Photo Credit: Zulfugar Karimov
YouTube is set to return to Billboard’s US charts in 2027 after the publication announced changes to how it weighs paid subscription and free, ad-supported streams. The decision brings an end to a year-long disagreement between the two companies over how different forms of music consumption should influence chart rankings.
Announced November 9, Billboard’s revised methodology narrows the ratio between paid and ad-supported streams from 1:2.5 to 1:1.5. Previously, an album consumption unit on the Billboard 200 equalled 1,000 paid or 2,500 ad-supported streams. Effective with the January 16, 2027 charts (covering January 1–7 activity), that unit will equal 1,000 paid or 1,500 ad-supported streams. Based on an annual revenue review with Luminate, Billboard updated the formula to align with market economics. Paid streams retain higher weight, but free listening will now have greater influence.
YouTube withdrew its streaming data from Billboard in January 2026 after Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen argued the chart methodology undervalued free, ad-supported streams. Following Billboard’s updated methodology, Cohen confirmed YouTube will resume sharing data in 2027, stating the new approach better reflects modern music consumption.
YouTube’s return restores a key streaming data source to Billboard’s rankings. First added to the Hot 100 in 2013 and the Billboard 200 in 2019, YouTube streams, including official music videos, were excluded throughout 2026.
