List of UK Singles Downloads Chart number ones of the 2000s
The UK Singles Downloads Chart is a weekly music chart that ranks the most-downloaded singles in the United Kingdom. During the 2000s, the chart was compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the British music industry, and was based solely on non-subscription music downloads from selected online music stores.[1][2] It was compiled using weekly sales from Sunday to Saturday, and was published each Wednesday afternoon, so as not to clash with the Sunday evening announcement of the UK Singles Chart.[2]
The chart was founded in September 2004 as the UK Official Download Chart, with the first single to top the chart being a live version of "Flying Without Wings" by Irish boy band Westlife.[3] By the end of the decade, 109 further singles had topped the chart. The most downloaded single of the 2000s was "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga.[4] Released in 2009, the song was downloaded 779,000 times, and topped the chart for three weeks. "Just Dance", also by Gaga, and "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon were the third and second highest selling downloads of the decade respectively.[4] The single that spent the longest time at number one was "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, which spent 11 weeks at the top and became the UK's 18th best-selling download of the 2000s.[2][4]
The most successful artist of the decade was Barbadian singer Rihanna, who featured on five different number-one singles for a total of 13 weeks. The most successful record label was Universal Music Group; with an artist roster that included Rihanna, The Black Eyed Peas and U2, Universal spent 110 weeks at number one with 40 different singles. The final number one of the 2000s was "Killing in the Name", a 1993 single by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, which was pushed to the top of the chart as a result of an online campaign to prevent Joe McElderry, the 2009 winner of the X Factor, from reaching number one.[5] "Killing in the Name" sold over 500,000 copies in one week, making it the UK's fastest-selling digital download of all time.[6]
Chart history[]
Before the inauguration of the download chart, only sales of physical formats—such as CD, vinyl and cassette tape—contributed towards a single's position on the UK music charts. From the late 1990s onwards, these sales began to significantly decline.[7] By the start of 2004, they had dropped to their lowest level in over 35 years, with singles needing to sell only 35,000 copies to reach number one.[8] One year later, a limited edition re-release of "One Night" / "I Got Stung" by Elvis Presley topped the chart with 22,000 copies, making it the lowest selling number-one single at that time.[9] Conversely, the music download market was growing considerably: during the same 2004–05 period, sales of downloads grew by 743%, and overtook physical sales in December 2004.[10][11] The following year, the UK's online music revenue reached €42.1 million.[12]
"The [first download chart] proved that for the moment online purchases need to exist in their own separate bubble, if only until stunts such as Westlife releasing a live version of a five year old song as an online exclusive cease to have any meaningful impact."
— UK chart commentator James Masterton[13]
As a result of this growth, the OCC were commissioned in 2004 to compile a new music chart based solely on the UK's download sales, which was initially sponsored by Coca-Cola.[14] A "sample" download chart was trialled for 10 weeks, with the first number one being "Bam Thwok" by American rock band Pixies.[15][16] After this ten-week period, the UK Official Download Chart was launched on 1 September 2004, with Westlife achieving the first official number one.[17] The group topped the chart with a live version of their 1999 single "Flying Without Wings", a move that UK chart commentator James Masterton branded a "stunt".[13]
