James Masterton's Chart Update

Week Ending May 26th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:15:13 +0100

A week of failures in a way, as Fun fail to blast past Rita Ora, The Saturdays fail yet again to have a Number One of their own and the Scissor Sisters fail to remind everyone why they were so big in 2006.

Week Ending May 12th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:12:11 +0100

Whoever was in charge of grooming Tulisa for solo stardom did a terrific job, Number One with a single which is manifestly not a "debut". Also the biggest sellers of the Millennium and all the other chart news that is fit to ramble about.

Week Ending April 28th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:41:03 +0100

Carly Rae Jepsen's third week at Number One should not be glossed over - we explain why. A string of golden oldies are clogging up the bottom end of the chart, and how Adele's current spell at the top of the album chart is one of the closest races for some time.

Week Ending April 21st

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:40:52 +0100

Justin Bieber doesn't sell records we always say - well that theory is blown out of the water, if just for now. And as the springtime talent shows arrive on our screens, they do strange things to the sales of some unexpected catalogue items.

Week Ending April 14th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:43:44 +0100

Two new entries, a song at Number One which is rather better than you might think, and a song a long way from Number One by an artist who isn't as good as he would like to think. Plus how the list of best selling albums explodes a few myths about music piracy.

Week Ending April 7th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:07:56 +0100

Arguments from two and a half years ago rear their heads once more as we try to count just how many Number One albums Madonna has to her name. The quarterly report is in, with the biggest selling singles of the year so far, and how next week's chart could throw up some interesting surprises.

Week Ending March 24th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:27:57 +0000

A brief history of female rappers culminates in Nicki Minaj doing spectacular stuff, and Adele just keeps on growing.

Week Ending March 17th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:05:25 +0000

Love me bright lights - or I shall set my Seven Nation Army on you.

Week Ending March 10th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:48:52 +0000

A correction, a front loaded single, a piece of gospel music and a 20 year old dance hit resurrected. These are just some of the delights in this week's edition.

Week Ending March 3rd

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:16:28 +0000

We keep an open mind on just how big an effect the Brit awards had, but it has still helped Adele to a particular sales milestone. Three acts all have two Top 10 hits, and a handful of X Factor stars find themselves struggling. Also something really stupid about Gym Class Heroes. Best to ignore that bit.

Week Ending February 25th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:52:57 +0000

A Top 3 which all do significant numbers with a new Number One which is the first of its kind if you are into genre categorisation like that. Whitney dominates but sort of doesn't as well, and the first inklings of the aftermath of the Brit awards.

Week Ending February 18th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:18:41 +0000

There is no need for patience at Gotye grabs his deserved week at the top of the charts. The big news however is the failure of the Madonna single, plus the parade of album chart veterans just keeps on coming. And we have the Top 3 hits like Jagger...

Week Ending February 11th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:17:03 +0000

A fascinating Top 3 including one single of the very highest quality and another which has certain people furrowing their brows. Leonard Cohen doesn't quite set a record - and why it seems Madonna is heading for a flop single.

Week Ending February 4th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:46:49 +0000

As pop music gets ahead of itself in 2012 and becomes really good within the first few weeks of the year, Cover Drive have a wintertime Number One with a single all about summer sunshine. Plus it is a good week to be from Down Under.

Week Ending January 21st

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:15:14 +0000

A continuing lack of big new releases gives older hits the chance to reassert themselves. A parade of superstar ladies line up in the Top- 20 whilst we are told that "Rock" has its lowest market share for a decade.

Week Ending January 7th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:11:24 +0000

Mopping up the debris from the Christmas chart, and noting how it is now the most unrepresentative countdown of the year. Plus the biggest selling records of the year are announced, and how Moves Like Jagger is one of only five special singles.

Week Ending December 24th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:37:59 +0000

In the final week before Christmas, the X Factor winners top the singles chart as expected, but their chances of being the Christmas Number One are slim. Instead we look at the other contenders, and note that the race is actually over before it has even begun.

Week Ending December 17th

james@masterton.co.uk (James Masterton) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:34:07 +0000

Olly Murs reaches the top again but in one of the strangest chart races of the year - everyone selling almost the same as each other. Plus how Take That came to be credited as writers on T-Pain's biggest ever UK hit single.