List of UK Singles Downloads Chart number ones of the 2000s explained

The UK Singles Downloads Chart is a weekly music chart that ranks the most-downloaded singles in the United Kingdom. During the 2000s, the chart was compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the British music industry, and was based solely on non-subscription music downloads from selected online music stores.^[1] It was compiled using weekly sales from Sunday to Saturday, and was published each Wednesday afternoon, so as not to clash with the Sunday evening announcement of the UK Singles Chart.^[2]

The chart was founded in September 2004 as the UK Official Download Chart, with the first single to top the chart being a live version of "Flying Without Wings" by Irish boy band Westlife.^[3] By the end of the decade, 109 further singles had topped the chart. The most downloaded single of the 2000s was "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. Released in 2009, the song was downloaded 779,000 times, and topped the chart for three weeks. "Just Dance", also by Gaga, and "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon were the third and second highest selling downloads of the decade respectively. The single that spent the longest time at number one was "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, which spent 11 weeks at the top and became the UK's 18th best-selling download of the 2000s.^[2]

The most successful artist of the decade was Barbadian singer Rihanna, who featured on five different number-one singles for a total of 13 weeks. The most successful record label was Universal Music Group; with an artist roster that included Rihanna, The Black Eyed Peas and U2, Universal spent 110 weeks at number one with 40 different singles. The final number one of the 2000s was "Killing in the Name", a 1993 single by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, which was pushed to the top of the chart as a result of an online campaign to prevent Joe McElderry, the 2009 winner of the X Factor, from reaching number one.^[4] "Killing in the Name" sold over 500,000 copies in one week, making it the UK's fastest-selling digital download of all time.^[5]

Chart history

Before the inauguration of the download chart, only sales of physical formats—such as CD, vinyl and cassette tape—contributed towards a single's position on the UK music charts. From the late 1990s onwards, these sales began to significantly decline.^[6] By the start of 2004, they had dropped to their lowest level in over 35 years, with singles needing to sell only 35,000 copies to reach number one.^[7] One year later, a limited edition re-release of "One Night" / "I Got Stung" by Elvis Presley topped the chart with 22,000 copies, making it the lowest selling number-one single at that time.^[8] Conversely, the music download market was growing considerably: during the same 2004–05 period, sales of downloads grew by 743%, and overtook physical sales in December 2004.^[9] ^[10] The following year, the UK's online music revenue reached .^[11]

As a result of this growth, the OCC were commissioned in 2004 to compile a new music chart based solely on the UK's download sales, which was initially sponsored by Coca-Cola.^[12] A "sample" download chart was trialled for 10 weeks, with the first number one being "Bam Thwok" by American rock band Pixies.^[13] After this ten-week period, the UK Official Download Chart was launched on 1 September 2004, with Westlife achieving the first official number one.^[14] The group topped the chart with a live version of their 1999 single "Flying Without Wings", a move that UK chart commentator James Masterton branded a "stunt".^[15]

By 2007 the UK had become Europe's largest consumer of online music, with almost 78 million tracks being downloaded that year – by the end of the decade this figure had nearly doubled.^[11] ^[16] Sales of downloaded singles were finally incorporated into the UK Singles Chart in April 2005^[6] ^[17] –, the UK Official Download Chart continues to be published each week by the OCC, under the name the UK Singles Downloads Chart.^[18]

Number ones


nth single to top the UK Official Download Chart
scope=row style="background: #ececec; color: grey; text-align: center" class=table-na	N/A	Reached number one on an unofficial, "sample" download chart^[19]
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	re	Return of a single to number one
bgcolor=#FFFF99 align=center		Most-downloaded single of the year-->
bgcolor=lightblue align=center		Most-downloaded single of the decade^[20]

