The BBC"s Radio One, a popular youth orientated radio station in the UK, has launched the first download chart. Similar to the world famous top40, broadcasted weekly on a Sunday, the download chart will feature the top 40 downloaded songs, each Wednesday at 6PM, on the Scott Mills show.
Lostprophets band member, Mike, told the BBC that "I like to search the internet for new bands and stuff, so I"ll look on a lot of music websites and download some mp3s." The BBC and the UK Charts company compile the data from legal download sites (e.g. Napster & iTunes, MSN Music). The first #1 in the chart was "Flying Without Wings" by Westlife. The chart featured a variety of artists, some of which might not enjoy the same status in the non-download singles chart.
Asides from being a nice addition from the BBC, it marks an important point for the online music market; starting with Napster, it has taken 6 years for it to gain official recognition, status, perhaps respect, that it deserved from the start. Watch its future unfold.