U.K. CHARTS GET A MAKEOVER

The U.K.’s Official Charts has unveiled a new brand identity, a public digital platform and a study called The Official Chart: The “People’s Algorithm.”

“Since 2011 we've been on a journey to create a brand and digital platform worthy of the iconic role that the charts play in British life,” said Official Charts Co. CEO Martin Talbot. “But now it's time for another step-change, and we are delighted to be unveiling this fresh new look, new web platform and Culture Studio report.”

The new immersive chart offers users the ability to listen to audio clips of any song that has ever charted, watch a 60-second video countdown of the Top 10 and find facts about any song or album.

The OfficialCharts.com artists section has doubled to house pages for more than 50k acts and also provides a view of 50+ specialist charts, ranging from Afrobeats to Vinyl. A new international chart section features the Official French Singles and Albums Charts for the first time alongside the Official Irish Charts.

The Culture Studio study indicates that 69% of chart followers (rising to 72% of people under 25) say it's their #1 way of discovering new music. Respondents also pointed to a new role for the Official Charts as a valued antidote to algorithm bubbles. Meanwhile, the report highlights that The Official Chart remains one of BBC Radio 1’s biggest on-demand programs, and 55% of those surveyed consider the Official Charts a “British institution.”