By 2007 the UK had become Europe's largest consumer of online music, with almost 78 million tracks being downloaded that year – by the end of the decade this figure had nearly doubled.[12][18] Sales of downloaded singles were finally incorporated into the UK Singles Chart in April 2005[7][19] – as of February 2015, the UK Official Download Chart continues to be published each week by the OCC, under the name the UK Singles Downloads Chart.[20]
Number ones[]
No. | nth single to top the UK Official Download Chart |
---|---|
N/A | Reached number one on an unofficial, "sample" download chart[15] |
re | Return of a single to number one |
Most-downloaded single of the decade[4] |
Contents |
---|
2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010s → |
No. | Artist[a] | Single[a] | Record label[a] | Reached number one[a] | Weeks at number one[a] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | |||||
N/A | Pixies | "Bam Thwok" | Not on label[b] | 23 June 2004 | 1 |
N/A | Maroon 5 | "This Love" | Sony | 30 June 2004 | 1 |
N/A | The Streets | "Dry Your Eyes" | Warner | 7 July 2004 | 5 |
N/A | Shapeshifters | "Lola's Theme" | EMI | 11 August 2004 | 3 |
1 | Westlife | "Flying Without Wings" (Live) | Sony | 1 September 2004 | 1 |
2 | Natasha Bedingfield | "These Words" | Sony | 8 September 2004 | 4 |
3 | U2 | "Vertigo" | Universal | 6 October 2004 | 3 |
4 | Mouldy Lookin' Stain | "Dogz Don't Kill People Wabbits Do" | Warner | 27 October 2004 | 1 |
re | U2 | "Vertigo" | Universal | 3 November 2004 | 5 |
5 | Band Aid 20 | "Do They Know It's Christmas" | Universal | 8 December 2004 | 4 |
2005 | |||||
re | U2 | "Vertigo" | Universal | 5 January 2005 | 1 |
6 | Gwen Stefani | "What You Waiting For?" | Universal | 12 January 2005 | 2 |
7 | Green Day | "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" | Warner | 26 January 2005 | 1 |
8 | The Chemical Brothers | "Galvanize" | EMI | 2 February 2005 | 4 |
9 | Stereophonics | "Dakota" | V2 | 2 March 2005 | 2 |
10 | McFly | "All About You" | Universal | 16 March 2005 | 2 |
11 | Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay | "Is This the Way to Amarillo" | Universal | 30 March 2005 | 4 |
12 | Coldplay | "Speed of Sound" | EMI | 27 April 2005 | 3 |
13 | The Black Eyed Peas | "Don't Phunk with My Heart" | Universal | 18 May 2005 | 2 |
14 | Gorillaz | "Feel Good Inc." | EMI | 1 June 2005 | 3 |
15 | James Blunt | "You're Beautiful" | Warner | 22 June 2005 | 3 |
16 | Paul McCartney and U2 | "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" | Universal | 13 July 2005 | 1 |
17 | Elton John | "Electricity" | Universal | 20 July 2005 | 1 |
re | James Blunt | "You're Beautiful" | Warner | 27 July 2005 | 2 |
18 | Daniel Powter | "Bad Day" | Warner | 10 August 2005 | 5 |
19 | The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes | "Don't Cha" | Universal | 14 September 2005 | 3 |
20 | Sugababes | "Push the Button" | Universal | 5 October 2005 | 4 |
21 | Madonna | "Hung Up" | Warner | 2 November 2005 | 7 |
22 | Nizlopi | "JCB" | 21 December 2005 | 1 | |
23 | Shayne Ward | "That's My Goal" | Sony | 28 December 2005 | 2 |
2006 | |||||
re | Nizlopi | "JCB" | 11 January 2006 | 2 | |
24 | The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge and Avery Storm | "Nasty Girl" | Warner | 25 January 2006 | 2 |
25 | The Ordinary Boys | "Boys Will Be Boys" | Warner | 8 February 2006 | 1 |
26 | Meck featuring Leo Sayer | "Thunder in My Heart Again" | Universal | 15 February 2006 | 2 |
27 | Corinne Bailey Rae | "Put Your Records On" | EMI | 1 March 2006 | 2 |
28 | Orson | "No Tomorrow" | Universal | 15 March 2006 | 1 |
29 | Gnarls Barkley | "Crazy" | Warner | 22 March 2006 | 11 |
