Quote
It is our goal at Billboard to accurately portray in an unbiased manner how music performs relative to other music.
That job has become much more complicated throughout the years. For decades, there were just physical retail sales and radio airplay, whereas today there are many ways to consume and not all are created equal - from an access perspective, from a user-control perspective, from a revenue perspective, from a fraud-protection perspective and so on. Thus, Billboard frequently reevaluates - with the advisement of our constituents (artists, labels, distributors, publishers, consumers, etc.) - how to properly measure and report this activity. It is our obligation to take all methods of distribution and consumption into consideration; similarly, it is our obligation to weigh the ramifications of any changes.
This has been an especially challenging year for these deliberations, as we are seeing rapid adoption of new streaming and distribution models that are changing user experience and behavior at an unprecedented pace.
Among the changes we implemented or seriously considered this year for our charts are (i) how to weigh paid vs. ad-supported and free streams, (ii) the weighting of programmed streams (on a service like Pandora), (iii) whether streams of YouTube official music videos should be included in the Billboard 200 albums chart, (iv) how to address the increase in, and uniqueness of, sales of music through direct-to-consumer offers, (v) whether to modify what?s allowable for concert ticket/album bundle sale redemption offers, and (vi) how to address the rise of promotions that incentivize consumer streaming.
In recognition of an evolving music market and the means that consumers engage with music, Billboard has decided to implement changes on how it incorporates streaming data into our charts.
Currently, Billboard has two defined types of streaming plays for the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart (and our other hybrid songs charts): on-demand (such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube) and programmed (such as Pandora and Slacker Radio), with on-demand having a greater weight. The Billboard 200 -- and our other consumption-ranked albums charts -- uses a single tier of only on-demand audio streams (paid or ad-supported) from subscriptions services. Video streams do not contribute to the Billboard 200?s calculations, but are incorporated into the Hot 100.
Beginning in 2018, plays occurring on paid subscription-based services (such as Amazon Music and Apple Music) or on the paid subscription tiers of hybrid paid/ad-supported platforms (such as SoundCloud and Spotify) will be given more weight in chart calculations than those plays on pure ad-supported services (such as YouTube) or on the non-paid tiers of hybrid paid/ad-supported services.
In 2018, Billboard will have multiple weighted tiers of streaming plays for the Hot 100, which take into account paid subscription streams, ad-supported streams, and programmed streams. Streaming, along with all-genre radio airplay and digital songs sales data, make up the three metrics of the Hot 100?s methodology.
The Billboard 200 will now include two tiers of on-demand audio streams: paid subscription audio streams and ad-supported audio streams. The chart will continue to not incorporate video streams. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums, and streaming equivalent albums.
The shift to a multi-level streaming approach to Billboard?s chart methodology is a reflection of how music is now being consumed on streaming services, migrating from a pure on-demand experience to a more diverse selection of listening preferences (including playlists and radio), and the various options in which a consumer can access music based on their subscription commitment.
It is Billboard?s belief that assigning values to the levels of consumer engagement and access - along with the compensation derived from those options - better reflects the varied user activity occurring on these services.
Billboard remains committed to being the book of record when it comes to tracking fan activity in and around music. We will always remain responsive to the marketplace so that our charts continue to be the most credible and relevant measure of music popularity.
Below is a list of current streaming services contributing to the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200, as well as corresponding genre songs and albums charts.
Hot 100 (+ Genre Charts) Streaming
Service Audio/Video Data Type
Amazon Music Unlimited Audio Paid
Amazon Prime Audio Paid
Apple Music Audio Paid
Apple Music Video Paid
Google Play Audio Paid
Groove Music Pass (Xbox) Audio Paid
Medianet Audio Paid
Napster Audio Paid
SoundCloud Audio Paid / Ad Supported
Slacker Audio Paid
Spotify Audio Paid / Ad Supported
Tidal Audio Paid
Tidal Video Paid
Vevo on YouTube Video Ad Supported
YouTube Video Ad Supported
AOL Radio (Powered by Slacker) Audio Programmed
Google Radio Audio Programmed
Napster Audio Programmed
Pandora Audio Programmed
Slacker Audio Programmed
Billboard 200 (+ Genre Album Charts) Streaming Services
Service Audio/Video Data Type
Amazon Music Unlimited Audio Paid
Amazon Prime Audio Paid
Apple Music Audio Paid
Google Play Audio Paid
Groove Music Pass (Xbox) Audio Paid
Medianet Audio Paid
Napster Audio Paid
Slacker Audio Paid
SoundCloud Audio Paid / Ad Supported
Spotify Audio Paid / Ad Supported
Tidal Audio Paid
The chart is fine as it is. Not them hating on YouTube
Great .
