There was a time when the RJR and JBC charts were taken as the definitive statements on song popularity in Jamaica, the end-of-week countdowns to number one listened to with intense anticipation. Then, each January, there would be a top-100 countdown covering the previous year, climaxing with a declaration of a number-one song.
The rankings on those charts were determined by sales feedback from specified shops and, after their demise, The STAR took the same approach with its now-defunct charts.
Now, in a music climate where "record nah sell again, you no have no record sales to go by", Boswell 'Stampede' Lammie has taken a non-quantitative approach to determining the popularity of songs. He presents his Stampede Street Charts each week, with a reggae and dancehall top 15, as well as Hot Selectors, Hot Artist of the Week, Hot Female Artist of the Week, Top Events and Top Sound Systems. He depends on feedback from club and dancehall selectors and "people in the streets" who follow music avidly.
Stampede, who handles street promotions for many artistes, said he started in 2007 because of the feedback he got on his music rounds. For although "there were several charts going on in Jamaica", there were credibility issues. Among those who encouraged him to start the Stampede Street Charts were Josef Bogdonovich of Downsound Records and Maestro of Swatch.
"So me just start it," Stampede said. He utilised his street promotion savvy and connections to set up the feedback network and took out advertisements to have it printed first in The STAR and then the now defunct X-News. Currently, it is presented primarily through the Internet and is aired on over 70 free-to-air and Internet radio stations in the Caribbean, Europe and North America.
"Everybody a endorse it. Them say Stampede chart a de realest chart," he said.
With skepticism rife over the composition of music charts in Jamaica and the pervasive influence of payola, The Gleaner asks Stampede if payment is involved in his rankings and he says "is a honest chart. No man cyaa call and say a song hot if it no hot".
He also points out that the Stampede Street Chart takes into account variations in songs' popularity across the island. "You have song might a mash up dance a country and you no hear it a play a town. You have to put it on the chart. Some song play a Weddy Weddy, (but) you nuh hear dem a Trelawny and St Thomas," Stampede said.
After the selectors have called in, Stampede is responsible for the final collation, using a percentage system to arrive at the positions. This week's top dancehall song is Vybz Kartel's Summer Time and Romain Virgo tops the reggae rankings with Taking You Home.
He says it is not an income-generating activity. "Is out of the love for it, because we say music. We get money out of artiste promotion and development," he said.
The charts are generated each Monday, after the weekend round of events.
Stampede's next project is a top-50 ranking of selectors in Jamaica. There is a large pool to draw from, as he aid "I have a list of over 300 selectors in Jamaica right now".
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