30 | Sandi Thom | "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" | Sony | 7 June 2006 | 1 |
31 | Nelly Furtado | "Maneater" | Universal | 14 June 2006 | 4 |
32 | Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean | "Hips Don't Lie" | Sony | 12 July 2006 | 4 |
33 | Justin Timberlake | "SexyBack" | Sony | 9 August 2006 | 1 |
re | Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean | "Hips Don't Lie" | Sony | 16 August 2006 | 1 |
34 | Scissor Sisters | "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" | Universal | 23 August 2006 | 7 |
35 | Razorlight | "America" | Universal | 11 October 2006 | 3 |
36 | McFly | "Star Girl" | Universal | 1 November 2006 | 1 |
37 | Fedde le Grand | "Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit" | Ministry of Sound | 8 November 2006 | 1 |
38 | All Saints | "Rock Steady" | EMI | 15 November 2006 | 1 |
39 | Take That | "Patience" | Universal | 22 November 2006 | 5 |
40 | Leona Lewis | "A Moment Like This" | Sony | 27 December 2006 | 2 |
2007 | |||||
re | Take That | "Patience" | Universal | 10 January 2007 | 1 |
41 | Mika | "Grace Kelly" | Universal | 17 January 2007 | 6 |
42 | Kaiser Chiefs | "Ruby" | Universal | 28 February 2007 | 3 |
43 | The Proclaimers featuring Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin | "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" | EMI | 21 March 2007 | 3 |
44 | Avril Lavigne | "Girlfriend" | Sony | 11 April 2007 | 1 |
45 | Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather | "Stop Me" | Sony | 18 April 2007 | 1 |
46 | Beyoncé and Shakira | "Beautiful Liar" | Sony | 25 April 2007 | 3 |
47 | Gym Class Heroes | "Cupid's Chokehold" | Warner | 16 May 2007 | 1 |
48 | Rihanna featuring Jay-Z | "Umbrella" | Universal | 23 May 2007 | 8 |
49 | Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E. | "The Way I Are" | Universal | 18 July 2007 | 2 |
50 | Kate Nash | "Foundations" | Universal | 25 July 2007 | 2 |
51 | Kanye West | "Stronger" | Universal | 15 August 2007 | 2 |
52 | Sean Kingston | "Beautiful Girls" | Sony | 29 August 2007 | 2 |
53 | Plain White T's | "Hey There Delilah" | EMI | 12 September 2007 | 3 |
54 | Sugababes | "About You Now" | Universal | 3 October 2007 | 4 |
55 | Leona Lewis | "Bleeding Love" | Sony | 31 October 2007 | 7 |
56 | Mariah Carey | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | Sony | 19 December 2007 | 1 |
57 | Leon Jackson | "When You Believe" | Sony | 26 December 2007 | 2 |
2008 | |||||
58 | Timbaland presents OneRepublic | "Apologize" | Universal | 9 January 2008 | 1 |
59 | Basshunter featuring DJ Mental Theo's Bazzheadz | "Now You're Gone" | Ministry of Sound | 16 January 2008 | 3 |
60 | Adele | "Chasing Pavements" | Beggars | 6 February 2008 | 1 |
61 | Nickelback | "Rockstar" | Warner | 13 February 2008 | 1 |
62 | Duffy | "Mercy" | Universal | 20 February 2008 | 5 |
63 | Estelle featuring Kanye West | "American Boy" | Warner | 26 March 2008 | 4 |
64 | Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake | "4 Minutes" | Warner | 23 April 2008 | 4 |
65 | Rihanna | "Take a Bow" | Universal | 21 May 2008 | 1 |
66 | The Ting Tings | "That's Not My Name" | Sony | 28 May 2008 | 1 |
re | Rihanna | "Take a Bow" | Universal | 4 June 2008 | 1 |
67 | Mint Royale | "Singin' in the Rain" | Sony | 11 June 2008 | 2 |
68 | Coldplay | "Viva la Vida" | EMI | 25 June 2008 | 2 |
69 | Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris and Chrome | "Dance wiv Me" | Dirtee Stank | 9 July 2008 | 4 |
70 | Kid Rock | "All Summer Long" | Warner | 6 August 2008 | 1 |
71 | Katy Perry | "I Kissed a Girl" | EMI | 13 August 2008 | 5 |
72 | Kings of Leon | "Sex on Fire" | Sony | 17 September 2008 | 3 |
73 | Pink | "So What" | Sony | 8 October 2008 | 3 |
74 | Girls Aloud | "The Promise" | Universal | 29 October 2008 | 1 |
