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Today ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's home of classical music, announced the launch of a new weekly Official Specialist Classical Music Chart podcast.

The 25-minute podcast will be presented by Radio 3 Breakfast Show presenters Rob Cowan and Sara Mohr-Pietsch and, in a first for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Audio & Music, will feature several complete classical tracks from some of the week's new entries, re-entries and other CDs in the top 20.

The Official Specialist Classical Music Chart podcast will be available for download from midday Tuesday 2 November at bbc.co.uk/radio3 and on iTunes.

Roger Wright, Controller, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3, says: "This is the podcast for any music fan who wants to keep an eye on the most popular new classical CDs making an impact across the UK and is a breakthrough in offering listeners complete tracks to enjoy wherever they are and whatever device they're listening on. We have worked together with the classical recording industry on this initiative and we know that it will bring to a wider audience the new releases that have captured the imagination of the public."

Ginny Cooper, Vice Chair, BPI Classical Committee, says: "We are delighted with the ongoing support Radio 3 is providing the specialist classical chart by making a podcast available. This will further enhance listeners' ability to access the plethora of fantastic and innovative new recordings released every week. The UK has a wonderful history of both classical music and record companies making recordings, and we are happy that Radio 3 is providing us an opportunity to present these recordings within a modern world."

Radio 3 has pioneered a number of digital innovations recently, including the A-Z Of Opera podcasts, as part of Opera on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, and offering listeners the opportunity to reshuffle episodes of an adaptation B S Johnson's The Unfortunates online so that they could be listened to in any order, mirroring the way the novel was first published. And from December, Radio 3 will be broadcast online in HD Sound, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's highest audio quality broadcast to date.

Radio 3 began broadcasting the Official Specialist Classical Chart in April this year. The podcast will be available for a six-month trial period. Excerpts of music will be a maximum of nine minutes, which may include an entire track.

Notes to Editors

The Official Specialist Classical Chart is compiled by the Official Charts Company, based on sales through specialist, independent, general multiple and digital retailers. It is 100% classical repertoire with soundtracks, artist-CDs and Various compilation albums excluded.

The Official Charts Company (OCC) is a joint venture between the record labels' body, the British Recorded Music Industry (BPI), and the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA). The OCC is responsible for the commissioning, marketing, distribution and management of the UK's industry standard music and video charts and is endorsed by the British Video Association (BVA).

The Official Charts Company compiles its charts from sales information from over 6,200 retailers including all major high street retail chains, independent stores, supermarkets and internet retailers. This market research sample equates to 99 per cent of the total UK Singles market; 98 per cent of the total UK Albums market and 85 per cent of the total UK DVD market.

Radio 3 broadcasts classical music, jazz, world music, arts programmes and drama. Last year Radio 3 broadcast over 600 complete concerts and operas from venues and festivals across the UK and beyond. Radio 3 is the home of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Proms and broadcasts every concert live. The station supports composers, writers and new young performers and last year broadcast over 40 new drama productions.

DP