The Official Charts Company (OCC), previously called the Chart Information Network (CIN) and then The Official UK Charts Company, compiles various "official" UK record charts, including the UK Singles Chart, the UK Albums Chart, and the UK Official Download Chart, as well as genre-specific and music video charts.
The OCC produces its charts by gathering and combining sales data from retailers through market researchers Millward Brown. OCC claims to cover 99% of the singles market and 95% of the album market, and aims to collect data from any retailer who sells more than 100 chart items per week.
The OCC is operated jointly by the British Phonographic Industry and the Entertainment Retailers Association ERA (formerly the British Association of Record Dealers BARD). Since 1 July 1997, CIN and then OCC have compiled the official charts. Prior to this date, the charts were produced by a succession of market research companies, beginning with the British Market Research Bureau in 1969, and later by Gallup. Before the production of the "official" charts, various less comprehensive charts were produced, most notably by the NME, which began its chart in 1952; some of these older charts (including NME's earliest singles charts) are now part of the official OCC canon.
All of the OCC's charts are published weekly on Sunday nights, and cover sales for the preceding week, Sunday to Saturday. Genre-specific charts include UK Dance Chart, UK Indie Chart, UK R&B Chart, UK Rock Chart and the Asian Download Chart. Other charts: Scottish Singles and Albums, Welsh Singles and Albums, UK Budget Albums. It also charts the UK DVD Chart. From May 2012, a new chart, the Official Streaming Chart is being published on the Official Charts website, and in magazine Music Week.
On 5 September 2008 The Official UK Charts Company rebranded itself as The Official Charts Company and introduced a new company logo.
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