''Chart Attack'' was a Canadian online music publication. Formerly a monthly print magazine called ''Chart'', it was published from 1991 to 2009. While the web version appears to be available online, the domain is now used as a popular media outlet, similar to BuzzFeed, almost entirely excluding music. Content ceased to be updated from mid 2017 to 2019 when owner Channel Zero laid off the site's staff.
History and profile
Launched in 1991 as ''National Chart'', the magazine was started by
York University
York University (french: Université York), also known as YorkU or simply YU, is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's fourth-largest university, and it has approximately 55,700 students, 7,0 ...
students Edward Skira and Nada Laskovski as a tipsheet and airplay chart for
campus radio
Campus radio (also known as college radio, university radio or student radio) is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively created or produce ...
stations in Canada. The magazine soon grew to include interviews, CD reviews and other features. ''National Chart'' was considered an internal publication for the
National Campus and Community Radio Association
The National Campus and Community Radio Association/L'Association nationale des radios étudiantes et communautaires (NCRA/ANREC) is a non-profit organization of campus radio and community radio stations in Canada.
It represents the interests of t ...
, Canada's association of campus radio stations, and was not available as a newsstand title.
When Skira and Laskovski graduated, they incorporated ''Chart'' as an independent magazine, and began to pursue national newsstand distribution. Although it was no longer an NCRA publication, many campus radio stations continued to file airplay reports for the magazine's Top 50 chart even though its status as the official NCRA chart was transferred to the new publication ''
!earshot
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
''.
The magazine's primary focus was Canadian
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
and
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
, although they profiled important international acts, and
rap
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
and
pop music acts as well.
At its peak, the magazine had a press run of 40,000 copies per issue, making it the largest paid circulation music magazine in Canada in its era.
[
The magazine ceased publishing a print edition in 2009, continuing as a web-only publication. The website briefly suspended publication in summer 2011, but its acquisition by andPOP, a Canadian entertainment news website, was announced on November 1, 2011. In 2013, andPop was in turn acquired by Channel Zero.
The site laid off its staff in 2017."Canadian music site Chart Attack goes on hiatus"]
''NOW Toronto'', February 6, 2017.
Reader polls
In 1996, 2000 and 2005, the magazine conducted polls of readers, musicians and music industry professionals to determine the 50 best Canadian albums and songs of all time. There were 25 albums and 18 songs which ranked in the top 50 in all three polls.
Top 50 albums
Top 50 songs
References
External links
Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chart Attack
1991 establishments in Ontario
2009 disestablishments in Ontario
Canadian music websites
Channel Zero (company)
Defunct magazines published in Canada
Magazines established in 1991
Magazines disestablished in 2009
Magazines published in Toronto
Music magazines published in Canada
Online magazines published in Canada
Online music magazines published in Canada