Digital rule propels singles up chart: chart rule results in massive second-week chart climbs.(Charts)

The UK singles chart was yesterday (Sunday) set to experience the biggest upward movement of tracks in years, as a new ruling began to fully bite.

Seven tracks within the Top 40 alone were on course to enjoy double-digit or more position moves northwards, all because of a new regulation introduced this month allowing digital sales to count towards the main singles chart a week before an equivalent physical format goes on sale.

In what is expected to become a weekly pattern in the chart, the likes of the RCA Label Group's Pink single Stupid Girls and Atlantic-signed Sean Paul's Temperature--which charted lower down the Top 75 a week ago when only available as downloads--have now accelerated up the chart thanks to the addition of a physical release being issued last week.

Heading the chart's big risers was the Def Jam/Mercury-issued Ne-Yo track So Sick, which was mid-week on course to move from its debut position of 18 the week before to number one, making it the first single to move immediately from outside the Top 10 to number one since The Power by Snap in March 1990. This would represent the biggest move to number one since Ben E King's re-issued Stand By Me leapt 19-1 in February 1987.

Mercury Records president Jason Iley believes the earlier addition of digital sales to the combined singles chart, so improving the chances of tracks growing in stature week by week, has finally brought some movement back to the countdown.

"In the old days, singles climbed the chart and this is replicating the old days. It also allows the consumer to buy a track as soon as they desire" he says.

Ne-Yo's expected rise to number one is also part of a trend this year back to singles climbing to the top, rather than debuting there, as has become the norm since the mid-Nineties. Out of seven releases to make it to number one so far in 2006, three have climbed there, including what would be back-to-back chart-toppers through Ne-Yo and fellow Mercury release, No Tomorrow by ...