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{{Short description|British music chart}}File:Nobel Peace Price Concert 2009 Westlife2.jpg|thumb|Irish boy band Westlife achieved the first number one on the UK Singles Downloads Chart with “Flying Without WingsFlying Without WingsThe UK Singles Downloads Chart is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the music industry. Since July 2015, the chart week runs from Friday to Thursday, with the chart date given as the following Thursday.WEB,www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-downloads-chart/, Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100, Official Charts Company, 14 July 2015, The main chart contains the Top 200 downloads (which are published in UKChartsPlus), with the top 100 published on the OCC website. The chart only uses sales of permanent digital downloads, that is single-download tracks on non-subscription online music stores. Some downloading services offer a monthly fee plan where generally an unlimited number of tracks can be downloaded within a month for a certain price. Tracks downloaded in those instances do not qualify.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}An album equivalent, the UK Album Downloads Chart, was launched in April 2006.

History

Before the inauguration of the download chart, only sales of physical formats—such as CD, vinyl and cassette tape—contributed towards a single’s position on the UK music charts. From the late 1990s onwards, these sales began to significantly decline.NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4433071.stm, How downloads will change the chart, Youngs, Ian, 12 April 2005, BBC News, London,news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4433071.stm," title="web.archive.org/web/20070109050155news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4433071.stm,">web.archive.org/web/20070109050155news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4433071.stm, 9 January 2007, live, 26 May 2012, By the start of 2004, they had dropped to their lowest level in over 35 years, with singles needing to sell only 35,000 copies to reach number one.WEB,news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3452000/3452399.stm, Single sales drop to all-time low, 2 February 2004, Newsround, London,news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3452000/3452399.stm," title="web.archive.org/web/20060530110457news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3452000/3452399.stm,">web.archive.org/web/20060530110457news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3452000/3452399.stm, 30 May 2006, live, 26 May 2005, One year later, a limited edition re-release of “One Night” / “I Got Stung” by Elvis Presley topped the chart with 22,000 copies, making it the lowest selling number-one single at that time.WEB,www.monstersandcritics.com/music/news/article_3598.php/Elvis_Takes_Record_But_With_Few_Records, Elvis Takes Record But With Few Records, Wray, James, 16 January 2005, Monsters and Critics,www.monstersandcritics.com/music/news/article_3598.php/Elvis_Takes_Record_But_With_Few_Records," title="web.archive.org/web/20121014221958www.monstersandcritics.com/music/news/article_3598.php/Elvis_Takes_Record_But_With_Few_Records,">web.archive.org/web/20121014221958www.monstersandcritics.com/music/news/article_3598.php/Elvis_Takes_Record_But_With_Few_Records, 14 October 2012, live, 26 May 2012, Conversely, the music download market was growing considerably: during the same 2004–05 period, sales of downloads grew by 743%, and overtook physical sales in December 2004.BOOK, Schott, Ben, Ben Schott, Cock-Starkey, Claire, Ben, Schott, Ben Schott, Schott’s Almanac, Schott’s Almanac 2006,books.google.com/books?id=mL04HAAACAAJ, 26 May 2011, 1st, 2005, Bloomsbury Publishing, Bloomsbury, London, 978-0-7475-8307-3, 62292696, 129, Chapter V. Music & Cinema, NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4155385.stm, Downloads overtake single sales, 7 January 2005, BBC News, London,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4155385.stm," title="web.archive.org/web/20100111094057news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4155385.stm,">web.archive.org/web/20100111094057news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4155385.stm, 11 January 2010, live, 26 May 2012, The following year, the UK’s online music revenue reached {{£|42.1 million|link=yes}}.BOOK, Schott, Ben, Ben Schott, Cock-Starkey, Claire, Ben, Schott, Ben Schott, Schott’s Almanac, Schott’s Almanac 2008,books.google.com/books?id=nTeNFYI_t5wC, 11 April 2012, 1st, 2007, Bloomsbury Publishing, Bloomsbury, London, 978-0-7475-8469-8, 271877788, 142, Chapter V. Music & Cinema, As a result of this growth, the OCC were commissioned in 2004 to compile a new music chart based solely on the UK’s download sales, which was initially sponsored by Coca-Cola.NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3253872.stm, Coca Cola to sponsor pop charts, 1 December 2003, BBC News, London,news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3253872.stm," title="web.archive.org/web/20040730080512news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3253872.stm,">web.archive.org/web/20040730080512news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3253872.stm, 30 July 2004, live, 26 May 2012, A “sample” download chart was trialled for 10 weeks, with the first number one being “Bam Thwok” by American rock band Pixies.WEB,www.pocket-lint.com/news/377/official-downloads-chart-to-be-launched, Official downloads chart to be launched in UK, Stuart, Miles, 28 June 2004, Pocket-lint,www.pocket-lint.com/news/377/official-downloads-chart-to-be-launched," title="web.archive.org/web/20120210041911www.pocket-lint.com/news/377/official-downloads-chart-to-be-launched,">web.archive.org/web/20120210041911www.pocket-lint.com/news/377/official-downloads-chart-to-be-launched, 