Does your favourite artist struggle to sell albums but soar when tasked with filling seats at live music venues?
If the answer to the question above is yes you’ll be pleased to learn that there’s good news on the horizon.
The Official Charts Company is embracing Lightning Live, a new system of collecting sales at live venues which the charts compiler says has been “road tested” over the past six months to ensure accurate sales are reported.
It’s a bonus for any artist who has set up a merch stand and sold recordings at their own shows and, according to the OCC, its means the weekly albums survey will now reflect “the widest range of formats and outlets” in its history.
Put simply, albums sold at live venues will now count towards chart positions.
OCC chief operating officer Omar Maskatiya explains:
The launch of Lightning Live follows approaches from both independent and major labels, who are increasingly using live events as a route to get their products to fans and new audiences.
We strive constantly to ensure that the Official Charts reflects and responds to consumer behavior and this move, following just a few months after the integration of streams, further underlines this strategy.
Very very very exciting news!
For years, artists who have struggled to shift units at retailers were forced to look on as the plug was pulled on album campaigns that put their careers (and budgets) into the red.
Fortunately, the OCC’s epic new plans will force tour-shy chart hopefuls to create stage-blazing live shows to pull in album sales they didn’t generate traditionally, and see the likes of the commercially potent Justin Timberlake and Beyonce use their tours to push them closer to numbers reached by the likes of Adele.
One needn’t look any further than the numbers of seats the aforementioned acts filled on their last tours to understand why this news is set to change the game for the better, and encourage the industry to invest in the creatives armed with the concepts and ideas that’ll convince music lovers to splash their cash on tickets and albums at live music venues.
Let’s hope it won’t be long before the U.S. follows suit.
This is not cool. First YouTube views now this? I honestly don’t think it’s fair. Sorry but not sorry.
How is it unfair? Like David said people are gonna have to step their live game up to sell albums now. That means no more flopping on stage with s***** performances. Hi rihanna.
Oh you b****! Don’t worry about Rihanna, worry about why Beyonces wig is dustier than the shelf Katy reserved for her Grammys.
A Tinashe stan talking about Grammys? A b**** shan’t and a b**** can’t! Where is AqWhereius on the charts today dear? Bubbling under the bubbling under im sure. Dont make me snatch your polyester wig like Natalie snatched your local fave on the charts. B****.
These Tinashe Stans have some nerve. Didn’t she just sell 17,000 first week compared to the half a million Queen Iggy sold? Reality check sister, your fav is a glorified flop with no edges and dance movers stiffer than Nicki’s ass after she plumps them with unsold copies of the Pinkprint.
*scratches head* Didnt it take A YEAR for igloo’s trash album to go gold vs 2 months for The Pinkprint? hasnt The Pinkprint outsold igloo’s album + re-release combined ? U igloo stans r delusional.
Maybe Iggy should restart that tour she had to cancel. #NoFans #Radiodealsbutnoalbumsales #Stillnotplatinum #Aquariusinstoresnow
Oh? Thought they were already being counted but I see no problem In that
LONG OVERDUE…..
WHEN DOES THIS BEGIN?
FOR TAYLOR TO GO #1 FOR 25TH WEEK STRAIGHT
I would of thought that it already counted
This definitely great news for R&B artists.
This is good news….especially for indie artist who actually sell albums on their gigs for some exposure on the charts
It’s actually stupid that it didn’t count already. Why would albums not sold @ the artist’s venue not count towards album sales? However, those who struggle 2 sell albums & tickets…
Is music in that much of a tragic state? I’m sure those units really wouldn’t change the number of overall copies (physical) sold, but if it makes some people happy.
Picture of K Mart than a video of Cbola TGJ ur killing me today #FlopThurs
Nothing’s gonna change! The “Floppers” will flop harder and the “sellers” will sell even more
Everything to save artists of the embarrassment that are the low first week sales.
It is so stupid that this isn’t already the case. Albums being sold should count regardless of where they’re being sold. They count STREAMS when the person doesn’t even buy anything but don’t count an actual sale of an album because fans bought it at the concert? If anything those albums should get more points since the fan also saw their concert supporting that album. The charts have literally become a worthless measure these days.
Makes perfect sense to do it now that the technology is in place to make it possible. In the grand scheme of things, I don’t think it will make a huge difference on the BB200, though.
For artists that have tons of fans, this will work wonderfully. This is actually amazing. Great. It’s a legit album purchase. Fans will have another route to get the album. This will be great. Concerts are huge.
Good. I’ve been saying this for years. Man Ciara def needs some help. Her promo, current music and team is so stuck in 2005. Smh. Anyway, good for the older artist too. Older acts fans are not into social media promo, and urban shows now gone it is hard for audiences to know about their fav music release dates. Just look at older legends followers vs new kids. However, Ciara baffles me having only 7 mill followers on ig while people that came out after her have Paid her dust overall. Rih, Nicki, ect..told yall Ciara struggled to even go gold on a single every 2 or 3 yrs. what label is going to keep spending money on her? You at least want to multi platinum single…but nooo she refuses to work with the producers and writers from her only 2 certifed albums..although Future is wack…read in between the lines to what he says about her smh..