About the Folk Chart
The Folk Alliance International Folk Chart (formerly the Folk DJ Chart) was started in 1998 by Richard Gillmann and is now managed by Folk Alliance International. The chart presents the top albums, artists, and songs each month, has nearly 150 contributing DJs, and reaches thousands of listeners each month.
FAI uses custom software to recognize each DJ’s reporting approach when submitting playlists to the listserv. The program does not identify incorrect song names or spelling errors in submissions, which is mitigated by manually checking the data. In addition, all top 20 positions are manually verified to ensure final chart accuracy. To submit notice of an error or inconsistencies in playlists, please contact FAI at charts@folk.org. FAI is actively seeking improved solutions for the future.
The FAI Folk Chart counts recordings played from live albums, but it does not count live in-studio artist performances. To ensure that no individual DJ has disproportionate influence on the chart by playing full albums, the chart does not count full album plays by a single artist. DJs are free to play whatever full releases on their shows, but only five tracks from the same album in a given playlist will be counted toward the albums chart. This rule also applies to the artists chart, but does not apply the songs chart.
The FAI Folk Chart and folk NACC Chart are circulated weekly via email and social media. Sign up for our email list here.
About Folk Alliance International
Folk Alliance International (FAI) was founded in 1989 to connect folk music leaders aiming to sustain the community and genre. The leading international voice for folk music, FAI is a 30-year-old arts nonprofit based in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
The organization’s expanded global network now includes more than 3,000 members, a worldwide community of cultural sector entrepreneurs and leaders that includes artists, record companies, publishers, presenters, agents, managers, arts administrators, diplomats, and more.
Folk Alliance International’s mission is to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation, and promotion.