Hit40UK was a networked Top 40 chart show broadcasting on around 130
UKThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
commercialCommercial broadcasting is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship...
radioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
stations every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm. It is now a TV programme shown on
4Music4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
. The radio version was produced in house by
Global RadioGlobal Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
(formerly
GCap MediaGCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
) and
Somethin' Else. The show was cancelled on 7 June 2009 and the last ever number 1 single was
Boom Boom Pow"Boom Boom Pow" is a song by The Black Eyed Peas released as the lead single from their fifth studio album, The E.N.D. The song uses the auto-tune vocal effect, and blends the genres of Electro-rap, dance-pop, electro hop and hip hop....
by
The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, played at 6:52pm.
Although the radio version of the chart has ended, it continues to be compiled, and a TV version is shown on
4Music4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
,
The BoxThe Box may refer to:In television:* The Box , a music video television formerly known as Video Jukebox Network, originally from Miami, but now only available in the UK and Ireland** The Box , a defunct U.S...
, and Smash Hits. The TV Version has since renamed UKHot40.
Format
The radio show counted down the top 40 songs in the chart. Unlike the official
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
broadcast at the same time by
BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, the
Hit40UK chart included only the digital downloads and airplay in the
UKThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, whereas the official chart includes physical and download sales with no radio airplay. The show always enjoyed higher audience figures than Radio 1's Official Chart Show since 1993, however, this is because Hit40UK is broadcast on 130 stations, whereas the Official Chart is only broadcast on
BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, except for a brief period of 2006, when a weak commercial radio sector caused
Hit40UKs share to fall below that of its rival. This chart is most comparable to the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100.
Chart history
Hit40UK descended from
The Network Chart ShowThe Network Chart Show was a radio programme launched across Independent Local Radio in the UK on 30 September 1984.-Background:The main presenter was David Jensen , however Pat Sharp would often provide holiday cover in its later years: in its earlier years Timmy Mallett and Alan Freeman also...
, which was hosted by
David JensenDavid "Kid" Jensen , is a Danish Canadian-born, British radio DJ.-Early career:Born in a Danish family residing Victoria, British Columbia, Jensen began his career in his home country at the age of sixteen playing jazz and classical music. He then joined Radio Luxembourg at the age of eighteen in...
on the commercial radio network from September 30, 1984 to July 25, 1993, sponsored from 1985 onwards by
NescafeNescafé is a brand of instant coffee made by Nestlé. It comes in the form of many different products. The name is a portmanteau of the words "Nestlé" and "café". Nestlé's flagship powdered coffee product was introduced in Switzerland on April 1, 1938 after being developed for seven or eight years...
. On August 1, 1993,
PepsiPepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
began their sponsorship of the show and Neil Fox became its host; it was known as the Pepsi Network Chart before becoming the
Pepsi ChartThe Pepsi Chart was a networked Sunday afternoon Top 40 countdown on UK radio that started life on 1st August 1993 with Neil 'Doctor' Fox hosting the show live from the Capital Radio studios in London...
around 1996. Pepsi ended their sponsorship of the show on December 29, 2002, and the ‘’Hit40UK’’ name was adopted on January 5, 2003, but Fox remained the host until May 30, 2004. On June 6, 2004
Simon HirstSimon Hirst is a British radio presenter best known for hosting Hit40UK, the former national commercial chart show...
and
Katy HillKaty Hill is an English television presenter, who worked on the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter for five years.-Biography:...
became co-hosts of
Hit40UK, but Hirst later hosted the show on his own.
In March 2006,
Hit40UK began broadcasting worldwide on the
U-PopU-Pop was a satellite radio channel programmed by Washington, DC based 1worldspace. U-Pop could originally be heard globally on WorldSpace's Afristar and Asiastar satellites. The channel features hit music from around the globe including hits from Europe, Japan, Africa, America and Latin America...
satellite channel. The international version of the show is hosted by
Mark DaleyMark Daley is a Northern Irish-born American broadcaster. He is the American and international host of BRIT40 and the music and pop culture show The Daley Planet on UPOP, XM Satellite Radio and WorldSpace Satellite Radio.-Early career:...
. It can be heard on XM Satellite Radio across the US and around the planet on WorldSpace Satellite Radio.
