The announcement of the UK’s Official Chart will move to a new Friday slot in July.
BBC Radio 1, the official broadcast home of the Official Chart show, will adjust accordingly, with Greg James unveiling the week’s Official Top 40 singles between 4pm and 6pm every Friday.
The Official Chart broadcast currently takes an hour longer, presented live on BBC Radio 1 from 4-7pm on Sundays.
The move by the Official Charts Company coincides with a much-debated shift by the global record industry to a new synchronised worldwide music release day of Friday, also starting this summer.
“Radio 1 now operates in an instant digital world. We are committed to staying relevant to young fans of today and tomorrow.”
Ben Cooper, Radio 1
The UK charts will reflect sales and streams across seven days, from 00.01 on Friday through to midnight on Thursday evening.
Controller of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Ben Cooper said: “The days of recording your favourite songs from the chart onto cassette are long gone and Radio 1 now operates in an instant digital world. So when the global release date changes to a Friday we will also move The Official Chart, continuing our commitment to stay relevant to young music fans of today and tomorrow.”
Greg James said: “It’s great that Radio 1 can make big statements like this. Radio has been under scrutiny over the last few years to keep up with the internet but with the popularity of our content online as well as out of the speakers we are proving that we’re more relevant than ever. We can react quicker than TV and most online outlets so the reality is the oldest medium has become the most vital and strangely the most reactive. The Chart must feel like it’s providing news, not just confirmation of something the listeners already knew. It’s a privilege to host it and even better that I don’t have to work Sundays.”
Martin Talbot, Official Charts Company chief executive, said: “This is an exciting new era for the Official Singles Chart – following the integration of streams, with the move to a new, more high profile slot. BBC Radio 1 has been the home of the UK’s Official Singles Chart for more than 40 years and we are delighted that they are as excited about future plans for the chart as we are.”
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