Personal Charts and Pulse 100 FAQ
Apr 17, 2005 0:22:53 GMT -5
Post by friday on Apr 17, 2005 0:22:53 GMT -5
Since it seems about once a week somebody's asking about either the Pulse 100, or personal charts in general, I figured I'd take the liberty of making an FAQ topic on the issue based on some questions that always seem to come up, and some that may not as much. If one of the mods could possibly sticky it, that'd be great.
So what's this "personal chart" thing you guys do?
A personal chart is a list of a person's favorite songs over a certain time period. Almost all personal charts are done on a weekly basis, like national radio and sales charts are done. However, they can also be done daily, monthly, biweekly, etc., whatever a person is comfortable with. I think the best way to describe a personal chart is that it's kinda like an RPG game you might find on a forum. Except rather than being based on a video game or book or something like that, it's based on music.
Are they based on iTunes spins or something like that?
Not exactly. Almost all charts are simply arbitrary lists based on the whims of whoever's compiling it. However, some people like to use the "Most Played" lists on their MP3 players or computers as their chart. And I'm sure others probably refer to them to see how to move certain songs, or whatever way a person wants to use it to influence their chart.
Do they have to be done a certain way?
As the first two questions have alluded, not at all. That's the beauty of a personal chart. It's totally in your control. You determine how songs will move, how many positions the chart will have, if you want songs removed after a certain point, whatever you want.
This all seems really complicated. How long does it usually take to do this?
Generally, not too long, although it all depends on the length of your chart, and if you think about it ahead of time. I'd say for me, it usually takes about 15-20 minutes a week to compile my top 40 chart. Of course, like with any personal chart, it all depends on the individual.
Do I have to have only current singles on my chart?
Not if you don't want to. Most charts done here tend to include only current singles, but some people like to include album cuts or any other songs that strike their fancy. You can even include an entire album of songs on your chart if you want to. But no, songs don't necessarily have to be released singles if you wish to include them on your chart.
What's this Pulse 100 thing?
The Pulse 100 is based on the personal charts of everyone who posts one for a certain week. Though almost all charts are posted in the designated topic for the week (e.g. this week it would go in the April 11-April 17 thread), any chart posted in this forum qualify for the chart. However, having one topic generally makes it easier for the person who compiles it (rowellfarm490) to work with.
The chart is compiled like such: A #1 song receives 50 points, a #2 receives 49 points, a #3 receives 48, etc. until you reach #50, which receives 1 point. Any positions below #50 are not counted.
So if the Pulse 100 is already posted, but I forgot to post my chart, am I dropped from the panel or something?
Nope. If you forget to post your chart, the one you posted the previous week would be used and your chart would be considered "frozen" because none of your songs moved in either direction. When you post your chart again, your chart would become "unfrozen". However, if you're reported as frozen for more than 2 weeks, you will be dropped. In that case, all you have to post the chart for a certain week to be counted again.
Also, if you should miss the deadline to be counted, don't think you can't post your chart if you still want to. Most people here will tell you they post their chart just for the sake of having it seen by other people (and if it influences another chart, hey, all the better! ;))
What is a lead or co-lead?
Once the Pulse 100 is compiled for a certain week, one of the pieces of information listed for each song is its highest point on all of the personal charts. If the song's highest point is its point on your chart, that means you Lead or Co-Lead that song, depending on whether or not others are also charting the song as high as you.
I think that's a good list for starters. Of course, if anyone wants to add more questions or elaborate on existing answers, please feel free to add to this.
So what's this "personal chart" thing you guys do?
A personal chart is a list of a person's favorite songs over a certain time period. Almost all personal charts are done on a weekly basis, like national radio and sales charts are done. However, they can also be done daily, monthly, biweekly, etc., whatever a person is comfortable with. I think the best way to describe a personal chart is that it's kinda like an RPG game you might find on a forum. Except rather than being based on a video game or book or something like that, it's based on music.
Are they based on iTunes spins or something like that?
Not exactly. Almost all charts are simply arbitrary lists based on the whims of whoever's compiling it. However, some people like to use the "Most Played" lists on their MP3 players or computers as their chart. And I'm sure others probably refer to them to see how to move certain songs, or whatever way a person wants to use it to influence their chart.
Do they have to be done a certain way?
As the first two questions have alluded, not at all. That's the beauty of a personal chart. It's totally in your control. You determine how songs will move, how many positions the chart will have, if you want songs removed after a certain point, whatever you want.
This all seems really complicated. How long does it usually take to do this?
Generally, not too long, although it all depends on the length of your chart, and if you think about it ahead of time. I'd say for me, it usually takes about 15-20 minutes a week to compile my top 40 chart. Of course, like with any personal chart, it all depends on the individual.
Do I have to have only current singles on my chart?
Not if you don't want to. Most charts done here tend to include only current singles, but some people like to include album cuts or any other songs that strike their fancy. You can even include an entire album of songs on your chart if you want to. But no, songs don't necessarily have to be released singles if you wish to include them on your chart.
What's this Pulse 100 thing?
The Pulse 100 is based on the personal charts of everyone who posts one for a certain week. Though almost all charts are posted in the designated topic for the week (e.g. this week it would go in the April 11-April 17 thread), any chart posted in this forum qualify for the chart. However, having one topic generally makes it easier for the person who compiles it (rowellfarm490) to work with.
The chart is compiled like such: A #1 song receives 50 points, a #2 receives 49 points, a #3 receives 48, etc. until you reach #50, which receives 1 point. Any positions below #50 are not counted.
So if the Pulse 100 is already posted, but I forgot to post my chart, am I dropped from the panel or something?
Nope. If you forget to post your chart, the one you posted the previous week would be used and your chart would be considered "frozen" because none of your songs moved in either direction. When you post your chart again, your chart would become "unfrozen". However, if you're reported as frozen for more than 2 weeks, you will be dropped. In that case, all you have to post the chart for a certain week to be counted again.
Also, if you should miss the deadline to be counted, don't think you can't post your chart if you still want to. Most people here will tell you they post their chart just for the sake of having it seen by other people (and if it influences another chart, hey, all the better! ;))
What is a lead or co-lead?
Once the Pulse 100 is compiled for a certain week, one of the pieces of information listed for each song is its highest point on all of the personal charts. If the song's highest point is its point on your chart, that means you Lead or Co-Lead that song, depending on whether or not others are also charting the song as high as you.
I think that's a good list for starters. Of course, if anyone wants to add more questions or elaborate on existing answers, please feel free to add to this.
That's my end of it. It had fallen to the wayside the past couple of months because of school, work, etc. I'm out of classes for the next couple of weeks, so maybe there will be an update sometime soon. I won't promise anything though ;)
