"Billboard uses an outdated formula that weights subscription-supported streams higher than ad-supported. This doesn't reflect how fans engage with music today and ignores the massive engagement from fans who don't have a subscription,"
"We're simply asking that every stream is counted fairly and equally, whether it is subscription-based or ad-supported-because every fan matters and every play should count,"
"Streaming is the primary way people experience music, making up 84% of U.S. recorded music revenue."
"better reflect an increase in streaming revenue and changing consumer behaviors."
Billboard revised its U.S. chart formulas to give greater weight to paid, on-demand streaming versus ad-supported streaming, citing increases in streaming revenue and changing consumer behavior. The changes will affect the Billboard 200 and genre album charts beginning with charts published January 17, 2026, and will set the paid-to-ad-supported ratio for the Hot 100 at 2.5:1. YouTube objected, arguing that subscription and ad-supported streams should be counted equally and highlighting large engagement from non-subscribers. YouTube announced it will stop supplying streaming data to Billboard after January 16, 2026, in protest of the weighting changes.
Read at TechCrunch
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