Row ensues over chart shows

The BBC and rival commercial groups have engaged in a war of words over the accuracy of the methods used to compile their Top 40 singles charts.

Radio 1, whose chart is based solely on singles sales, accused Emap's Smash Hits chart and the Hit 40 UK - owned by Capital Radio, GWR, Chrysalis and Scottish Radio Holdings - of being "muddied" by including airplay and other factors in their compilation.

"The commercial charts are not as clear and definite to the public and they can be altered to suit commercial interests," said Ben Cooper, Radio 1's acting head of mainsteam programming.

However, Emap and Hit 40 UK executives have insisted that their charts are a better reflection of the music tastes of teenagers, following a slump in singles sales due to increased advance airplay and an upsurge in internet music piracy.

"These days people consume music in very different ways, and the singles model is a bit broken," said Tim Corlett, chief executive of Emap Performance, whose Smash Hits chart also takes into account requests made on Emap's Smash Hits and The Box video jukebox TV channels.