Comments so far

Georgia, Athens, Greece
To me, charts just express how many copies an artist's album sells and thus how much airplay it gets! However, that isn't indicative of the quality of the music...it just shows what the audience prefers. There has been too much commercialism in the music industry, this is apparent in the charts, the quality has been lowered, so that's why I've stopped relying on the charts anymore since I was 12, when I took music much more seriously and it became a crucial part of my life.

Stalky - Glenrothes, Fife
There are two kinds of people:1) Musical illiterates who worship Madonna, West Life, Robby Williams, etc. 'on the radio' type, and2) Those who take music seriously and go to support live bands, new or established, because they don't all sound the same (as above)Unfortunately it's the former who buy the singles and put those acts in the charts, while the serious music is always going to be over the heads of 80% of people.Florence and the Machine will be monster - but not in the charts

Nick, US
I quit paying attention to the charts when i actually began to really listen to music. The big record companies that control the distribution of their music choose a beautiful image of a musician that will rake in millions for them. And after their one hit, they are never heard of again. The record companies know that the charts consist of millions of people who are only mildly interested in music, so they find the catchiest, sexiest artist they can get their hands on. this just means that its not the record companies fault that the charts mean nothing. Its actually a rampant case of apathy on the part of the audience. you are better off finding what you like to listen to, rather than following the companie's choices.

Kitty, Essex
With so many different musical styles now, and people being in to far more up-and-coming bands (thanks to friend space websites and alternative radio stations previewing such bands), the charts seem less important than when i was a kid. There wasn't as much 'access' (for want of a better word) to music back in the day unless you were willing to pay a small fortune for all the mags, but with the invention of the web you can find out about new music and information about the bands all at just a click of a mouse, and not feel that you have to listen to what is being played on mainstream radio. Downloads have only just started to feature in the charts and it's making them a tad more diverse than before, but you can always predict the new reality tv show winner will be number 1. Having said all that, it is nice to see when your band of the moment has a place in the chart. It feels like you have done your bit to support them and their hard work is paying off. Myself, i've always liked the idea of being in to a little known band and seeing them sell out the venues they play, and go multi-whatever on cd sales, and that's not due to the charts.

ed
NO.

Danny Rant, Llandudno
I do a Roundtable type show on Tudno FM, Llandudno's community radio station, and am finding it increasingly difficult to find appropriate songs which are released after an album. There is only any relevance when a new song comes out before an album and then after that most people just download songs they like so subsequent singles are totally irrelevant. I think it is a real shame that the single doesn't really exist anymore and I don't think the benefits of internet downloading has really replaced the joy of singles. We are increasingly being left with internet bands with no soul. Forget what sort of planet we are leaving for our children, worry about the culture we are leaving for them because science can save the planet but nothing can save creativity at this rate.

Ben Gallivan, London
Nowadays, I have no interest in the charts - mainly because of the stupidity of the people that are buying the music. There are too many fads, too many one-hit-wonders, too much faux R'n'B. Every now and again, I find that a song I like has actually made it pretty far... but it's usually down to someone else to tell me. I can honestly say that during the long wet summer of 2007, I didn't know what this 'Umbrella-ella-ella-ay-ay-ay' nonsense was all about - the first time I'd heard it was on the following Boxing Day.And what with the advent of the 'reality show', it's less and less likely that you'll get a handful of genuinely decent songs in the top 10 each year, let alone number one. If less established bands make it more than 2 weeks in the Top 40, then I'll maybe start checking the charts out more often, but as it is, with the Alphabeats, Sean Kingstons and Westlifes of this world vying for the top spot, then I think I'll just stick to my 'underground' activities.