YouTube has announced it will stop submitting its streaming data to the U.S. Billboard charts, a decision that is set to reshape how chart performance is measured from next year.
The move was confirmed by the platform, citing an ongoing disagreement with Billboard over how different types of streams are weighted in chart calculations. The change could have a significant impact on artists whose chart success is heavily driven by YouTube streams.
The announcement was made by YouTube’s Global Head of Music, Lyor Cohen, in a post on the YouTube Music blog.
At the heart of the disagreement is Billboard’s methodology, which assigns more value to paid subscription streams than to ad-supported streams. Although Billboard recently adjusted its ratios to reduce the gap, YouTube maintains that all streams should be counted equally, regardless of how users access them.
“We believe every fan matters and every play should count equally,” Cohen said.
Despite pulling its data from the Billboard charts, YouTube will continue to submit streaming figures to Luminate, Billboard’s primary data partner. However, the company insists that the current chart formula no longer reflects contemporary listening habits, especially as streaming now accounts for the majority of recorded music revenue in the United States.
In response, Billboard defended its chart methodology, stating that different forms of fan engagement carry varying levels of value within the broader music ecosystem. The chart authority also expressed hope that the video platform would reconsider its decision in the future.
The development marks a significant moment in the evolving relationship between streaming platforms and traditional chart systems, highlighting ongoing debates over how music consumption should be measured in the digital age.
