playing fields for independent music around the world.”

Below are the key findings of the report, as presented by WIN (you need to be a member to access the actual report).

• The UK appears to have the model that most developed markets base their current streaming conversion formula on.

• Sweden was the first country in the world to include streaming into their chart calculation. 128.1m of their total 182m (or 70%) recorded music revenue derive from subscription streams.

• There is little or no appetite in China for official charts, however individual services do publish their own. In the calculations/methodology, social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo play a huge part. They are monitored for shares, likes and comments. This data is used as part of the chart calculations.

• Most countries operate with a 100/150 track streams = 1 track download basis. This is often multiplied by 10 to find the stream to album download/physical purchase ratio.

• A significant proportion of markets have more complicated calculations for albums (for example, the top two tracks from an album may be averaged out to represent the average number of streams, so to avoid ‘one hit wonders’ topping the charts).

• RIM in Malaysia is proposing changing its stream to album download ratio to 4,500 track streams = 1 album download.

• Ringback tones are still a very relevant business model in especially Asian countries including Malaysia, China and Japan

• Many countries have yet to incorporate streaming into their charts, such as Italy, Brazil and Poland.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.