‘Crazy’ made headlines in the UK as being the first single to make it to no. 1 based on downloads only, after a rule update was brought into effect last month. Previously, downloads were counted in the chart figures, but only when the track had a corresponding physical release.
The song’s brought into question the role of downloads in the Irish charts, which are compiled by ChartTrack for the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). Currently, downloads do not count at all towards chart figures.
But Clive Leacy, company secretary of IRMA, explained that it’s in negotiations with download sites like iTunes to bring an official download chart into effect by 1 July.
“For the moment there would be a separate download chart in addition to a physical sales chart, to see the initial effect of downloads in the charts.
The UK market works differently to Ireland, so it wouldn’t necessarily be representative of single sales to work in the same way. For example ‘Jumbo Breakfast Roll’ by Pat Shortt was at number one before Gnarls Barkley and the physical sales for that are high, but who’s going to be downloading it? We’ve seen some test figures, and there’s a strong possibility that for a lot of the local repertoire, downloads generally wouldn’t be that significant.”
However Leacy was quick to point out that the intermediate move was only cautionary, and after an initial period of testing, “it wouldn’t be a huge process to consolidate both those charts”.
Gnarls Barkley, the band to revive interest in downloads-in-the-charts issue, are no strangers to innovation. They’re an American duo comprised of Atlanta hip-hop artist Cee-Lo and producer Danger Mouse (real name: Brian Burton), who was responsible for the Gorillaz’ Demon Days.
Their debut album St. Elsewhere, from which ‘Crazy’ is taken, is released on April 21, with an Electric Picnic appearance to follow in September.