Rise of the stick singles.

Universal plans a wealth of USB-released pop product throughout Q4 in the wake of revised OCC chart rulings introduced to counter ailing physical market, with plans to transfer format to albums

Universal is turning to some of its biggest acts as it prepares to exploit recently-overhauled chart rules to fully launch USB as a new physical singles format.

Forthcoming singles by the likes of Mika, Sugababes, Kanye West and Amy Winehouse will all be issued in the USB format over the next three months to coincide with their respective CD release date.

The major is also focusing on the physical albums market, with plans to build on its first-ever USB album release, Bob Marley And The Wailers' seminal Exodus in May, by issuing a series of current and back catalogue titles in the format, starting either by the end of this year or early in 2008.

"It's taken some time to change the chart rules to allow USB singles to be chart eligible and we think for this to be given a chance you've got to go with your strongest releases," says Universal commercial director Brian Rose.

Although USB albums will not yet be chart eligible, changes to chart rules agreed in August now allow a variety of new physical formats into the singles chart, including USB releases, one-track CD singles and CD singles with links to online content.

These were agreed against a backdrop of a continuing sharp fall in physical singles sales, with the market shrinking by 39.6% in the first six months of this year to 4.20m units.