YouTube To Return To Billboard Charts In 2027 After Streaming Formula Change
The new formula takes effect January 16, 2027, covering streams from January 1–7
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YouTube is set to return to Billboard's US music charts in 2027, ending a year-long disagreement over how paid subscription and free, ad-supported streams are counted in chart rankings.
The development follows Billboard's decision to revise its streaming calculation methodology, giving greater weight to ad-supported listening across its charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200.
Confirming the move on November 9, YouTube Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen said the platform would resume sharing its streaming data with Billboard in 2027. He noted that the revised methodology better reflects how audiences engage with music across subscription-based and ad-supported services.
Under the previous Billboard 200 formula, 1,000 paid subscription streams were equivalent to one album consumption unit, compared with 2,500 ad-supported streams. Under the revised system, the requirement for ad-supported streams will be reduced to 1,500, while the paid-stream threshold will remain unchanged at 1,000.
The revised calculation will take effect with the Billboard charts dated January 16, 2027, reflecting streaming activity between January 1 and 7.
The disagreement dates back to December 2025, when YouTube announced that it would stop sharing its streaming data with Billboard from January 2026. The platform had argued that the existing methodology gave disproportionate importance to paid subscriptions and undervalued free, ad-supported listening.
YouTube's data was subsequently excluded from Billboard's rankings from January 31, 2026.
The platform's return marks an important development for the music industry, particularly artists who rely heavily on YouTube for music discovery, video consumption and audience engagement. With its streaming data back in the calculations, music videos and other eligible listening activity will once again contribute to an artist's Billboard chart performance.
Billboard said the revised methodology follows its annual review of streaming revenue data with Luminate, aiming to ensure its rankings reflect the evolving economics of music consumption.
The move restores a partnership that began with YouTube's inclusion in the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013, followed by its addition to the Billboard 200 in 2019.