10 February 2012, live, 27 May 2011, WEB,www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/28/download_chart_lives/, Pixies top UK download chart, Oates, John, 28 June 2004, The Register,web.archive.org/web/20120520080729/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/28/download_chart_lives/, 20 May 2012, live, 26 May 2013, After this ten-week period, the UK Official Download Chart was launched on 1 September 2004, with Irish boy band Westlife achieving the first official number one.NEWS,news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3617020.stm, Westlife top first download chart, 1 September 2004, BBC News, London,news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3617020.stm," title="web.archive.org/web/20090104000035news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3617020.stm,">web.archive.org/web/20090104000035news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3617020.stm, 4 January 2009, live, 26 May 2012, The group topped the chart with a live version of their 1999 single “Flying Without Wings”, a move that UK chart commentator James Masterton branded a “stunt”.WEB,uk.launch.yahoo.com/charts/comment.html, Chart Commentary from James Masterton, James, Masterton, James Masterton, 5 September 2004, LAUNCHcast, London,uk.launch.yahoo.com/charts/comment.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20040908030510uk.launch.yahoo.com/charts/comment.html,">web.archive.org/web/20040908030510uk.launch.yahoo.com/charts/comment.html, 8 September 2004, 26 May 2013, Sales of downloaded singles were finally incorporated into the UK Singles Chart on 17 April 2005, initially on the condition that physical copies were available to buy at the same time.WEB,theofficialcharts.com/docs/Digital%20Download%20Factsheet_Jan_2007.pdf, Digital Download Factsheet, 2007, Official Charts Company, London,theofficialcharts.com/docs/Digital%20Download%20Factsheet_Jan_2007.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20100117153056theofficialcharts.com/docs/Digital%20Download%20Factsheet_Jan_2007.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20100117153056theofficialcharts.com/docs/Digital%20Download%20Factsheet_Jan_2007.pdf, 17 January 2010, dead, 26 May 2013, In April 2006, the UK Official Download Chart was expanded to include an album chart. The first album to top the chart was This New Day by English alternative rock band Embrace.WEB,www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-and-ed-sheeran-push-digital-albums-sales-over-the-100-million-milestone-1517/, Adele and Ed Sheeran push digital albums sales over the 100 million milestone, 3 August 2012, Official Charts Company, London,www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-and-ed-sheeran-push-digital-albums-sales-over-the-100-million-milestone-1517/," title="web.archive.org/web/20120804231327www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-and-ed-sheeran-push-digital-albums-sales-over-the-100-million-milestone-1517/,">web.archive.org/web/20120804231327www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/adele-and-ed-sheeran-push-digital-albums-sales-over-the-100-million-milestone-1517/, 4 August 2012, live, 3 August 2012, By 2007, the UK had become Europe’s largest consumer of online music, with almost 78 million tracks being downloaded that year; by 2012, this figure had more than doubled.WEB,www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/1-billionth-singles-download-is-sold-in-the-uk-2152/, 1 billionth singles download is sold in the UK!, 9 April 2013, Official Charts Company, London,www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/1-billionth-singles-download-is-sold-in-the-uk-2152/," title="web.archive.org/web/20130412054337www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/1-billionth-singles-download-is-sold-in-the-uk-2152/,">web.archive.org/web/20130412054337www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/1-billionth-singles-download-is-sold-in-the-uk-2152/, 12 April 2013, live, 22 April 2013, The single with the longest stay on the Downloads Chart is “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley, which stayed the top spot for 11 weeks. On the week end 26 December 2009, “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine became the fastest-selling download of all time.MAGAZINE, Sexton, Paul, 21 December 2009, Rage Against the Machine Beats ‘X Factor’ to U.K. Xmas No. 1, Billboard (magazine), Billboard, New York City, Prometheus Global Media, Prometheus, Danyel, Smith, Danyel Smith, 0006-2510, 3695401, 26 May 2013,www.billboard.com/articles/news/266349/rage-against-the-machine-beats-x-factor-to-uk-xmas-no-1,www.billboard.com/articles/news/266349/rage-against-the-machine-beats-x-factor-to-uk-xmas-no-1," title="web.archive.org/web/20130526175258www.billboard.com/articles/news/266349/rage-against-the-machine-beats-x-factor-to-uk-xmas-no-1,">web.archive.org/web/20130526175258www.billboard.com/articles/news/266349/rage-against-the-machine-beats-x-factor-to-uk-xmas-no-1, 26 May 2013, live, As of 9 September 2014, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams is the most downloaded song in UK music download history.WEB,www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/pharrells-happy-now-the-uks-most-downloaded-track-of-all-time-3108/, Pharrell’s Happy now the UK’s most downloaded track of all time, Copsey, Rob, 9 September 2014, Official Charts Company, 20 January 2015, In 2006, McFly became the first band to have two number one singles with “Star Girl” on both the UK Downloads Chart and the UK Singles Chart at the same time.

