Pop Charts Britannia: 60 Years of the Top 10. BBC 4.
Tonight BBC 4 aired a 90 minute documentary on the evolution of the official singles chart over the past 60 years - from the NME Top 30, through to Top of the Pops and the Radio One Official Chart Show that still runs today.
We are taken on a journey from a time when the consumption of music was relevant to its placement in the charts to the official charts becoming almost entirely irrelevant due to the introduction of illegal downloads and physical sales consequently going through the floor. Some comfort is found in the conclusion, however, as Reggie Yates (Radio 1 DJ) asserts that there has been a revival of the charts. He notes that increasing numbers of people are choosing to legally download through iTunes and though the majority may not be buying hard copies of albums, music is still being consumed in a way that supports both the artists and industry.
The show is still available to view on the BBC iPlayer, here.