75 | The X Factor Finalists | "Hero" | Sony | 5 November 2008 | 2 |
76 | T.I. featuring Rihanna | "Live Your Life" | Warner | 19 November 2008 | 1 |
77 | Beyoncé | "If I Were a Boy" | Sony | 26 November 2008 | 1 |
78 | Take That | "Greatest Day" | Universal | 3 December 2008 | 1 |
79 | Leona Lewis | "Run" | Sony | 10 December 2008 | 2 |
80 | Alexandra Burke | "Hallelujah" | Sony | 24 December 2008 | 3 |
2009 | |||||
81 | Lady Gaga | "Just Dance" | Warner | 14 January 2009 | 3 |
82 | Lily Allen | "The Fear" | EMI | 4 February 2009 | 4 |
83 | Kelly Clarkson | "My Life Would Suck Without You" | Sony | 4 March 2009 | 1 |
84 | Flo Rida featuring Kesha | "Right Round" | Universal | 11 March 2009 | 2 |
85 | Lady Gaga | "Poker Face" | Warner | 25 March 2009 | 3 |
86 | Calvin Harris | "I'm Not Alone" | Sony | 15 April 2009 | 2 |
87 | Tinchy Stryder featuring N-Dubz | "Number 1" | Universal | 29 April 2009 | 3 |
88 | The Black Eyed Peas | "Boom Boom Pow" | Universal | 20 May 2009 | 1 |
89 | Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden | "Bonkers" | Dirtee Stank | 27 May 2009 | 2 |
re | The Black Eyed Peas | "Boom Boom Pow" | Universal | 10 June 2009 | 1 |
90 | Pixie Lott | "Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)" | Universal | 17 June 2009 | 1 |
91 | David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland | "When Love Takes Over" | EMI | 24 June 2009 | 1 |
92 | La Roux | "Bulletproof" | Warner | 1 July 2009 | 1 |
93 | Cascada | "Evacuate the Dancefloor" | Universal | 8 July 2009 | 2 |
94 | JLS | "Beat Again" | Sony | 22 July 2009 | 2 |
95 | The Black Eyed Peas | "I Gotta Feeling" | Universal | 5 August 2009 | 1 |
96 | Tinchy Stryder featuring Amelle Berrabah | "Never Leave You" | Universal | 12 August 2009 | 1 |
re | The Black Eyed Peas | "I Gotta Feeling" | Universal | 19 August 2009 | 1 |
97 | David Guetta featuring Akon | "Sexy Chick" | EMI | 26 August 2009 | 1 |
98 | Dizzee Rascal | "Holiday" | Dirtee Stank | 2 September 2009 | 1 |
99 | Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West | "Run This Town" | Sony | 9 September 2009 | 1 |
re | David Guetta featuring Akon | "Sexy Chick" | EMI | 16 September 2009 | 1 |
100 | Taio Cruz | "Break Your Heart" | Universal | 23 September 2009 | 3 |
101 | Chipmunk | "Oopsy Daisy" | Sony | 14 October 2009 | 1 |
102 | Alexandra Burke featuring Flo Rida | "Bad Boys" | Sony | 21 October 2009 | 1 |
103 | Cheryl Cole | "Fight for This Love" | Universal | 28 October 2009 | 2 |
104 | JLS | "Everybody in Love" | Sony | 11 November 2009 | 1 |
105 | The Black Eyed Peas | "Meet Me Halfway" | Universal | 18 November 2009 | 1 |
106 | The X Factor Finalists 2009 | "You Are Not Alone" | Sony | 25 November 2009 | 1 |
107 | Jason Derülo | "Whatcha Say" | Warner | 2 December 2009 | 1 |
108 | Rihanna | "Russian Roulette" | Universal | 9 December 2009 | 1 |
109 | Lady Gaga | "Bad Romance" | Warner | 16 December 2009 | 1 |
110 | Rage Against the Machine | "Killing in the Name" | Sony | 23 December 2009 | 2 |
Contents |
---|
2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010s → |
By artist[]
Fifteen different artists spent seven or more weeks at the top of the UK Official Download Chart during the 2000s. The totals below include only credited performances, and do not include appearances on charity ensembles such as Band Aid 20 or The X Factor Finalists.
Artist | Number-one singles[c] | Weeks at number one[c] |
---|---|---|
The Black Eyed Peas | 4 | 7 |
Dizzee Rascal | 3 | 7 |
Gnarls Barkley | 1 | 11 |
Jay-Z | 2 | 9 |
Peter Kay[d] | 2 | 7 |
Lady Gaga | 3 | 7 |
Leona Lewis | 3 | 11 |
Madonna | 2 | 11 |
Rihanna | 5 | 13 |
Scissor Sisters | 1 | 7 |
Shakira | 2 | 8 |
Sugababes | 2 | 8 |
Take That | 2 | 7 |
U2 | 2 | 10 |
Kanye West | 3 | 7 |
By record label[]
Nine different record labels released chart-topping singles during the 2000s.