We live in a digital age
I knew something was coming. I just didn't know how they'd do it.
This is about to give the advantage back to Pop. I am almost certain more paid subscribers are listening to Pop music. And giving that weight over YouTube is going to hurt Rap.
It was fun while it lasted.
why not just get rid of the charts and let ppl enjoy the the music they fckn want to and stop forcing white trash down our throats?
:letsmessfag:
This is lame as hell. I mean I use Spotify but ch :uhh: YouTube was helping the urban girls.
d
Which means less urban acts slaying now basically
RIAA >>> billboard
:feelinmyself:
I feel like most people have paid streaming subscriptions these days? Or maybe I'm looking in my little bubble.
I don't think it'll change that much.
Quote from: XXX. on October 19, 2017, 08:14:46 PM
I knew something was coming. I just didn't know how they'd do it.
This is about to give the advantage back to Pop. I am almost certain more paid subscribers are listening to Pop music. And giving that weight over YouTube is going to hurt Rap.
It was fun while it lasted.
you called it
Interesting they?re waiting until 2018 though
I knew Taylor wants this boost right now
I won?t be surprised if she pays for them to push it up
Paid streaming should have always had more weight than YouTube and similar services on a chart like this..
n
This is so dumb. Doesn?t Spotify have more free users than paid ones or do they include them all together?
Now wait because youtube will still count it?s looking like
And a lot of people stream
Quote from: XXX. on October 19, 2017, 08:14:46 PM
I knew something was coming. I just didn't know how they'd do it.
This is about to give the advantage back to Pop. I am almost certain more paid subscribers are listening to Pop music. And giving that weight over YouTube is going to hurt Rap.
It was fun while it lasted.
They seen our black asses coming back up.
I definitely agree paid subscriptions should weigh more on the charts
I agree with this change
you gorls better start pulling out your coin if you wanna contribute to impacting the charts more
Sssssdddddd
The black girls were pulling these platinum plaques and they lost it
Quote from: OwnIt on October 19, 2017, 09:38:39 PM
RIAA >>> billboard
:feelinmyself:
nznsnsnns yeah hun ciara will no longer be gettin any plaques
Quote from: AYR on October 19, 2017, 09:43:10 PM
Quote from: XXX. on October 19, 2017, 08:14:46 PM
I knew something was coming. I just didn't know how they'd do it.
This is about to give the advantage back to Pop. I am almost certain more paid subscribers are listening to Pop music. And giving that weight over YouTube is going to hurt Rap.
It was fun while it lasted.
you called it
Interesting they?re waiting until 2018 though
I knew Taylor wants this boost right now
I won?t be surprised if she pays for them to push it up
Right! The timing is always curious to me of these chart rules. But yeah, I was expecting it only because too many major white acts were falling by the wayside. There's no way the music industry and its counterparts were going to let a cash cow like Taylor Swift struggle to keep up with someone like Cardi B and Post Malone.
Some people don't think it'll have too much of an effect, but I think it will. I just see more paid Spotify subscribers listening to Sam Smith and Taylor Swift than Lil Uzi.
But I have no evidence of that. We'll see, though!
Quote from: XXX. on October 20, 2017, 04:17:44 PM
Quote from: AYR on October 19, 2017, 09:43:10 PM
Quote from: XXX. on October 19, 2017, 08:14:46 PM
I knew something was coming. I just didn't know how they'd do it.
This is about to give the advantage back to Pop. I am almost certain more paid subscribers are listening to Pop music. And giving that weight over YouTube is going to hurt Rap.
