If you’re an artist or part of an artist team, you may want to make your Serenade Smart Format release eligible for official music charts.
This article contains important information, tasks, and rules you’ll need to understand as well as links to specific region rules and regulations where Serenade is chart eligible.
For specific rules per region, check out the pages here:
In which territories are Smart Formats chart eligible?
Serenade Smart Formats are currently chart-accredited in the following territories:
United Kingdom
Ireland
United States
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Netherlands
What types of releases are eligible?
At present, EPs and Albums can be made chart eligible as Smart Formats in every region apart from the US and Canada where only albums are chart eligible.
What do I need to do for chart eligibility?
Register your product with the appropriate chart body (e.g., the Official Charts Company [OCC] in the UK).
Assign a UPC (Universal Product Code) to your Smart Format. Chart bodies use this UPC to track redemptions (fan taps and registrations), which convert into chart sales.
Follow an other chart body rules for specific regions.
Who is responsible for registering the UPC and Smart Format?
It is the responsibility of the artist team or label to:
Create a UPC for the Smart Format.
Register the UPC with the appropriate chart body.
Register the Smart Format with the appropriate chart body.
How do I register for chart accreditation?
View the specific chart region pages mentioned at the start of the article for more guidance and details.
Chart Eligibility and Reporting details per region
If you’re unsure whether your product qualifies, please reach out to Serenade before submission for advice on bundling rules or other restrictions or check out the specific region page.
When does a Smart Format sale count towards the charts?
With the majority of chart accreditable regions for Smart Formats, the purchase is considered fulfilled once the item has been tapped and accessed by a fan instead of point of sale. This is a digital redemption and can count as a digital sale.
Pre-orders: Smart Formats can be sold on pre-order, and all redemptions during the release week will count toward week-one chart numbers, just like traditional formats.
For the US & Canada Serenade Smart Formats function like any other physical format such as a vinyl or CD, and are reported as physical sales by the retailer.
How much should I sell my Smart format for?
If you are selling a Smart Format that is chart eligible, you will have to have pricing signed off by the chart accreditation body. Check out the specific territory guidance pages above for details on pricing per region.