scope=col		scope=col	Artist	scope=col	Single	scope=col	Record label	scope=col	Reached number one	scope=col	Weeks at number one
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6
scope=row style="background: #ececec; color: grey; text-align: center" class=table-na		Pixies	"Bam Thwok"	Not on label		1
scope=row style="background: #ececec; color: grey; text-align: center" class=table-na		Maroon 5	"This Love"	Sony		1
scope=row style="background: #ececec; color: grey; text-align: center" class=table-na			"Dry Your Eyes"	Warner		5
scope=row style="background: #ececec; color: grey; text-align: center" class=table-na		Shapeshifters	"Lola's Theme"	EMI		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Westlife	"Flying Without Wings" (Live)	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"These Words"	Sony		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		U2	"Vertigo"	Universal		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Mouldy Lookin' Stain	"Dogz Don't Kill People Wabbits Do"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		U2	"Vertigo"	Universal		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Band Aid 20	"Do They Know It's Christmas"	Universal		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		U2	"Vertigo"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"What You Waiting For?"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Green Day	"Boulevard of Broken Dreams"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Galvanize"	EMI		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Stereophonics	"Dakota"	V2		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		McFly	"All About You"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		featuring Peter Kay	"Is This the Way to Amarillo"	Universal		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Coldplay	"Speed of Sound"	EMI		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Don't Phunk with My Heart"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Gorillaz	"Feel Good Inc."	EMI		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"You're Beautiful"	Warner		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		and U2	"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Electricity"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"You're Beautiful"	Warner		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Bad Day"	Warner		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		featuring Busta Rhymes	"Don't Cha"	Universal		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Sugababes	"Push the Button"	Universal		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Madonna	"Hung Up"	Warner		7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Nizlopi	"JCB"	FDM		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"That's My Goal"	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Nizlopi	"JCB"	FDM		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		featuring Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge and Avery Storm	"Nasty Girl"	Warner		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Boys Will Be Boys"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Meck featuring Leo Sayer	"Thunder in My Heart Again"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Put Your Records On"	EMI		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Orson	"No Tomorrow"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Gnarls Barkley	"Crazy"	Warner		11
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Maneater"	Universal		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean	"Hips Don't Lie"	Sony		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"SexyBack"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean	"Hips Don't Lie"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Scissor Sisters	"I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"	Universal		7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Razorlight	"America"	Universal		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		McFly	"Star Girl"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit"	Ministry of Sound		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		All Saints	"Rock Steady"	EMI		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Take That	"Patience"	Universal		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			""	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Take That	"Patience"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Mika	"Grace Kelly"	Universal		6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Kaiser Chiefs	"Ruby"	Universal		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		featuring Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin	"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"	EMI		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Girlfriend"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		featuring Daniel Merriweather	"Stop Me"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Beyoncé and Shakira	"Beautiful Liar"	Sony		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Gym Class Heroes	"Cupid's Chokehold"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Rihanna featuring Jay-Z	"Umbrella"	Universal		8
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E.	""	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Foundations"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Stronger"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Beautiful Girls"	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Plain White T's	"Hey There Delilah"	EMI		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Sugababes	"About You Now"	Universal		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Bleeding Love"	Sony		7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"All I Want for Christmas Is You"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"When You Believe"	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Timbaland presents OneRepublic	"Apologize"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Basshunter featuring DJ Mental Theo's Bazzheadz	"Now You're Gone"	Ministry of Sound		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Adele	"Chasing Pavements"	Beggars		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Nickelback	"Rockstar"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Duffy	"Mercy"	Universal		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Estelle featuring Kanye West	"American Boy"	Warner		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake	"4 Minutes"	Warner		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Rihanna	"Take a Bow"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"That's Not My Name"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Rihanna	"Take a Bow"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Mint Royale	"Singin' in the Rain"	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Coldplay	"Viva la Vida"	EMI		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris and Chrome	"Dance wiv Me"	Dirtee Stank		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Kid Rock	"All Summer Long"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"I Kissed a Girl"	EMI		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Kings of Leon	"Sex on Fire"	Sony		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Pink	"So What"	Sony		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Girls Aloud	""	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Hero"	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		T.I. featuring Rihanna	"Live Your Life"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Beyoncé	"If I Were a Boy"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Take That	"Greatest Day"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Run"	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Hallelujah"	Sony		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Lady Gaga	"Just Dance"	Warner		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			""	EMI		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"My Life Would Suck Without You"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Flo Rida featuring Kesha	"Right Round"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Lady Gaga	"Poker Face"	Warner		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"I'm Not Alone"	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Tinchy Stryder featuring N-Dubz	"Number 1"	Universal		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Boom Boom Pow"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Dizzee Rascal and Armand Van Helden	"Bonkers"	Dirtee Stank		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Boom Boom Pow"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		featuring Kelly Rowland	"When Love Takes Over"	EMI		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		La Roux	"Bulletproof"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Cascada	"Evacuate the Dancefloor"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		JLS	"Beat Again"	Sony		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"I Gotta Feeling"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Tinchy Stryder featuring Amelle Berrabah	"Never Leave You"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"			"I Gotta Feeling"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		featuring Akon	"Sexy Chick"	EMI		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Dizzee Rascal	"Holiday"	Dirtee Stank		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West	"Run This Town"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"		featuring Akon	"Sexy Chick"	EMI		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	100		"Break Your Heart"	Universal		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	101	Chipmunk	"Oopsy Daisy"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	102	featuring Flo Rida	"Bad Boys"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	103		"Fight for This Love"	Universal		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	104	JLS	"Everybody in Love"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	105		"Meet Me Halfway"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	106		"You Are Not Alone"	Sony		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	107		"Whatcha Say"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	108	Rihanna	"Russian Roulette"	Universal		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	109	Lady Gaga	"Bad Romance"	Warner		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	110	Rage Against the Machine	"Killing in the Name"	Sony		2

