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Told You So: Catalog Sales To Be Included in Billboard 200

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BillboardWe’ve been bitching about this almost every week since Michael Jackson died. And before. But now, according to HITS, the honchos at Billboard have finally relented to our unveering logic and impeccable taste. Starting with the sales week of November 16-22, they will include back catalog and reissues in their main chart, the Billboard 200.

“The events of 2009 and the continuing creativity in the repackaging of catalog titles, have led us to the conclude that the Billboard 200 would be best served presenting the true best sellers in the country, without any catalog-related rules or stipulations, to the media, pubic and our readers,” read the letter from the guys in charge.

We’ve been saying that excluding catalog sales was completely anachronistic in today’s environment, and it’s nice to know that Billboard agrees. The Billboard 200 will finally show the best selling albums for the week, regardless of when they were first released.

You’re welcome.

This is the first major chart rules revision since 2007 when they started allowing sales from exclusive retailers to be included in the Billboard 200, which allowed the Eagles‘ Walmart-exclusive to bump Britney Spears out of number one.

Via New Music Tipsheet.

2 thoughts on “Told You So: Catalog Sales To Be Included in Billboard 200”

  2. Update: The official word from Billboard.biz.

    In essence, the Billboard 200 will reflect the Nielsen SoundScan sales data that has populated the Top Comprehensive Albums chart, which has appeared in the magazine periodically this year and has resided in the billboard.biz chart menu the past three years. Replacing the Top Comprehensive Albums chart online will be Top Current Albums, which will utilize the current/catalog criteria that has fueled the Billboard 200 in recent years. That rule, in place since 1991, stipulates that an album that ranks below No. 100 on the chart, is more than 18 months old, and does not have a current charting single at radio, would be removed from the Billboard 200 and other corresponding album charts on which it has appeared. While the catalog rule will no longer apply to the Billboard 200, it will remain in effect on all other current-based album charts.

    “The events of 2009 and the continuing creativity in the repackaging of catalog titles have led us to the conclude that the Billboard 200 would be best served presenting the true best-sellers in the country, without any catalog-related rules or stipulations, to our readers, the media and music fans,” says Silvio Pietroluongo, Billboard’s director of charts. “The ability of consumers to impulsively purchase new or catalog titles electronically has changed music sales behavior. There is a more immediate cause and effect between artist exposure and album sales in this day and age, and the Billboard 200 should reflect this activity, regardless of an album’s release date.”

    Interesting that the catalog rule has been in place since 1991, the year the charts started using SoundScan data.

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