It was fun while it lasted.
you called it
Interesting they?re waiting until 2018 though
I knew Taylor wants this boost right now
I won?t be surprised if she pays for them to push it up
Right! The timing is always curious to me of these chart rules. But yeah, I was expecting it only because too many major white acts were falling by the wayside. There's no way the music industry and its counterparts were going to let a cash cow like Taylor Swift struggle to keep up with someone like Cardi B and Post Malone.
Some people don't think it'll have too much of an effect, but I think it will. I just see more paid Spotify subscribers listening to Sam Smith and Taylor Swift than Lil Uzi.
But I have no evidence of that. We'll see, though!
n
Cardi better hurry up and put that album or another single out while her fanbase can stream it on Spotify
but yea I wonder about the stream demographics are
we could be wrong but in general White people have the money in America
Niggas complain about Tidal prices, and use the free trial on Apple Music
let?s see
Quote from: AYR on October 20, 2017, 04:27:46 PM
Quote from: XXX. on October 20, 2017, 04:17:44 PM
Quote from: AYR on October 19, 2017, 09:43:10 PM
Quote from: XXX. on October 19, 2017, 08:14:46 PM
I knew something was coming. I just didn't know how they'd do it.
This is about to give the advantage back to Pop. I am almost certain more paid subscribers are listening to Pop music. And giving that weight over YouTube is going to hurt Rap.
It was fun while it lasted.
you called it
Interesting they?re waiting until 2018 though
I knew Taylor wants this boost right now
I won?t be surprised if she pays for them to push it up
Right! The timing is always curious to me of these chart rules. But yeah, I was expecting it only because too many major white acts were falling by the wayside. There's no way the music industry and its counterparts were going to let a cash cow like Taylor Swift struggle to keep up with someone like Cardi B and Post Malone.
Some people don't think it'll have too much of an effect, but I think it will. I just see more paid Spotify subscribers listening to Sam Smith and Taylor Swift than Lil Uzi.
But I have no evidence of that. We'll see, though!
n
Cardi better hurry up and put that album or another single out while her fanbase can stream it on Spotify
but yea I wonder about the stream demographics are
we could be wrong but in general White people have the money in America
Niggas complain about Tidal prices, and use the free trial on Apple Music
let?s see
:kii:
You ain't lying! And will keep trying to get free trials. JDJDJnnnnnnNNNNNN
And !!!!!! Cardi honestly should have been dropped her album. How you don't release while your song is #1?
That level of buzz is not guaranteed for round 2.
N
I use my college credentials and get Apple Music it for $5
I hope that counts
Quote from: AYR on October 20, 2017, 04:45:30 PM
N
I use my college credentials and get Apple Music it for $5
I hope that counts
me too :plzstop:
For Spotify and Tidal too.
:rthosehotwings: me thinks Cardi is scared to release
Quote from: Baph al Mana. on October 20, 2017, 05:00:17 PM
:rthosehotwings: me thinks Cardi is scared to release
And Nicki? :rthosehotwings:
Quote from: XXX. on October 20, 2017, 04:17:44 PM
Quote from: AYR on October 19, 2017, 09:43:10 PM
Quote from: XXX. on October 19, 2017, 08:14:46 PM
I knew something was coming. I just didn't know how they'd do it.
This is about to give the advantage back to Pop. I am almost certain more paid subscribers are listening to Pop music. And giving that weight over YouTube is going to hurt Rap.
It was fun while it lasted.
you called it
Interesting they?re waiting until 2018 though
I knew Taylor wants this boost right now
I won?t be surprised if she pays for them to push it up
Right! The timing is always curious to me of these chart rules. But yeah, I was expecting it only because too many major white acts were falling by the wayside. There's no way the music industry and its counterparts were going to let a cash cow like Taylor Swift struggle to keep up with someone like Cardi B and Post Malone.
Some people don't think it'll have too much of an effect, but I think it will. I just see more paid Spotify subscribers listening to Sam Smith and Taylor Swift than Lil Uzi.
But I have no evidence of that. We'll see, though!
We'll have to wait and see... it could cause RAP to dominate even more.