The Official Charts Company has redefined the established million sales landmark to include streams for the first time.
Although streaming data was introduced for the singles chart in 2015 - and later revamped - the million sellers has been an exclusive club based on pure sales. Only 169 tracks achieved this feat in the 65-year history of the Official Chart, but the streaming rule change has now swelled that number to 311.
The million seller category will now be open to streaming, using the standard formula of 100 streams equated to one sale or download.
According to Official Charts Company data, in the last year 98m singles have been sold in the UK and music fans have generated 44 billion audio streams.
NOW That’s What I Call a Million, out on October 13, showcases the ‘digital millionaires’ with streams and sales combined. Opening with The Killers’ Mr Brightside (which came very close to the magic million mark on pure sales alone), the compilation also includes Ellie Goulding (Love Me Like You Do), Justin Bieber (Sorry), Little Mix (Black Magic), Bastille (Pompeii), The Weeknd (Can’t Feel My Face) and Rag’N’Bone Man (Human).
Alex McCloy, digital director at NOW Music, said: “The consumption of music is constantly evolving, the 63 tracks on NOW That’s What I Call a Million embrace that, with a grand total of 1.8million physical sales, 40.9 million digital downloads and 4.36 billion audio streams in the UK alone.”
Martin Talbot, chief executive, Official Charts Company, added: “For six decades, hitting the million mark has been the landmark achievement for all of the world's greatest artists - reflecting sales of the biggest hits of each respective era. Today, in an era redefined by streaming, it makes sense to redefine this list and create a new set of 'millionaires', spanning the old world and the new.
"We are delighted that Now Music is reflecting this new way of looking at the world through our Now That's What I Call A Million collaboration, featuring many of the greatest tunes of the 21st Century. There is genuinely something for every lover of modern pop music on this fantastic collection."
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