In recent weeks, new music chart rules launched in the UK allowing all music downloads to count even when there is no accompanying physical release. This allows any downloadable track to appear in the charts. The BBC has now changed its playlist methods to include tracks three weeks prior to download release date. As a result, its possible for tracks to disappear from the BBC playlist in advance of the physical release date.

The upshot of this could be that physical single releases become marginalised to the detriment of physical record stores (regardless of genre or sector), driving the music world even further into the digital realm.

HMV has already ditched the official singles chart (what’s the point of having a chart in a physical store, when that chart includes tracks that are only downloadable) and profits are down.

How long will it be before a major record chain collapses?