Midweeks
Encyclopedia
Midweeks are lists of sales figures for music album
s and singles
in the United Kingdom
during the period between the weekly chart publication on Sundays. They are officially known as "sales flashes" but more frequently referred to as midweeks as they are released during the middle of week (Tuesday-Friday).
Midweeks are meant to only be available to music industry insiders who pay the Official Charts Company a fee for the data. The figures help management and record companies gauge how well their artists are selling in advance of the official announcement of the charts on Sunday evening. The first figures of the week are released around 10.45 on Tuesday morning based on sales from the day before (as well as Sunday). This allows a sales strategy to be modified during the week of a single's release based on its performance, e.g. more advertising or media appearances for the artist and hopefully help boost the final chart position at the end of the week.
However, precisely because of their role in predicting the final chart, midweeks are highly sought after by music enthusiasts and fans of artists who are releasing albums or singles. Those who receive the figures are prohibited from re-distributing them but they are always leaked and several websites, blogs and forums publish them. The OCC occasionally threaten legal action, but generally turn a blind eye so long as actual sales figures are avoided. Many showbiz
columns in tabloid newspapers on Wednesdays also announce who is likely to be number one on Sunday.
The final published chart is not always well-predicted by midweeks. For example, some artists often sell well during the early part of the week because loyal fans purchase the new releases right when they hit the shops. But as the week progresses, casual music buyers become a stronger force and those who sell primarily to their established fanbase see their sales tail off. For instance, Truesteppers
& Dane Bowers
ft. Victoria Beckham
had the midweek number one with "Out of Your Mind
", but Spiller
ft. Sophie Ellis Bextor with "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
" got the end of week number one in just one day, Saturday. In the week ending 5 July 2009, the midweeks were very unreliable, as far as the #1 anyway. The sales flashes showed "Man In The Mirror
" by Michael Jackson
as #1 all week, but this got overtaken on Saturday by Cascada
's "Evacuate The Dancefloor
". This isn't too rare an occurrence, but strangely, the same happened in the albums midweeks: La Roux
's debut album La Roux
was shown at #1 from Tuesday to Friday, but was overtaken on Saturday by Michael Jackson
's Essential
collection.
In January 2010 the Official Charts Company (OCC) announced that BBC Radio 1
would be revealing midweek chart positions. Martin Talbot of the OCC said that "It could even be the biggest change to the chart in almost 60 years".
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s and singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the period between the weekly chart publication on Sundays. They are officially known as "sales flashes" but more frequently referred to as midweeks as they are released during the middle of week (Tuesday-Friday).
Midweeks are meant to only be available to music industry insiders who pay the Official Charts Company a fee for the data. The figures help management and record companies gauge how well their artists are selling in advance of the official announcement of the charts on Sunday evening. The first figures of the week are released around 10.45 on Tuesday morning based on sales from the day before (as well as Sunday). This allows a sales strategy to be modified during the week of a single's release based on its performance, e.g. more advertising or media appearances for the artist and hopefully help boost the final chart position at the end of the week.
However, precisely because of their role in predicting the final chart, midweeks are highly sought after by music enthusiasts and fans of artists who are releasing albums or singles. Those who receive the figures are prohibited from re-distributing them but they are always leaked and several websites, blogs and forums publish them. The OCC occasionally threaten legal action, but generally turn a blind eye so long as actual sales figures are avoided. Many showbiz
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
columns in tabloid newspapers on Wednesdays also announce who is likely to be number one on Sunday.
The final published chart is not always well-predicted by midweeks. For example, some artists often sell well during the early part of the week because loyal fans purchase the new releases right when they hit the shops. But as the week progresses, casual music buyers become a stronger force and those who sell primarily to their established fanbase see their sales tail off. For instance, Truesteppers
Truesteppers
True Steppers were a British UK garage production duo, consisting of Jonny Lisners and Andy Lysandrou.They had success with Dane Bowers on "Buggin'", which reached #6 in the UK Singles Chart in April 2000....
& Dane Bowers
Dane Bowers
Dane Bowers is an English R&B singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer. He was a part of R&B boyband Another Level between 1997 and 2000 when he performed on seven Top 10 singles...
ft. Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
had the midweek number one with "Out of Your Mind
Out of Your Mind
"Out of Your Mind" is a song by True Steppers & Dane Bowers featuring Victoria Beckham. It was Victoria Beckham's first solo outing. This single was released on August 14, 2000. The single was tipped to be #1 after a military promotional campaign and a series of record signings...
", but Spiller
Spiller
Cristiano Spiller is an Italian DJ.He had a #1 hit in the UK, Italy, Australia and other countries with the hit single, "Groovejet ", featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released in 2000...
ft. Sophie Ellis Bextor with "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
"Groovejet " is a single by Spiller, featuring vocals by British singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The single was released in August 2000 by Positiva Records. It peaked at #1 in the UK, New Zealand, Ireland and Australia, as well as charting at number three on the American Hot Dance Chart...
" got the end of week number one in just one day, Saturday. In the week ending 5 July 2009, the midweeks were very unreliable, as far as the #1 anyway. The sales flashes showed "Man In The Mirror
Man in the Mirror
"Man in the Mirror" is a song recorded by Michael Jackson and written and composed by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. It peaked at number one in the United States when released as a single in January 1988 off his seventh solo album, Bad. It is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed songs and...
" by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
as #1 all week, but this got overtaken on Saturday by Cascada
Cascada
Cascada is a German Eurodance act most famous for their hit singles "Everytime We Touch", "What Hurts the Most", and "Evacuate the Dancefloor"...
's "Evacuate The Dancefloor
Evacuate the Dancefloor
"Evacuate the Dancefloor" is a song by German group Cascada from their third studio album of the same name. The song features a guest rap from famous German rapper Carlprit and was released as the album's lead single on 29 June 2009; debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart for the week of 5...
". This isn't too rare an occurrence, but strangely, the same happened in the albums midweeks: La Roux
La Roux
La Roux are an English electropop duo made up of singer, keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Eleanor Kate Jackson, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid. Jackson describes their relationship as "very much a half and half sharing situation... not like a singer producer outfit", but also...
's debut album La Roux
La Roux (album)
La Roux is the eponymous debut album by English electropop duo La Roux. Released in the United Kingdom on 29 June 2009 by Polydor Records, the album includes the hit singles "In for the Kill" and "Bulletproof", which peaked at numbers two and one on the UK Singles Chart, respectively...
was shown at #1 from Tuesday to Friday, but was overtaken on Saturday by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's Essential
The Essential Michael Jackson
-U.S. version:-Limited Edition 3.0 bonus disc:-Charts:-Year-end charts:-Certifications:-See also:* List of number-one albums of 2009 * List of number-one albums of 2009 * List of number-one albums from the 2000s...
collection.
In January 2010 the Official Charts Company (OCC) announced that BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
would be revealing midweek chart positions. Martin Talbot of the OCC said that "It could even be the biggest change to the chart in almost 60 years".