NZ Album Chart rules change to include gig sales
RIANZ have announced that to reflect buying pattern changes in the declining retail market, sales of music albums at artists' gigs will from now on count towards the Official NZ Album Chart. Previously only traditional retail sales counted toward the chart, with online sales added about two years ago.
The new changes open up the chart rules around who is eligible to file sales returns, bringing artists themselves into the equation. Venue sales returns will have to be signed by the artist, the venue and the record company, with the sales figures counted as being made on the day of the gig and eligible for that week's chart. Strict rules will govern how the returns from gigs are managed and CEO Campbell Smith says RIANZ have the power of audit over every return with some pretty severe penalties for falsifying sales information.
Doubtless the major labels will be keen to take full advantage and propel their big name stadium acts back into the charts to spin out the benefit of their tours even further, and with overall sales volumes slipping ever lower the move may even provide occasional advantage to local acts playing comprehensive tours.