Criteria for inclusion

• The track must have a maximum playing time of 15 minutes.
• PDDs (Permanent Digital Downloads) must be bought by the retailer at a minimum of 40p per track, or 32p if the record company does not publish a set dealer price. The retailer may sell tracks at a loss at its own discretion.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

Most-downloaded by year{|class“wikitable sortable plainrowheaders”

!scope=col|Year!scope=col|Single!scope=col|Artist!scope=col|Record label!scope=col class=unsortable|Ref.!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2004

Vertigo (U2 song)>Vertigo“|U2	Universal Music Group>Universal	HTTP://NEWS.BBC.CO.UK/CBBCNEWS/HI/NEWSID_4410000/NEWSID_4418400/4418449.STM>TITLE=TONY CHRISTIE STILL TOP DOWNLOAD	PUBLISHER=NEWSROUND	LONDON>ACCESS-DATE=12 APRIL 2012,

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2005|“You’re Beautiful”

	Warner Music Group>Warner	HTTP://WWW.OFFICIALCHARTS.COM/DOCS/DIGITAL%20DOWNLOAD%20FACTSHEET_JAN_2007.PDF>TITLE=DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FACTSHEET	PUBLISHER=OFFICIAL CHARTS COMPANY	LONDON>ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20070303062034/HTTP://WWW.THEOFFICIALCHARTS.COM/DOCS/DIGITAL%20DOWNLOAD%20FACTSHEET_JAN_2007.PDF	URL-STATUS=DEAD, 12 April 2012,

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2006

		Sony BMG>Sony	SUPERSTAR LEONA ON SIMON, JEDWARD, THAT SHOCK ATTACK AND PLAYING BELFAST>FIRST=MAUREEN	URL=HTTP://WWW.BELFASTTELEGRAPH.CO.UK/ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC/NEWS/SUPERSTAR-LEONA-ON-SIMON-JEDWARD-THAT-SHOCK-ATTACK-AND-PLAYING-BELFAST-14562481.HTML	BELFAST TELEGRAPH>PUBLISHER=INDEPENDENT NEWS & MEDIA	BELFAST>ACCESS-DATE=12 APRIL 2012,

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2007

Grace Kelly (song)>Grace Kelly”	Mika (singer)>Mika	Universal Music Group>Universal	AMY WINEHOUSE TOPS YEAR END ITUNES CHART>FIRST=GARY	URL=HTTPS://WWW.TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/NEWS/UKNEWS/1572296/AMY-WINEHOUSE-TOPS-YEAR-END-ITUNES-CHART.HTML	THE DAILY TELEGRAPH>LOCATION=LONDON	OCLC=6412514	ACCESS-DATE=12 APRIL 2012,

