Bowie ineligible for singles chart (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Bowie ineligible for singles chart

5:57pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

David Bowie's surprise and much talked-about comeback track has been ruled ineligible for the singles chart.

The song, Where Are We Now?, created a buzz around the world when it appeared without warning on Tuesday and soon topped the download charts on iTunes.

But the Official Charts Company said that sales of the song did not count towards this week's top 40 because they were tied to orders for his new album.

Bowie ended his recording silence of almost 10 years by launching the single, with an album called The Next Day to follow in March.

Where Are We Now? is still at number one in the iTunes chart and the forthcoming album is topping the download store's album chart on the strength of advance orders.

However, as well as sales in its own right, the single is also being given away to people who pre-order the full album. Chart chiefs say that, as it is not possible to differentiate, it cannot be counted for the singles chart.

A spokeswoman said: "Owing to chart rules which are agreed in partnership with UK record companies and retailers, data relating to the David Bowie single Where Are We Now? cannot currently be counted towards the official singles charts, as the release is linked to an album pre-order promotion and it is not possible to distinguish album sales from track sales from the retail data received.

"Should it become possible in the future for regular track sales to be distinguished from album pre-order incentive purchases, then these sales can be counted towards the chart."

Midweek chart predictions suggest Will.I.Am and Britney Spears' track Scream And Shout will depose X Factor winner James Arthur's Impossible from number one.