Indies Get Euro Chart

The success of indie acts will now be monitored via dedicated pan-European charts produced by IMPALA and Nielsen Music.

The independent music companies’ organisation and the U.S. market data and research company will base the charts on digital downloads and radio airplay across the continent.

Nielsen will compile data for two charts, an independent European digital download chart and a European radio airplay chart.

The project will involve publishing charts on a quarterly basis and year-end charts.

To launch the venture IMPALA and Nielsen have already compiled year-end charts for 2011, which had Adele at the top of both.

Her “Someone Like You” topped the download chart and “Rolling In The Deep” was No. 1 in the airplay chart.

IMPALA executive chair Helen Smith said that very little information is available about independent music on a pan-European level, and the new initiative is designed to level the playing field and provide a deeper and more diverse picture of the most successful music in Europe.

IMPALA also has its own award schemes to help promote cultural diversity and new talent and highlight the artistic contribution of independent music.

So far, the award-winning acts include Efterklang, Adele, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Carla Bruni, Manu Chao, Katie Melua, Franz Ferdinand, The Prodigy, and Placebo.