By artist

Fifteen different artists spent seven or more weeks at the top of the UK Official Download Chart during the 2000s. The totals below include only credited performances, and do not include appearances on charity ensembles such as Band Aid 20 or The X Factor Finalists.

scope=col	Artist	scope=col	Number-one singles^[21]	scope=col	Weeks at number one
scope=row		4	7
scope=row	Dizzee Rascal	3	7
scope=row	Gnarls Barkley	1	11
scope=row	Jay-Z	2	9
scope=row	^[22]	2	7
scope=row	Lady Gaga	3	7
scope=row		3	11
scope=row	Madonna	2	11
scope=row	Rihanna	5	13
scope=row	Scissor Sisters	1	7
scope=row	Shakira	2	8
scope=row	Sugababes	2	8
scope=row	Take That	2	7
scope=row	U2	2	10
scope=row		3	7

By record label

Nine different record labels released chart-topping singles during the 2000s.

scope=col	Record label	scope=col	Number-one singles	scope=col	Weeks at number one
scope=row	Beggars Group	1	1
scope=row	Dirtee Stank	3	7
scope=row	EMI	12	34
scope=row	FDM Records	1	3
scope=row	Ministry of Sound	2	4
scope=row	Sony BMG	31	65
scope=row	Universal Music Group	40	110
scope=row	V2 Records	1	2
scope=row	Warner Music Group	19	53

Download sites

During the 2000s, the UK Official Download Chart was compiled by the OCC using data from the following music download websites:^[23]

7digital
Big Noise Music
Bleep
City 16
easyMusic
HMV
iTunes
KarmaDownload
Metacharge
MSN Music
The Music Engine Service
MyCokeMusic
Napster
OD2
Playlouder
Recordstore
Sonic Selector
Tesco
Tiscali Music
Virgin
Wanadoo
Wippit
Woolworths

External links

The Official Download Chart at MTV UK
Singles Download Chart at the Official Charts Company

