New trophy to be handed out for number one singles

A new trophy is to be given to every artist who makes it to number one in the singles chart.

The first recipients of the award will be whoever makes it to this year's festive top spot, announced on Christmas Day.

Little Mix, Gareth Malone's choir of military wives and Alex Day are among those in the running.

The trophy is being launched with Radio 1's weekly Official Chart Show, hosted by Reggie Yates each Sunday.

It is cast from industrial brushed metal and marks the 60th anniversary of the music charts in the UK.

Figures from the Official Charts Company (OCC) show the singles market is on a high at the moment.

This year more than 164 million singles have been sold in the UK, setting a new record after nudging ahead of last year's 161.8 million.

Singles have risen from 32 million in 2004 and increased steadily, although the figures take into account both official single releases and downloaded album tracks.

OCC managing director Martin Talbot said: "For all artists, reaching number one in the Official Singles Chart continues to be the pinnacle of success in the UK.

"But, until now, they have never had a tangible reminder of this achievement."

'Means everything'

X Factor winners Little Mix went to the top of the Official Singles Chart on Sunday night with the release of Cannonball, which sold more than 210,000 copies in its first week.

Other releases battling for the coveted Christmas number one are two covers of Wham!'s Last Christmas by The Only Way Is Essex and Joe McElderry, Stacey Solomon's rendition of Driving Home For Christmas and The Wombles' A Wombling Merry Christmas.

Talking about the new trophy, BBC Radio 1's head of music George Ergatoudis said: ''Being number one on The UK's Official Singles Chart is still one of the ultimate goals for any self-respecting pop star and the chart remains hugely popular with Radio 1's young audience.

"With the launch of the Official Singles Chart number one award, artists will finally have something physical to recognise their achievement and Reggie Yates and Greg James are looking forward to handing them over.''

Olly Murs just missed out on getting the new trophy after being pushed off the top spot this week by Little Mix.

The former X Factor contestant said: "It means everything for an artist to get a number one single.

"When you release a record, to have people love it and buy into it, and see it at the top of the tree is the best feeling in the world.

"Now for there to be an award for it, that will be even better.

As well as being the 60th Christmas number one of all time, this year's Christmas chart-topper will also be only the first to be announced on Christmas Day since Shayne Ward's That's My Goal in 2005 and only the third of all time.

The first was East 17's Stay Another Day in 1994.

Listen to Greg James present the Official Midweek Chart update every Wednesday at 3.30pm on Radio 1