In the UK music singles chart, what is the maximum length of a single?
Read this. Criteria for inclusion In order to qualify for inclusion in the UK singles chart, a single must meet the following criteria: It must be available on one or more eligible formats. Eligible formats are CD, DVD, Vinyl, Cassette, digital download and flexi disc. Digital Compact Cassette and MiniDisc formats are not eligible. All formats must contain the featured track or a version/remix of it. Only three formats can be included in a single’s sales. Sales of any additional formats are disregarded when calculating a single’s chart position. The single must meet a minimum dealer price requirement, to prevent record companies from making cut-price deals with retailers. Each format must have no more than four different tracks on it, though each song may appear in any number of different versions. The maximum running time for any format is 25 minutes if more than one different song is featured, or 40 minutes if only one song is featured in multiple versions/mixes. A “mini CD” format i
I don’t think there is a set time limit. Until a certain point, it was almost unheard of for a single to be more than about 3 mins long, but this is beacuse a majority of songs were this length. When Queen recorded ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in 1975, Freddie was told that, at almost 6 mins in length, no one would play it. Freddie gave it to his good friend, DJ Kenny Everett, who would play it in full up to 14 times a day. Other radio stations followed his lead, and played it in full. By the time Guns N’ Roses released ‘November Rain’ in 1992, it was far more common to play longer singles. The full version, at almost 9 minutes, is often played, though some radio stations use a 6 min edit.