On October 12, 2006, it was announced that the programme was to be relaunched on October 22, with a new presenter, 95.8 Capital FM's Lucio Buffone. A new logo was also introduced to replace their old look.
EmapEmap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
dropped their Smash-Hits! Chart to broadcast the relaunched version of the
Hit40UK show across their
Big City NetworkBauer Place & Bauer Passion are the names given to two radio networks owned and operated by Bauer Radio. Place incorporates 36 local radio stations in Northern & southern England and Scotland while Passion incorporates six national or semi-national music genre stations.The main rival networks are...
of stations. In the same week, a dance and urban chart, the
Fresh 40Fresh 40 was a networked dance and urban music singles chart show broadcast on a number of UK commercial radio stations every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm. The show was produced by Somethin' Else. The radio show was launched on Sunday 22nd of October 2006, and counts down the top 40 R'n'B and dance songs...
, hosted by
Dynamite MCDynamite MC, is an MC from Gloucester, England. He originally gained prominence in jungle/drum and bass, working with Roni Size and Reprazent, but has also released hip hop material.-Career:...
, was introduced to commercial radio's dance and urban stations, such as those in the Galaxy Network and the
Kiss NetworkKiss is a brand of a group of dancemusic radio stations, a TV channel and music merchandise in the United Kingdom.-Stations:Radio:Television:*Kiss TV-Former Kiss Stations:Radio:...
.
In April 2009, Lucio's contract with
Hit40UK ended, therefore a new presenter,
Rich ClarkeRichard "Rich" Clarke is a British radio presenter and DJ from Worcester, England currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on Capital FM and The Vodafone Big Top 40.-Student radio:...
, became the presenter of the network chart show, introducing a new image to the chart. The top 40 format also changed in January 2009 ; instead of charting the most popular tunes from radio airplay, downloads and single sales, the chart consisted of downloads & airplay alone. However, after a few months into the revamped show, Hit 40 UK ceased broadcasting and the last show was completed on June 7, 2009, resulting in a new chart show to be broadcast on 14 June 2009.
The chart that descends from
Hit40UK is known as
The Big Top 40 ShowThe Vodafone Big Top 40 is a chart show broadcast on 140 radio stations in the UK. The chart is based on music download figures provided by iTunes.-Format:...
, with presenters
Rich ClarkeRichard "Rich" Clarke is a British radio presenter and DJ from Worcester, England currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on Capital FM and The Vodafone Big Top 40.-Student radio:...
and
Kat ShoobKatherine 'Kat' Shoob is a British radio presenter on The Vodafone Big Top 40.Shoob modelled for Maxim in September 2006.Shoob presented The Mint, a phone-in quiz that was shown on ITV1 and ITV2...
. It launched on Sunday June 14 and is the first ever real-time chart to be broadcast in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Cover presenter, Matt Wilkinson, from
Global RadioGlobal Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
’s Heart Network presented the last
Hit40UK show, although
Rich ClarkeRichard "Rich" Clarke is a British radio presenter and DJ from Worcester, England currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on Capital FM and The Vodafone Big Top 40.-Student radio:...
presented a London-centric version on 95.8 Capital FM live from their
Summertime Ball.
Sister chart shows
- Smash Hits Chart
Smash Hits! is a British commercial television channel provided by Box Television. The channel broadcasts general pop music in shows such as Chartbusters, which is recent music and Pop Domination, which is new and old music. It also shows other programmes such as themed countdowns and charts such...
(TV Top 40) The Smash Hits! Chart was produced by Emap & introduced by Mark Goodier-Early career:Mark Goodier was born in Rhodesia . His family moved to the UK when he was a child, eventually settling in Scotland. He was educated at George Heriot's School, in Edinburgh. He became a mobile DJ in Edinburgh and then joined local station Radio Forth at the age of 19...
from 2003 until April 2006, when Robin BanksRobin Banks is a TV presenter and radio DJ originally from Kilkenny, Ireland. He is not to be confused with the former Radio North Sea International DJ and engineer Robin Banks, real name Robin Adcroft.-Career:He is the narrator in the British/European version of the popular Discovery Channel...
took over. It counted down the week's top 40 singles, as voted for by viewers of TV channels The BoxThe Box may refer to:In television:* The Box , a music video television formerly known as Video Jukebox Network, originally from Miami, but now only available in the UK and Ireland** The Box , a defunct U.S...
