The media is all aflutter with Amazon‘s big brash move to grab some iTunes market share. The iconic online retailer has slashed the price of many top downloads including Lady Ga Ga and Calvin Harris to just 29p in some cases. Not only is this set to startle a number of Apple big cheeses, but it has caused a bit of consternation amongst some artists who believe it devalues their work. On the other hand, some artists  are rubbing their hands as it could see them get a boost in the charts.

Where does that leave less well known artists who want to make a name for themselves on the official UK download chart and the inevitable Radio 1 playlist? This PR believes that the fickle music buying public is likely to snap up a 29p tune ahead of a different 79p track that could have greater artistic merit. Meaning the cheaper track gets more sales and the higher they jump up the charts. You’ve got to admit though, the music industry has needed a kick up the arse for a while now and a bit of a price war is just what’s needed to shake up the A and Rs.

According to the ‘Official Charts Company,’ sales information is supplied by over 6,200 retailers to constitute the Official UK Charts ‘Defined Universe.’ But at the end of the day I can’t help thinking with free, variable and full price digital downloads, MySpace, YouTube, Spotify, LastFM and overseas download sites like the Russian MP3Search.ru any form of music chart has lost all relevance with people’s real music taste.

RIP the charts. 1956 – 2009