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| Official UK Asian chart set for launch |
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 BBC Asian Network is to launch the first ever official UK download chart for Asian music. The Official Charts Company (OCC), which publishes the mainstream UK top 40, will also compile the new chart. The OCC will use UK sales data provided from a panel of more than 30 digital retail stores, including iTunes, Amazon and Napster. An Asian top 20 countdown show hosted by Bobby Friction will start on the Asian Network from Saturday, 27 March. BBC Asian Network's head of music, Mark Strippel, said: "We have long recognised that establishing an industry recognised official chart format is an important building block in the infrastructure of British Asian music." Music of British Asian or South Asian, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan origin will make up the chart and a full top 40 will be published online. The OCC says downloads now account for 98% of all single sales. It compiled the UK's first official singles download chart on 1 September, 2004 and, with a rise in British Asian music being purchased online rather than in traditional Asian record stores, will now do the same with Asian music. Billy Grant from the Association of Independent Music, said the new chart would "undoubtedly create more exposure" for Asian artists. DJ Bobby Friction said: "Having an official chart is going to make a massive difference to Asian artists in the UK because, until now, they've not really understood where they stand in the grand scheme of things. "They've had record shops and labels telling them of good sales but they've not been able to quantify them." - Agencies Related Articles:
Last update: 22-02-2010 22:55
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