, The HitsThe Hits was a music video channel in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, owned by Box Television.-Overview and availability:The channel showcased a range of pop centering on chart hits and current favourites...
and Smash Hits TVSmash Hits! is a British commercial television channel provided by Box Television. The channel broadcasts general pop music in shows such as Chartbusters, which is recent music and Pop Domination, which is new and old music. It also shows other programmes such as themed countdowns and charts such...
. Though it stopped this in 2006, & just used the MRIB Sales top 10 & a 50/50% Airplay/Sales scale in the 11-40 positions. It was broadcast across the Big City NetworkBauer Place & Bauer Passion are the names given to two radio networks owned and operated by Bauer Radio. Place incorporates 36 local radio stations in Northern & southern England and Scotland while Passion incorporates six national or semi-national music genre stations.The main rival networks are...
, Kiss NetworkKiss is a brand of a group of dancemusic radio stations, a TV channel and music merchandise in the United Kingdom.-Stations:Radio:Television:*Kiss TV-Former Kiss Stations:Radio:...
, The Hits RadioThe Hits Radio is a popular mainstream music channel operated by Bauer Media. The Station forms part of the Bauer Passion Portfolio. It is the biggest digital commercial radio station in Europe.- The Hits Radio :...
and Smash Hits! RadioSmash Hits Radio! is a UK based digital radio station owned and operated by Bauer Radio based in Manchester. It is available throughout the UK on Freeview channel 712. The format is loosely based on the now defunct Smash Hits Magazine. It is a Contemporary hit radio format...
, as well as a number of non-Emap stations. It ceased broadcasting in the Autumn of 2006, due to the launch of the revamped Hit40UK.
- The A List
The A List is the second album released by British-Norwegian boyband A1. The album was released in early 2000 after the success of the singles "Take on Me" and "Same Old Brand New You". The album was certified as Gold in the UK.-Track listing:-Charts:...
(Adult Contemporary) launched in February 2006 on stations including HeartHeart is a radio network of 17 adult contemporary independent local radio stations in central & southern England and north Wales. Each station broadcasts local breakfast and drive time shows and simulcasts network programming at all other times...
, Real RadioReal Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in England, Scotland and Wales and is operated by . Each station broadcasts local breakfast through to drive time shows and network programming in the evening and through the night...
and Century RadioCentury Radio, also marketed as Century 100 and later Century FM, was an early short-lived national commercial radio station in Ireland .-Transmission:...
. At launch it was presented by Melanie SykesMelanie Ann Sykes is an English television presenter and model.-Career:Melanie Sykes was born to an English father, and an Anglo-Indian mother. She first came to public attention as the bikini-clad girl in the Boddingtons beer advertisements with the broad "Northern" accent in the mid-1990s...
and Nick Snaith. The show ended on Sunday 23 December 2007.
- Fresh 40
Fresh 40 was a networked dance and urban music singles chart show broadcast on a number of UK commercial radio stations every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm. The show was produced by Somethin' Else. The radio show was launched on Sunday 22nd of October 2006, and counts down the top 40 R'n'B and dance songs...
(Dance and Urban) started nearly a year later in March 2007. It was presented by Kiss 100Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
's Dynamite MCDynamite MC, is an MC from Gloucester, England. He originally gained prominence in jungle/drum and bass, working with Roni Size and Reprazent, but has also released hip hop material.-Career:...
, and was broadcast on the KissKiss is a brand of a group of dancemusic radio stations, a TV channel and music merchandise in the United Kingdom.-Stations:Radio:Television:*Kiss TV-Former Kiss Stations:Radio:...
and Galaxy Network's, plus a few local stations.
- Galaxy 40 (Dance, Urban, Pop) launched in late 2008 across the Galaxy Network, but was cancelled in June 2009 due to the formation of The Big Top 40 Show
The Vodafone Big Top 40 is a chart show broadcast on 140 radio stations in the UK. The chart is based on music download figures provided by iTunes.-Format:...
, which broadcasts across 145 stations in the United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
External links