Notes and References

Web site: Official Music & Video Charts Compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. The Official UK Charts Company. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20100324103824/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/info_charts-compiled.php. 24 March 2010. dead. 26 May 2013.
Web site: History of UK Official Download Chart. 2009. Napster. https://web.archive.org/web/20091027014218/http://napster-free.co.uk/Articles/History_of_UK_Official_Download_Chart.html. 27 October 2009. dead. 26 May 2013.
Westlife make download history. 1 September 2004. Music Week. United Business. London. 0265-1548. 795955446.
News: Rage Against the Machine beat X Factor winner in charts. 23 June 2004. BBC News. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20120410084949/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8423340.stm. 10 April 2012. live. 26 May 2013.
Sexton . Paul . 21 December 2009 . Rage Against the Machine Beats 'X Factor' to U.K. Xmas No. 1 . . . Danyel . Smith . Danyel Smith . 0006-2510 . 3695401 . 26 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130526175258/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266349/rage-against-the-machine-beats-x-factor-to-uk-xmas-no-1 . 26 May 2013 . live .
News: How downloads will change the chart. Youngs. Ian. 12 April 2005. BBC News. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20070109050155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4433071.stm. 9 January 2007. live. 26 May 2012.
Web site: Single sales drop to all-time low. 2 February 2004. Newsround. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20060530110457/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3452000/3452399.stm. 30 May 2006. live. 26 May 2005.
Web site: Elvis Takes Record But With Few Records . Wray . James . 16 January 2005 . Monsters and Critics . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014221958/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/music/news/article_3598.php/Elvis_Takes_Record_But_With_Few_Records . 14 October 2012 . dead . 26 May 2012 .
Book: Schott. Ben. Ben Schott. Cock-Starkey. Claire. Ben. Schott. Ben_Schott. Schott's Almanac 2006. https://books.google.com/books?id=mL04HAAACAAJ. 26 May 2011. 1st. 2005. Bloomsbury. London. 978-0-7475-8307-3. 62292696. 129. Chapter V. Music & Cinema.
News: Downloads overtake single sales. 7 January 2005. BBC News. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20100111094057/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4155385.stm. 11 January 2010. live. 26 May 2012.
Book: Schott. Ben. Ben Schott. Cock-Starkey. Claire. Ben. Schott. Ben_Schott. Schott's Almanac 2008. https://books.google.com/books?id=nTeNFYI_t5wC. 11 April 2012. 1st. 2007. Bloomsbury. London. 978-0-7475-8469-8. 271877788. 142. Chapter V. Music & Cinema.
News: Coca Cola to sponsor pop charts. 1 December 2003. BBC News. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20040730080512/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3253872.stm. 30 July 2004 . live. 26 May 2012.
Web site: Pixies top UK download chart. Oates. John. 28 June 2004. The Register. https://web.archive.org/web/20120520080729/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/28/download_chart_lives/. 20 May 2012. live. 26 May 2013.
News: Westlife top first download chart. 1 September 2004. BBC News. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20090104000035/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3617020.stm. 4 January 2009. live. 26 May 2012.
Web site: Chart Commentary from James Masterton. James. Masterton. James Masterton. 5 September 2004. LAUNCHcast. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20040908030510/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/charts/comment.html. 8 September 2004. 26 May 2013.
Web site: 1 billionth singles download is sold in the UK! . 9 April 2013 . . London . https://web.archive.org/web/20130419191527/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/1-billionth-singles-download-is-sold-in-the-uk-2152/ . 19 April 2013 . live . 22 April 2013 .
Web site: Digital Download Factsheet. 2007. The Official UK Charts Company. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20100117153056/http://theofficialcharts.com/docs/Digital%20Download%20Factsheet_Jan_2007.pdf. 17 January 2010. dead. 26 May 2013.
Web site: Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 22 August 2015. live. https://archive.today/20150323070542/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-downloads-chart/. 23 March 2015.
Web site: Official downloads chart to be launched in UK. Stuart. Miles. 28 June 2004. Pocket-lint. https://web.archive.org/web/20120210041911/http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/377/official-downloads-chart-to-be-launched. 10 February 2012. live. 27 May 2011.
News: Lady Gaga crowned queen of the downloads. The Daily Telegraph. London. 0307-1235. 6412514. 7 September 2009. 30 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110129060313/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/6147367/Lady-Gaga-crowned-queen-of-the-downloads.html. 29 January 2011. live.
The totals count only singles that reached number one on or after 1 September 2004.
The totals for Peter Kay include a credit as Brian Potter.
Web site: The Official UK Download Chart: 06.06.2007. 6 June 2007. BBC Radio 1. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20070812013815/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/downloads.shtml. 12 August 2007. dead. 22 March 2015.