UK Independent Singles and Album Breakers Charts

[3][4] The chart was first launched on 29 June 2009,[5] and, according to Martin Talbot, managing director of the OCC, would have benefited acts such as Friendly Fires and Grizzly Bear.

[8] Following discussion at the 2008 annual general meeting of the British Phonographic Industry,[9] this definition was altered to include only releases from labels that were at least fifty per cent owned by a record company that was not one of the main four.

[10] This prevented major record companies from qualifying for the chart by outsourcing the shipping of their singles and albums to smaller distribution services.

[11] At the same time, the UK Indie Breakers Chart was also unveiled, with the objective that it would allow acts signed to independent labels to "reach the broader public".

"[17] Allison Schnackenberg of Southern Records was more critical, remarking that the "fifty per cent or more" rule was "blurring the lines to the point that the word 'independent' will be meaningless to the general public".