The IMI a.k.a Indian Music Industry, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry in India, today released its first-ever International Top 20 Singles Chart India via their Instagram handle. What does it mean for K-POP fans in India?
“The introduction of the IMI International Top 20 Singles Chart is a great milestone for music in India and is an important step in the development of further charts to capture the full extent of India’s unique music culture and the vibrant and growing music industry in the market.”
– Lewis Morrison, Head of Global Charts and Certifications, IFPI
Music listeners in India will now have an official chart that lists their favourite artists and their songs with more precise data. The charts will be formulated using streaming figures of international singles compiled by global music technology leaders BMAT will be updated weekly on Mondays by sundown. BMAT is a music innovation company with a mission to index all music usage and ownership data. According to the Press Release, “The aim of the IMI International Top 20 Singles Chart is to make it easy for music
enthusiasts to discover fresh and exciting music.”
The Top 20 chart is reviewed by the IMI Charts committee composed of experts from record labels such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Times Music, and Warner Music Group.
The IMI Charts Committee consists of the following names:
Rajat Kakar, Managing Director India, Sony Music Entertainment
Arjun Sankalia, Sr. Director, Sony Music Entertainment
Mandar Thakur, COO, Times Music
Vinit Thakkar, Chief Operating Officer, Universal Music India
Jay Mehta, Managing Director, Warner Music Group
Blaise Fernandes, CEO & President, IMI
Dema Therese Maria, Lead Charts & Certifications, IMI
When the First Top 20 Singles Chart Chart was released on ‘World Music Day’, it was no surprise that BTS had three secured places in the chart. ‘Butter’ by BTS topped the charts while the group’s other releases, ‘Dynamite’ ranked eight and ‘Life Goes On’ charted in the twentieth place. After being delighted by the present list, K-POP fans are anticipating even more for the upcoming lists and their favourite K-POP artists rankings.
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This feat by BTS is a great win for the K-POP fans in India as it continues to mark the presence of K-POP fans in India and its seals the standing that BTS has in India. The Indian Music Industry (IMI) is the apex body that represents the interest of the music companies a.k.a. Record labels on a pan-India basis. IMI is an IFPI affiliate which is the global body that represents the recorded music industry worldwide. IFPI is the voice of the recorded music industry worldwide, representing over 8,000 record company members across the globe. By launching the Top 20 Singles Chart, Indian music lovers get to have their own authentic chart that ranks artists by calculating fans’ preferences. This thus means that K-POP as a genre will be included alongside other genres when the top charts are being counted. Before this, the charting of K-POP artists in India only took into account charts of specific platforms like Spotify, iTunes, YouTube. It now looks like the K-POP fans will have to work harder to make their favorites chart in the IMI Charts but on the brighter side, this means that K-POP fans now have an added opportunity to continue showing the presence of K-POP in India.
On the occasion of the IMI chart launch, this is what representatives from IMI and BMAT had to say:
“I am delighted to launch the International Charts – an inaugural consumer-centric foray by IMI, which is largely a recorded music trade body. The charts represent what consumers in India are listening to. Globally charts are an effective search and discovery tool, I expect the same to happen in India. Given our country’s socio-eco-cultural diversity, the charts roll out will be in phases. Phase two will see the launch of regional charts in two Indian regional languages. Once we get the operations and formulae right, we plan to launch the IMI NATIONAL CHARTS – our endeavour to highlight the music consumers in India enjoy – on a weekly basis.” says Blaise Fernandes, CEO & President, IMI.
“As the official charts compilers for 22 countries alongside IFPI, we’re excited to be partnering with IMI to do India’s charts. It’s a pleasure to be using our technical expertise to keep India up to date on their huge streaming market as well as help them make their culture more accessible to international consumers.” adds Enric Calabuig, VP Charts, BMAT.
Source: IMI Press Release
