Starting in January, Billboard Will Add YouTube Streams to its Chart Equation

YouTube streams will reportedly be given the same weight as Apple Music and Spotify streams.

In recent years, streaming services have changed the music business, making it harder to quantify independent artists' impact. Billboard is attempting to resolve that issue. On Friday, the company announced its plans to integrate YouTube streams into the Billboard 200 charts.

Streaming numbers are weighted by paid subscribers and non-paying users. Currently, 1,250 clicks from a paid subscriber, or 3,750 from a non-paying user, are equivalent to one album sale. Billboard will apply these metrics to YouTube streams.

New York Times reporter Ben Sisario spoke with Billboard and YouTube executives Deanna Brown and Lyor Cohen. Brown serves as president of the Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group, a division of parent company Valence Media. Cohen, the former Def Jam executive, became YouTube's global head of music three years ago.

“It’s an important part of music consumption, and it’s time to recognize that,” Brown said of YouTube streams. Previously, YouTube has faced criticism for its low payout rates compared to other streaming services. Cohen hopes this partnership can quell some of those fears.

"We went from fearful to collaborative and hopeful," he said.

Read the full report at the New York Times.

SOURCE: New York Times