Music industry calls for new version of 'Top Of The Pops'

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Myung Jung Kim, PA Photos

With the BBC's chart-based show 'Top Of The Pops' becoming something of a distant memory, BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth is calling on broadcaster the BBC to bring back some kind of variant of the chart-based pop show.

'Top Of The Pops' ran from 1964 until its cancellation five years ago. During that time, the show presented some of the most memorable TV appearances by up-and-coming and established stars ever seen on British television: David Bowie introduced Ziggy Stardust to a wider audience via the show with his classic performance of 'Starman' in 1972 while bizarrely, New Order's clunky live rendition of 'Blue Monday' in 1983 sent the biggest-selling 12" single of all time falling down the charts.

Wadsworth told music industry magazine Music Week (via NME): "We are not saying 'bring back 'TOTP'' but there is a gap, and the BBC is missing a trick by not having a show."

His sentiments were echoed by broadcaster Lauren Laverne who said that the show's old format would need to be tailored for a 21st century audience living in a digital age. She said: "I don't know whether you'd want to do it in a chart-based way or more of some kind of social media you could base it on."

Not that the BBC seems overly keen on the idea. A BBC spokesperson said: "We are constantly in discussion with the music industry, but there are currently no plans to bring back 'Top Of The Pops'."

Other stars to have appeared over the years included The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud and countless others. The very first show was broadcast from Manchester and was presented by Sir Jimmy Saville.

Watch the video for David Bowie's 'Starman' on 'Top Of The Pops'

 

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