YouTube LLC

12/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/17/2025 14:10

A Change to YouTube’s Inclusion on the U.S. Billboard Charts

News and Events

A Change to YouTube's Inclusion on the U.S. Billboard Charts

By Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music, YouTube

We believe every fan matters and every play should count equally, therefore after January 16, YouTube data will no longer be delivered or factored into the U.S. Billboard charts.

Dec 17, 2025 [[read-time]] minute read

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YouTube is where billions of fans worldwide connect with music, from official music videos and live streams to channels like NPR Tiny Desk. The incredible work artists do to build a community on YouTube and their massive fan engagement is being undervalued in Billboard's charts.

Billboard uses an outdated formula that weights subscription-supported streams higher than ad-supported.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. Streaming is the primary way people experience music, making up 84% of U.S. recorded music revenue. 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.

After a decade-long partnership and extensive discussions, they are unwilling to make meaningful changes. Therefore, after January 16, 2026, our data will no longer be delivered to Billboard or factored into their charts.

We are committed to achieving equitable representation across the charts and hopefully can work with Billboard to return to theirs. Until then, if you're curious about what music is making waves on YouTube, you can visit our charts here.

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YouTube LLC published this content on December 17, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 17, 2025 at 20:10 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]