Chart Campaigns Explained for Independent Artists

Charts still matter to some artists: a chart placement can help a story, a pitch or a booking. But chart rules are strict, they differ between countries and charts, and they change. This guide covers the questions to ask before planning for one.

Know which chart you mean

Sales charts, streaming charts, genre charts and download charts each count different things. Read the official rules for the specific chart you are targeting, including what counts as a sale or stream and which sources are excluded.

Concentrate real demand

Chart campaigns work by concentrating genuine purchases and listens into the tracking week. That means telling your audience exactly when and where to buy or stream, and why it matters to you.

Stay inside the rules

Never use bulk buying, bots or any scheme that inflates numbers artificially. Charts audit for this, and invalid activity can be removed or lead to penalties.

Plan the story around it

A chart placement is useful only if you use it: in your bio, in pitches to media and bookers, and in a thank-you message to fans who helped.

Questions to ask before you start

• Is my audience large and engaged enough for this chart?
• Do I have a release format the chart counts, such as downloads?
• What else will this campaign do for me if I do not chart?

MusicPromoToday describes how it handles chart campaigns within the rules for independent releases.