Billboard (at least) finally sees the light…

Well at least the Americans have finally seen some sense and are going to add digital downloads to their music charts.

At a time when every man and his dog are talking about the ridiculous state of the UK singles chart it seems Billboard have decided to do the only thing which can give some much needed legitimacy to the whole affair.

22,000 sales is all it takes for a number one in the UK these days - hecklerspray remembers the time when Peter and the Test Tube Babies could sell that many and not even dent the Top 40.

Of course the other downside of the current situation over here in good ol’ Blighty is that we end up with even more unmitigated shite at the ‘top of the pops’ – all getting exponentially more airplay, exposure and press than their ridiculously low sales deserve.

hecklerspray reckons the ‘Official UK Charts Company’ (really, that’s what they are called these days – sponsored by a top brand of cola of course) should stop pussyfooting around with separate charts and add downloads to the National Singles Chart as soon as possible.

For those who remember sitting patiently by the cassette recorder - sweaty little fingers hovering expectantly above the pause button - to tape the hottest new Top 40 sounds, this is the own thing they will accept! Or at the very least it should help get rid of those snot nosed little bastards who trouble the airwaves with tunes like ‘Babycakes’.

Amen to that…