Downloads: a new kind of chart is emerging, say Vodafone

It’s a tally that marks out Vodafone as a serious player in the Irish music charts and demonstrates the impact of mobile telephones on music consumption in Ireland.
Recent figures also reveal that digital downloads now account for a whopping 56% of the Top 40 Singles market since the launch of the new combined Irish singles chart on 1st January 2007. The surprising reappearance of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the new Top 20 official IRMA/Chart Track report last week displayed a significant shift in the choice available to music lovers and the influence this has had on the overall shape of the charts. Vodafone was responsible for 85% of the sales of the track, catapulting it back into the Top 20 for the first time since 1991.
Over 650,000 full tracks were downloaded in 2006, a massive increase in sales since Full Track Music Downloads were launched on Vodafone live! in June 2005. The most popular track of 2006 was Shakira's dance-floor mover, ‘Hips Don't Lie’.
“Customers are not only downloading mainstream pop,” a Vodafone spokesman told Hot Press. “Irish people are showing a particular appetite for local acts like Director, Damien Rice, Fish Go Deep, Mundy, The Blizzards and Bell X1. Not surprisingly, the ever-popular Irish anthem ‘Fairytale of New York’ was the most downloaded track over the Christmas period.”
Vodafone sees the newly democratised charts as a way of continuing to promote unsigned Irish acts. Bands such as Delorentos, The Rags and Blast Space acts can increase their profile and achieve more recognition through a new channel.
“The next challenge is to assist a local unsigned act in charting,” said Martin Wells, Vodafone Ireland’s Head of Consumer Data. “It is widely known that Gary Raymond, manager of Essex band Koopa, acknowledged that mobile sales were largely responsible for the band reaching Number 17 in the UK Mid-Weeks last week. We hope to encourage similar artists to approach Vodafone as a new way of gaining exposure among music followers."
With a selection of over 357,000 tracks, Vodafone customers can avail of the cheapest rates in the Irish market. Full tracks are great value at only 75c each, as part of an 8 track bundle, a special New Year offer that will continue until 15 February.