Downloads race begins: countdown to first official chart nears final stages as Napster crashes party with own chart.(Downloads)

The music industry is readying for D-Day, this week with the roll-out of the UK's first official Download Chart.

Eleven months after data tests were first carried out, the most-anticipated new music countdown in decades will arrive on Wednesday in what is set to become a weekly showcase for the fledgling legal download market.

"September 1, 2004 will go down as an historic date in the history of the UK recording industry," says BPI executive chairman Peter Jamieson. "The launch of the official UK Download Chart will provide a real promotional focus for the emerging download market and will serve to drive consumer interest even higher."

Early indications at the end of last week suggested that BMG signings Westlife, were leading the race to top the first chart, with their live version of Flying Without Wings, one of a number of digital-only tracks released by labels into the market last week in a bid to Lop the inaugural countdown. Muse. Snow Patrol and Starsailor are among the, other acts competing with digital exclusives, but they face competition from the likes of Shapeshifters, whose Lola's Theme last Friday became the final number one in the series of download test charts (see p29).

"It's looking good for Westlife," says BMG music division ...