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In a major shift for how music popularity is measured in the United States, YouTube has announced that its streaming data will no longer be included on the U.S. Billboard charts beginning January 16, 2026. This marks the end of a partnership that has shaped chart rankings for more than a decade — and could have far-reaching effects on artists and the industry.
YouTube says it is pulling its data from Billboard because the way the chart publisher counts and weights audio streams doesn’t fairly represent how fans actually engage with music on its platform.
Billboard’s current chart methodology gives higher weight to paid subscription streams (from services like Apple Music or Spotify Premium) than to ad-supported streams, which include many YouTube views. In practical terms, ad-supported streams have been worth less in chart calculations, even though they represent massive fan engagement on free platforms.
YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen, called the formula “outdated”, saying it undervalues the engagement of fans who don’t pay for subscription services and ignores the platform’s role in how people experience music today. YouTube argues that every stream should be counted equally — whether paid or free — because each play represents a genuine fan engaging with the music.
Starting with Billboard charts dated January 17, 2026, YouTube views will no longer factor into those rankings. That means songs and albums that previously climbed the charts based on massive YouTube engagement may see their chart positions affected if they don’t also generate strong numbers on subscription-based streaming services or through sales.
Billboard, for its part, has defended its methodology, saying it aims to balance various factors — including consumer access, revenue analysis, and data validation — in how it ranks music and measures popularity.
