Online music plays are to be included in The Official Singles Chart for the first time.
The Official Charts Company has announced the weekly chart list will now factor in the number of times a song has been streamed on the internet.
The new system will count every 100 plays as the equivalent of one record sale and will include singles played via online music services Spotify, Napster, Deezer and Xbox Music.
The Official Charts Company’s chief executive Martin Talbot said: "The Official Singles Chart is the definitive measure of Britain’s music tastes.
"Just as it has evolved through the years to reflect the most popular music in the UK , from 10 inch, to 7-inch, vinyl to cassingles, CD singles to downloads, that is the latest stage of the progression."
The move has been welcomed by indie band ‘Bastille’ – whose track ‘Pompeii’ has become the most streamed track in history.
The group’s frontman Dan Smith told The Mirror newspaper: "I think streaming going into the chart is definitely a good thing.
"For the charts to be fair they have to reflect how people digest music."
The first Official Singles Chart to incorporate streams will be unveiled from 4pm until 7pm on Sunday, July 6 by BBC Radio 1 and the full Top 100 will be published on OfficialCharts.com at 7pm.
Online music plays to be included in singles chart
