Electronic Charts

[Vladimir Valette]

Hey people, just a random thought. With all the talk about how the genre is growing and all that jazz. Has anybody thought of the idea of possibly doing a synthpop singles chart or album chart, kinda like Billboard type of thing? It would give better visibility to the bands that are charted and gives a more accurate read on who the movers and shakers are. Anyone agree? Disagree?


Just a thought...back to stalking mode.....

Vladimir Valette

[Peter_Carter]

This is a great idea, but it seems unworkable with the genre in its current state. None of the labels or shops seem too into reporting actual sales figures, which is probably what it would take to put such a chart in place. And if we go by radio plays, which shows? Which DJs? And how about fan votes? We run into the same problems as the Synthpop Awards. And I think it's better that there aren't charts; this way, the music we find we find through recommendations of friends, through exploration, and through personal contact.

Really, I think most modern synthpop artists are nice people, and although some of them probably want the bragging rights of this or that chart or award, I think they would all agree in the end that it's the whole scene that should be advanced. I think what we should be hoping for is that A Different Drum or Synthphony or Ninthwave finally get massive distribution deals when major labels and distributors see that the genre is viable. I think that would help the scene more than one artist being at the top of the charts.

[Mike Gjennestad]

i would have to agree. Distribution and airplay are the things necessary for synthpop to make big waves in the US market.


Let's hope that this day comes soon.


mike

[Vladimir Valette]

Maybe there will be a label that will do what Sire did in the early eighties where they took all the indie bands from England and released them here. Can't go wrong with their roster... Erasure, DM, the Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, Primal Scream.... Need I go on. Maybe the new Sire can do it again.... Distribution is the key but exposure is more important.


Vladimir Valette

[Todd Durrant]

For the reasons already mentioned here, that would be hard to pull off and have any sort of accuracy. However, ADD will have a "record pool" page up next month, and that page will have a chart built up by putting together the reported top 20 most played tracks from several different synthpop clubs around the country who are active on the scene. That will give us an idea of what is actually being played in the clubs (and will undoubtedly include industrial/gothic/EBM since those are played in the same kinds of clubs). As the record pool grows with more active club DJ's, that chart should become at least an accurate, real-world, dance chart for synthpop.

-Todd

[Synapse]

I think that is an excellent idea, Todd. What we really need to get away from as an electronic community is the old school idea that we need major labels to help us succeed. The fact is, most of us who are involved in the scene truly have a passion for it. Most major label folks have just one thing in mind and that is how much money can they make off exploiting an artist. I KNOW this because I've talked to plenty of them.

The solution, I feel requires unity. If everyone in the scene works together, standing up for what they believe in we all can make the scene as large as we want it to become. Look at Rave culture. It's huge on it's own, and is largely controlled by the DJs, Artists, and fans of the music. This is one of the topics that will be discussed at SynthCon in one of the round tables.

I think that it would be a great idea if we could set up a DJ playlist chart, coupled with a request chart that we could all reference. I would definitely get something like that implemented on Electrogarden.

Cheerz,

[Mike Gjennestad]

HI ALL!!!!





That is definitely a great point. I would feel better about the future of this music if it were in the control of those who love it and want to see it succeed. (still need to find better ways of distribution.)



mike

[Ninthwaver]

Hi,
Just thought I'd take a minute from sending out throusands of CDs a week ;-) to reply.
I think that Todd has a great idea and look forward to the charts.
I am a chart hound. When I discovered Amazon had all sorts of charts I could barely control myself. I read billboard every week just for the charts (and not their curvacious centerfolds!)
But... charts are bascailly cr%p anyway. I never trust 'em and it would be too weird for such a small scene to try and put one together anyway.
Ooops, UPS is here to take my 27 boxes off to Musicland
LOL!
-Dave

[Avil]

I think the chart on ADD could be a nice start for a synthpop chart...Someday there will be a synthpopchart just as the pop/rock charts...Hopefully.