So... what are we called?!?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Before the internet, I was unaware that there were so many chart geeks who obsessively followed Billboard and various countdown shows.  

I knew about the "Listener who wants to know" letters that would flood in in to Casey, and I was aware of Paul Grein's ChartBeat column which would end with the "We Get Letters" section, full of chart obsessed missives and corrections.

But not until message-boards and Social Media did I really understand that there was a hobby / subculture of pop music statistics(I bet Paul Haney knew, though!)

But what is this hobby called?  Is there a term for those of us who wait with baited breath for the new chart each week?  It can't just be "Music Fans" or "Chart Watchers"... could it?

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
jebsib Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 06 April 2006 Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote jebsib Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: So... what are we called?!? Posted: 01 July 2025 at 9:14pm
	Before the internet, I was unaware that there were so many chart geeks who obsessively followed Billboard and various countdown shows. I knew about the "Listener who wants to know" letters that would flood in in to Casey, and I was aware of Paul Grein's ChartBeat column which would end with the "We Get Letters" section, full of chart obsessed missives and corrections. But not until message-boards and Social Media did I really understand that there was a hobby / subculture of pop music statistics(I bet Paul Haney knew, though!) But what is this hobby called? Is there a term for those of us who wait with baited breath for the new chart each week? It can't just be "Music Fans" or "Chart Watchers"... could it?

Hykker Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 30 October 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hykker Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 July 2025 at 7:41am
	I never was particularly obsessed with charts, but in the late 80s I was a weekender at an oldies station (that had been top 40 from the 50s thru about '88 or so). Sunday afternoons I'd do a "this week in 19xx" countdown of the top 20 from that week in years past, when possible using the station's own surveys (with a little fudging where there were songs we/I didn't have...mostly obscure stiffs). This was before this was a common practice for oldies stations, and it seemed to attract a lot of chart fans. Had one lady who was guaranteed to call & request something contemporary for the featured countdown that was lower-ranked. Don't know if she had a bunch of Whitburn books or just a good memory. No one ever called me out when I'd fudge a chart position.

Paul Haney Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 01 April 2005 Status: Offline Points: 41	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paul Haney Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 July 2025 at 9:33am
	No doubt that both Record Research and American Top 40 are responsible for most of us "chart nerds" (my preferred term) that now get together on the internet. Joel told me several times that he thought he was the only one who cared about the charts back in the 1950s and 1960s. It was only from talking to some local DJs that he thought there may be some interest in his research. Like Joel, I was also obsessed with sports statistics as a kid (especially with my baseball cards), so I think looking at the charts the same way was a natural progression. The way Casey presented the chart info on AT40 was also very appealing.

EdisonLite Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 18 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 203	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdisonLite Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 July 2025 at 12:41pm
	I think "chart nerds" or "chart geeks" could be an accurate description - but I feel "nerd" and "geek" both have a negative connotation. So I'd prefer terms like "chart enthusiasts", "chart obsessive people", "chart junkies" ... although "junkies" has a negative connotation, too :) When I saw the subject of this post, I thought this would be about our group specifically. So that would lead to the question - what is a good description of OUR group. I'd say the things that are of most interest to us are: Where can we find a top 40 hit on CD? Where can we find a single mix or version on CD? What exactly is the difference between the single version and the album version of a song? What's the exact length of a song? So ... based on this group's focus, what's the best description for US? Edited by EdisonLite - 02 July 2025 at 12:42pm

ChicagoBill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 06 November 2019 Location: Utah Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote ChicagoBill Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 hours 24 minutes ago at 8:04pm
	I, for one, will fall into the category of a "Record Collector". Sure, it evolved into "CD Collector", and now we may be "File Collectors". Still, pretty much the same. I've seen many of the customers and employees in my store fall into the category of 'Chart Fan'. They were still, a record collector. They would bring in Whitburn books that were all marked up. "Do you have the single of 'Everybody Knows Matilda' by Duke Baxter?" "It hit #52 on Billboard" or "It was on VMC" didn't matter to me. I thought of this person as a record collector. He's trying to complete his collection of 1969 or whatever. -Bill.

eriejwg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 10 June 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 69	Post Options Post Reply Quote eriejwg Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 hours 2 minutes ago at 9:26pm
	I've never considered my self a collector of musc. Not to the extent where people have rooms in their houses dedicated to vinyl 45 and vinyl LP collections. I always bought specific 45's as a kid, and several albums, but when the CD era started and I began my mobile DJ career, I considered myself a music library builder for my DJ business. It wasn't until I joined this community in 2007 that I began to realize something I always knew. That the hit single versions and mixes I loved as a kid were not 6 or 7 minute album versions. Slowly but surely, I replaced many long LP versions for the hit single versions. Where the LP and single are the same, I still carry those in my library obviously.
	John Gallagher Erie, PA John Gallagher Wedding & Special Event Entertainment / Snapblast Photo Booth

PopArchivist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 30 June 2018 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 30	Post Options Post Reply Quote PopArchivist Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 hours 23 minutes ago at 10:05pm
	Always followed the Billboard charts religiously. Know the top 10 of every year pretty much by heart thanks to Joel Whitburn's Annual Listings. It has been that way since the 80's into early 90's for me. I dont physically keep anymore media I did years ago. Once you have it digitally there isn't a point for me. I'm a pop archivist, hence the name. Following music history is important to me. Like John said the hit single versions are what I generally prefer to listen to.
	Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD."

Hykker Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 30 October 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 23	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hykker Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 minutes ago at 8:05am
	My personal approach is similar to John G's, except maybe more radio-oriented than mobile DJ. I will admit to having a pretty good sized record collection, though it has been thinned out over the years, especially as I've moved toward a digital collection. Always been more interested in songs vs artists, so singles make up a large portion of what I have, with LPs filling in gaps or to have the LP versions. I rarely, if ever play an album all the way through. I've been fortunate (if that's the right word here) to have been in the right place at the right time at several radio stations who were looking to get rid of record libraries, either after a format change or just cleaning out a storage facility. Lots of junk, really beat-up/cue burnt 45s, etc. but almost always some good stuff there too.