Record label | Number-one singles[c] | Weeks at number one[c] |
---|---|---|
Beggars Group | 1 | 1 |
Dirtee Stank | 3 | 7 |
EMI | 12 | 34 |
1 | 3 | |
Ministry of Sound | 2 | 4 |
Sony BMG | 31 | 65 |
Universal Music Group | 40 | 110 |
V2 Records | 1 | 2 |
Warner Music Group | 19 | 53 |
Download sites[]
During the 2000s, the UK Official Download Chart was compiled by the OCC using data from the following music download websites:[23]
- 7digital
- Big Noise Music
- Bleep
- City 16
- easyMusic
- HMV
- iTunes
- KarmaDownload
- Metacharge
- MSN Music
- The Music Engine Service
- MyCokeMusic
- Napster
- OD2
- Playlouder
- Recordstore
- Sonic Selector
- Tesco
- Tiscali Music
- Virgin
- Wanadoo
- Wippit
- Woolworths
Notes[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e The artist, single, record label, date of reaching number one and number of weeks at number one are those given by the OCC.[21]
- ^ "Bam Thwok" by Pixies was distributed exclusively on iTunes.[22]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d The totals count only singles that reached number one on or after 1 September 2004.
- ^ The totals for Peter Kay include a credit as Brian Potter.
References[]
- ^ "Official Music & Video Charts Compiled by The Official UK Charts Company". London: The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "History of UK Official Download Chart". Napster. 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "Westlife make download history". Music Week. London: United Business. 1 September 2004. ISSN 0265-1548. OCLC 795955446.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Lady Gaga crowned queen of the downloads". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media. 7 September 2009. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 6412514. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- ^ "Rage Against the Machine beat X Factor winner in charts". BBC News. London. 23 June 2004. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ Sexton, Paul (21 December 2009). Smith, Danyel (ed.). "Rage Against the Machine Beats 'X Factor' to U.K. Xmas No. 1". Billboard. New York City: Prometheus. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 3695401. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Youngs, Ian (12 April 2005). "How downloads will change the chart". BBC News. London. Archived from the original on 9 January 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Single sales drop to all-time low". London: Newsround. 2 February 2004. Archived from the original on 30 May 2006. Retrieved 26 May 2005.
- ^ Wray, James (16 January 2005). "Elvis Takes Record But With Few Records". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Schott, Ben; Cock-Starkey, Claire (2005). "Chapter V. Music & Cinema". In Schott, Ben (ed.). Schott's Almanac 2006 (1st ed.). London: Bloomsbury. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7475-8307-3. OCLC 62292696. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ "Downloads overtake single sales". BBC News. London. 7 January 2005. Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Schott, Ben; Cock-Starkey, Claire (2007). "Chapter V. Music & Cinema". In Schott, Ben (ed.). Schott's Almanac 2008 (1st ed.). London: Bloomsbury. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-7475-8469-8. OCLC 271877788. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Masterton, James (5 September 2004). "Chart Commentary from James Masterton". London: LAUNCHcast. Archived from the original on 8 September 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "Coca Cola to sponsor pop charts". BBC News. London. 1 December 2003. Archived from the original on 30 July 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Miles, Stuart (28 June 2004). "Official downloads chart to be launched in UK". . Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ^ Oates, John (28 June 2004). "Pixies top UK download chart". The Register. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "Westlife top first download chart". BBC News. London. 1 September 2004. Archived from the original on 4 January 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "1 billionth singles download is sold in the UK!". London: Official Charts Company. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
- ^ "Digital Download Factsheet" (PDF). London: The Official UK Charts Company. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". London: Official Charts Company. 2015. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". London: Official Charts Company. 2015. Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2018. Customise archive search by altering the "change date:" setting
- ^ "Strong sales for iTunes in Europe". BBC News. London. 23 June 2004. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ^ "The Official UK Download Chart: 06.06.2007". London: BBC Radio 1. 6 June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
External links[]
- The Official Download Chart at MTV UK
- Singles Download Chart at the Official Charts Company
- 2000s in British music
- 2000s record charts
- Lists of number-one songs in the United Kingdom