For some reason we had the misguided impression that the new "Do They Know It's Christmas?," celebrating the 30th anniversary of the original Band Aid single with contributions from One Direction and Chris Martin (for charity), would easily take the top spot on this week's Digital Downloads chart. We were wrong (and yes, it is available on American iTunes as well).
Taylor Swift's single "Blank Space," which is most certainly not for charity, took the no. 1 position again, moving 302,000 copies. Hozier and "Take Me To Church" continue to see an increase in sales (up 34 percent this week) but the vocalist is still far, far away from the top spot with his 176,000 downloads sold. This marks the 16th consecutive week either Swift or Meghan Trainor has topped the Downloads chart (Swift with nine of those weeks and Trainor with seven).
Some new blood does break the Top 10 this week as Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars place at no. 3 with "Uptown Funk!" That single jumped from no. 18 with a 107 percent sales increase, totaling 111,000 downloads. The aforementioned Trainor slips to no. 4 with "All About That Bass," which sold an additional 106,000 copies.
Sam Smith continues to rise slowly but surely with "I'm Not The Only One," which sold 99,000 downloads this week (a 7 percent increase). Maroon 5 and "Animals" are doing just the opposite, falling to no. 6 with 96,000 downloads (a 22 percent fall).
Nick Jonas is one cat who's not moving this week. He and single "Jealous" keep the no. 7 spot although getting an 8 percent boost in sales. The song moved 90,000 copies. Swift makes a second appearance with "Shake It Off," which has slipped to no. 8 with 83,000 downloads...probably okay considering "Blank Space"'s success.
Two new appearances in the Top 10 round off this week's list: Mr. Probz makes his first ever appearance in the front ten with "Waves," which sold 71,000 copies. Meanwhile Trainor aims to replace "All About That Bass" with her second single "Lips Are Movin'," which sold 69,000 downloads last week.
