Hit40UK shifts to download-only chart

Hit40UK, commercial radio chart, is dropping CD sales and shifting its focus to digital download sales. The move will be reflected from next Sunday’s chart (11th January).

It is the first time that Hit40UK, which also includes single radio airplay as well as sales, will be based on digital sales only.

The show, which is produced by Global Radio, broadcasts on over 130 commercial radio stations every week, including 95.8 Capital FM and The Hit Music Network, in direct competition with the Official Chart broadcast on BBC Radio 1, which is based purely on sales.

The decision to switch to only digital music is based on consumer trends, which show a majority of single sales are now through downloads. The Hit40UK, previously the Pepsi Chart, has 1.9m listeners.

Paul Jackson, group programme director for 95.8 Capital FM, The Hit Music Network and The Xfm Network, says: “Downloads have now become the driving force for record sales, as the statistics clearly show.”