# Official Charts Company

> British record chart company

**Wikidata**: [Q2072376](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2072376)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Charts_Company)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/official-charts-company

## Summary
The Official Charts Company (OCC) is a British record chart company responsible for compiling and publishing music charts in the United Kingdom. Founded on August 3, 1969, it operates from London and produces the official UK music charts, including the UK Singles Chart and UK Albums Chart, which serve as the industry standard for measuring commercial music performance in Britain.

## Key Facts
- Founded on August 3, 1969
- Also known as: The Official UK Charts Company, Chart Information Network, OCC, CIN, OOC
- Official website: https://officialcharts.com
- Headquartered in London, United Kingdom
- Classified as a business and publishing house within the music industry
- Publishes the UK music charts since the early 1990s
- Wikipedia title: Official Charts Company

## FAQs

**What charts does the Official Charts Company publish?**
The Official Charts Company publishes multiple UK music charts including the UK Singles Chart, UK Albums Chart, UK Singles Downloads Chart, UK Album Downloads Chart (established April 2006), UK Rock & Metal Charts, and UK Indie Chart.

**When was the Official Charts Company founded?**
The Official Charts Company was founded on August 3, 1969, and has operated under several names throughout its history including Chart Information Network (CIN) and The Official UK Charts Company.

**Where is the Official Charts Company located?**
The Official Charts Company is based in London, the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, positioning it at the center of the British music industry.

**How does the Official Charts Company track different music formats?**
The OCC maintains separate charts for different music formats and genres. Digital sales are tracked through the UK Singles Downloads Chart and the UK Album Downloads Chart, while genre-specific charts like the UK Rock & Metal Charts and UK Indie Chart provide targeted rankings for specific music categories.

## Why It Matters
The Official Charts Company serves as the definitive authority on music chart performance in the United Kingdom, providing standardized measurements that drive industry decision-making, marketing strategies, and consumer awareness. Its compilations directly influence record label promotional efforts, radio airplay programming, and retail stocking decisions across the British music market.

For artists and labels, chart positions published by the OCC represent significant commercial milestones that can accelerate careers, drive further sales, and unlock industry opportunities. The company's historical chart data also serves as a cultural archive documenting changing musical tastes and consumption patterns in Britain over decades.

The OCC's adaptation to include download charts reflects its role in tracking evolving music consumption habits, ensuring that chart data remains relevant as the industry shifts from physical to digital formats. This adaptability maintains the charts' authority and usefulness in a rapidly changing marketplace.

## Notable For
- Publishing the UK Singles Chart, one of the most recognized music charts globally
- Compiling the UK Albums Chart, which has tracked British album sales since July 22, 1956
- Operating genre-specific charts including the UK Rock & Metal Charts and UK Indie Chart
- Tracking digital music evolution through dedicated download charts (UK Singles Downloads Chart and UK Album Downloads Chart, the latter launched April 2006)
- Serving as the authoritative source for UK chart data for over five decades
- Functioning under multiple historical names including Chart Information Network (CIN), reflecting its organizational evolution

## Body

### History and Foundation
The Official Charts Company was established on August 3, 1969, as a British record chart company. Throughout its history, the organization has operated under several aliases: The Official UK Charts Company, Chart Information Network (CIN), OCC, and OOC. These name changes reflect the company's organizational evolution while maintaining its core function of compiling UK music chart data.

### Operations and Location
The Official Charts Company is headquartered in London, the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. London has served as a major hub for the music industry, making it a strategic location for chart compilation activities. The company operates as both a business organization undertaking commercial activity and a publishing house involved in distributing media content.

Within the music industry classification, the OCC serves companies and individuals that create and sell music and generate revenue from commercial sales. Its role positions it as a central data provider connecting retailers, record labels, artists, and consumers.

### Chart Publications
The Official Charts Company has published the UK music charts since the early 1990s. Its portfolio spans multiple chart categories:

**UK Singles Chart** — The primary British singles sales chart tracking individual song performance across the United Kingdom.

**UK Albums Chart** — The British albums sales chart, which originated on July 22, 1956. While the chart predates the OCC, the company now compiles and publishes this ranking.

**UK Singles Downloads Chart** — A British music chart tracking digital single purchases, reflecting the industry's shift toward electronic distribution.

**UK Album Downloads Chart** — Established in April 2006, this chart monitors album download sales specifically.

**UK Rock & Metal Charts** — Published by the Official Charts Company, this genre-specific chart tracks releases in rock and metal categories.

**UK Indie Chart** — A British record chart monitoring independent music releases, providing visibility for artists and labels outside the major label system.

### Industry Classification
The OCC operates within two organizational classifications: as a business undertaking commercial and professional activity, and as a publishing house involved in distributing pressed goods and electronic media. Both classifications place the company firmly within the music industry sector.

All charts published by the OCC apply to the United Kingdom market (country reference ), tracking music consumption within British borders. The company's sitelink count of 33 reflects its digital presence across various platforms and databases.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013