YouTube has announced it will cease submitting its data to the US Billboard charts from January.
How we got here:
Billboard recently updated its chart rules, upgrading the weight it gives to ad-supported streams.
The previous ratio of subscription streams to ad-supported was 1:3, meaning one paid/subscription stream equaled three ad-supported streams.
That figure has now been amended to 1:2.5.
YouTube has long said the weight should be equal.
The fallout:
In a post on YouTube’s music blog, Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen said: “We believe every fan matters and every play should count equally, therefore after January 16, YouTube data will no longer be delivered or factored into the US Billboard charts.”
Cohen references Billboard’s “outdated formula” for weighting streams, which “ignores the massive engagement from fans who don’t have a subscription.”
He concludes: “We are committed to achieving equitable representation across the charts and hopefully can work with Billboard to return to theirs.”
The response:
In a statement, Billboard said it strives to measure fan support appropriately, “balanced by various factors including consumer access, revenue analysis, data validation and industry guidance.”
It hopes YouTube reconsiders its decision.
Worth noting:
YouTube will continue to submit its data to Luminate.
