Beatport takes a stand against cheaters, but raises larger questions
The Beatport Top 10 has been the target of criticism since very early in its inception. Ghost-producing and pay-to-win tactics have plagued it since early in its lifecycle, but it's not the charts or Beatport's fault. Rather, the fault lies in that of the industry itself, and the a fundamental flaw by which success and popularity are actually measured. An endemic obsession with quantifiable rankings has overshadowed the focus on quality music. When so much of the attention is targeted at a chart based on revenue, it completely misrepresents the actual popularity or the true trends of a highly ephemeral culture. The fact that it can be manipulated so blatantly is just the cherry on top of a larger problem and further diminishes its value in the conversation.