FAQs
How are the "scores" for the charts calculated?
The charts here are NOT traditional charts based on fan voting, album sales, singles sales, radio play, or critic reviews, but rather, charts based on overall popularity and fan-base size FROM PROG FANS for each band or artist as tracked monthly through our proprietary algorithm. For example, David Bowie is far more popular than Porcupine Tree among the general public, but among lovers of prog music, they are of similar popularity and will appear close to each other in score and in the charts.
What does this site consider "Prog" music?
Progressive (or "prog") rock is a broad genre of rock music that started developing in the United Kingdom and United States throughout the mid- to late 1960s. Initially termed "progressive pop", the style was an outgrowth of psychedelic bands who abandoned standard pop traditions in favor of instrumentation and compositional techniques more frequently associated with jazz, folk, or classical music. Additional elements contributed to its "progressive" label: lyrics were more poetic, technology was harnessed for new sounds, music approached the condition of "art", and the studio, rather than the stage, became the focus of musical activity, which often involved creating music for listening rather than dancing.
- Unique chord progressions
- Expert musicianship with an emphasis on instrumentation over lyrics and vocals
- Long songs (aka "epics")
- Experimental
- More instrumental moments to a song than traditional rock music
- Concept and thematic songs and albums
- Recurring themes and reprisals in the same song or album
- Large dynamic range within the same song (loud/quiet, hard/soft, fast/slow, electric/acoustic, etc.)
How do you decide which bands to include or exclude in the Charts?
A band can be included if it is a traditionally-held classical prog band (King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, etc.) or is a old or new band that we feel at least some of their music is progressive in the traditional sense (see previous FAQ).
Can I suggest a band be added to, or removed from, the Charts?
Absolutely! Feel free to send us an email to let us know. No promises we'll accept all suggestions, but we DO promise to read and consider each one carefully.
How often are the Chart rankings updated?
Because of the unique nature and more limited number of prog bands, the charts are updated only a few times each year, usually every month or two. However, other content on the site such as album reviews, playlists, videos, etc., are updated almost daily.
How are the Prog VIPs determined?
The Prog VIPs on the site are NOT a "hall of fame" for those who historically have contributed to the development of prog. That would be an entirely different list (Robert Fripp, Ian Anderson, Bill Bruford, etc.), and there are plenty of other sites online with those kinds of lists.
What is the goal of ProgCharts?
Our primary goal here is to help you discover some great prog bands and music you may not have been familiar with.
Chart Key
Below is an example from our charts. Select "Learn More" to see further details about a specific item.
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