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2008

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song)#Alexandra Burke>Hallelujah“|Alexandra Burke	Sony BMG>Sony	{{Cn|date=July 2015}}

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2009

Poker Face (Lady Gaga song)>Poker Face“|Lady Gaga	Universal Music Group>Universal	LADY GAGA CROWNED QUEEN OF THE DOWNLOADS>URL=HTTPS://WWW.TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/CULTURE/MUSIC/MUSIC-NEWS/6147367/LADY-GAGA-CROWNED-QUEEN-OF-THE-DOWNLOADS.HTML	THE DAILY TELEGRAPH>LOCATION=LONDON	OCLC=6412514	ACCESS-DATE=12 APRIL 2012,

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2010|“Love the Way You Lie“|Eminem featuring Rihanna

Universal Music Group>Universal	{{Cn|date=July 2020}}

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2011

Someone Like You (Adele song)>Someone Like You“|Adele	Beggars Group>Beggars	{{Cn|date=July 2020}}

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2012|“Somebody That I Used to Know“|Gotye featuring Kimbra

Universal Music Group>Universal	{{Cn|date=July 2020}}

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2013

Blurred Lines (song)>Blurred Lines”	T.I. and Pharrell Williams>Pharrell	Universal Music Group>Universal	{{Cn|date=July 2020}}

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2014

Happy (Pharrell Williams song)>Happy”		Sony Music Entertainment>Sony	HTTP://WWW.OFFICIALCHARTS.COM/CHART-NEWS/THE-OFFICIAL-TOP-40-BIGGEST-SELLING-SINGLES-OF-2014-3389/>TITLE=THE OFFICIAL TOP 40 BIGGEST SELLING SINGLES OF 2014	DATE=1 JANUARY 2015	LAST=COPSEY,

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2015|“Uptown Funk”

Bruno Mars	Sony Music Entertainment>Sony	{{Cn|date=July 2020}}

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2016

7 Years (Lukas Graham song)>7 Years“|Lukas Graham	Warner Music Group>Warner	“The Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2016”. Official Charts Company.

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2017|“Shape of You”

	Warner Music Group>Warner	“The Top 40 biggest songs of 2017 on the Official Chart”. Official Charts Company.

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2018

This Is Me (Keala Settle song)>This Is Me”	The Greatest Showman Ensemble	Warner Music Group>Warner	“The Official Top 40 biggest songs of 2018”. Official Charts Company.

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2019|“Dance Monkey“|Tones And I

Sony Music Entertainment>Sony	{{Cn|date=July 2020}}

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2020|“Blinding Lights”

	Universal Music Group>Universal	HTTPS://WWW.OFFICIALCHARTS.COM/CHART-NEWS/THE-OFFICIAL-TOP-40-BIGGEST-SONGS-OF-2020__29264/>TITLE=THE OFFICIAL TOP 40 BIGGEST SONGS OF 2020	FIRST=ROB	PUBLISHER=OFFICIAL CHARTS COMPANY, 8 January 2024,

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2021

Bad Habits (Ed Sheeran song)>Bad Habits”		Warner Music Group>Warner	HTTPS://WWW.OFFICIALCHARTS.COM/CHART-NEWS/THE-OFFICIAL-TOP-40-BIGGEST-SONGS-OF-2021__34857/>TITLE=THE OFFICIAL TOP 40 BIGGEST SONGS OF 2021	FIRST=GEORGE	PUBLISHER=OFFICIAL CHARTS COMPANY, 8 January 2024,

!scope=row style="text-align:center;“|2022|“As It Was”

	Sony Music Entertainment>Sony	HTTPS://WWW.OFFICIALCHARTS.COM/CHART-NEWS/THE-OFFICIAL-TOP-40-BIGGEST-SONGS-OF-2022__38203/>TITLE=THE OFFICIAL TOP 40 BIGGEST SONGS OF 2022	FIRST=GEORGE	PUBLISHER=OFFICIAL CHARTS COMPANY, 8 January 2024,

See also

• Lists of UK Singles Downloads Chart number ones
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Downloads Chart
• UK Singles Chart
• UK Album Downloads Chart

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

• Official Singles Downloads Chart at the Official Charts Company
• The Official UK Top 20 Download Chart at MTV UK

{{UK Music Charts}}{{Music of the United Kingdom}}