Music downloads get their very own pop chart

The UK's fondness for music downloads has spawned a new virtual singles chart.

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has announced it will be running a chart of the most popular downloads from 1 September with numbers gleaned from song-shop staples such as iTunes, mycokemusic.com and Virgin.

The chart will be compiled by the Official Chart Company (OCC) and will be sponsored by Coca Cola. Like its traditional, physical-format counterpart, the download chart will be broadcast on Radio 1 but will initially feature only the top 20 singles.

To give music fans a sneak preview of what the chart could look like, the BPU unveiled this week's top twenty downloads.

Newly reformed noise popsters The Pixies scooped number one with single Bam Thwok, available exclusively from iTunes. Although the tune is only available through Apple's download service, it's not surprising that the US band have nabbed the top slot – iTunes shifted 450,000 songs in its first week, which is almost as many as rivals have sold in the months before its launch.

While the Pixies offering is new, the download chart makers have to consider the popularity of golden oldies. If a decades-old track experiences a resurgence, will it still feature in the charts? An OCC spokesman told silicon.com he thought it was unlikely but added that an antique tune would still be a valid entry.

"If that's what people are choosing to buy, the charts should reflect that," he said.