In another sign that CD sales are in serious trouble the commercial radio chart show hit40uk is to no longer reflect CD sales in its weekly countdown. This historic move comes after figures show 96 per cent of sales in the charts are downloads only.

The networked Top 40 chart show is hosted by Lucio Buffone and broadcasts on over 130 UK commercial radio stations every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm.

According to Paul Jackson, Group Programme Director, 95.8 Capital FM, The Hit Music Network, The Xfm Network and Hit40UK he says that Downloads have now become the driving force for record sales, as the statistics clearly show. It makes complete sense that the UK’s most listened to chart show reflects the changes in how people are listening to music.

This week it was announced at the Macworld conference in San Francisco that DRM will come to an end (finally) as iTunes have signed new agreements Sony BMG, Universal and Warner Music.

iTunes had no option but to go this route as their biggest competitor Amazon MP3 are all DRM free.

Why has it taken so long?

They could of all saved themselves a lot of money by doing this from the beginning.

The evolution of the music industry is very slow and this will be their downfall!