GfK Entertainment charts
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music charts, Media research |
| Predecessor | Media Control, Media Control GfK International |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Baden-Baden , Germany |
Area served | Germany |
| Products | Official music, home video, and video games charts |
| Parent | GfK |
The GfK Entertainment charts serve as the authoritative rankings for music, home video, and video games within Germany. These charts are assembled and released by GfK Entertainment—previously known as Media Control and Media Control GfK International—a branch of GfK. They function on behalf of the . Each week, GfK Entertainment publishes Top 100 listings for singles and albums, alongside various genre-specific rankings that cover compilations, jazz, classical, schlager, hip hop, dance, comedy, and music videos.
In 2014, following a legal dispute involving Media Control AG, the company rebranded from Media Control GfK International to GfK Entertainment.
The distribution of these charts occurs through numerous media channels such as the MTV music network and the Swiss charts website. Additionally, digital services like MusicLoad and Mix 1 release nearly all GfK Entertainment charts on a weekly basis. GfK Entertainment also maintains a dedicated online platform where users can find chart updates and access most rankings.
History
The inception of music charts in West Germany dates back to 1959 with their appearance in the trade publication Der Musikmarkt, a significant entity in Germany’s music sector. Over time, the Bundesverband Musikindustrie partnered with chart providers to enhance chart compilation methods.
After reviewing multiple research organizations, Media Control based in Baden-Baden was chosen to produce the first official charts published in Der Musikmarkt in September 1977. Originally limited to 50 positions, the chart expanded to 75 slots by January 1980. From 1989 onwards, GfK Entertainment aligned with international standards by extending the charts to 100 entries, now recognized as the "Offizielle Top 100 Charts." In 2001, the Top-100 singles chart was revised to reflect actual sales figures.
In 2001, Media Control launched "Music Video charts," which were renamed "DVD charts" in 2004. That same year, GfK Entertainment allowed music-video singles to appear on the Top-100 singles chart. By 2002, music-video albums containing at least half audio content qualified for inclusion in the Top-100 album chart; otherwise, they were categorized under the DVD chart. Conversely, audio CDs with at least 50% video content were placed on the DVD chart.
The merger of Media Control with GfK in 2003 resulted in Media Control GfK International GmbH. By 2004, Germany became one of the pioneering markets to incorporate online digital downloads into its sales charts.
Starting on 13 July 2007, digital-only releases were introduced into the charts, shifting ranking criteria from download quantity to sales revenue. This adjustment meant that albums with higher sales value did not always occupy the number-one spot.
In March 2014, GfK rebranded its official German chart provider under the name GfK Entertainment.
Currently, approximately 3,000 retail locations submit weekly sales reports to GfK Entertainment via the communication system known as PhonoNet.
Charts
GfK Entertainment curates rankings across a variety of categories such as:
- Top 100 Singles
- Top 100 Albums
- Top 100 Daily Trends (singles and albums)
- Top 100 Midweek Charts (singles and albums)
- Top 100 Download Charts (singles and albums)
- Top 100 Streaming Charts
- Top 30 Compilation Charts
- Top 20 Jazz Charts
- Top 20 Classical Charts
- Top 20 Schlager Charts
- Top 20 Hip Hop Charts
- Top 20 Dance Charts
- Top 20 Music Video Charts
- Top 10 Comedy Charts
Records and statistics
External links
- GfK Entertainment chart listings
- Official German music charts
- germancharts.com Hosted by Hitparade.ch, the Swiss music charts platform