Menno wrote: You could argue for both kind of charts.
That's true. The main Billboard Hot 100 chart (in the US) has traditionally relied on a mixture of sales and radio play to determine chart position, but in recent years has also given weight to digital downloads, streams, YouTube streams, possibly even ringtones at one point. They keep adjusting the exact weighting algorithm based on changing circumstances.
But Billboard also have a less prominent Hot Singles sales chart which unsurprisingly goes by strict physical sales. It's doubtless of some use to brick-and-mortar retailers that need to determine how much of a ranking single they should maintain in stock. As you say, both kinds of charts are useful depending on the situation. But the latter chart is subordinate to the main chart because it doesn't truly encapsulate the popularity ranking that gives Billboard a special claim to expertise.
I also don't think that this change will have an effect on the number of sales gimmicks. The events are not just for Oricon, but also for the fans.
Yeah if I wasn't clear I don't have a problem with the gimmicks per se, I just feel that it's better if they're not permitted to game the charts. And also, I'd like to think that Up-Front et al. will maximally benefit from actually pleasing the fans by making stuff that has true and enduring popularity over "milking" the fans for chart numbers. It always saddens me when I watch one of those song-type Japanese game shows, and they'll occasionally use fairly contemporary AKB/Johnny's/EXILE stuff, but only the same few 15 year old Morning Musume/Petit Moni/Ayaya hits, and 0 of any H!P songs/groups that came into existence after 2003. We've had plenty of weekly #1s so what gives? A top ranking song should make some kind of lasting impression, not just melt away. Have we been to some extent deluded by fake-comforting chart numbers? Because somehow it seems, that even with the past few years' resurgence, that without widespread sales and airplay, H!P remains forever niche. It's an amazing niche, and I've mostly made my peace with it, but damn, we've got some good songs that really ought to be stuck in Japan's collective consciousness.
And let's not forget that a sale that isn't counted by Oricon doesn't represent a sale for Up Front.
I don't follow your meaning here. A sale's a sale whether Oricon notices it or not...right?
