YouTube Streams Could Be Factored Into The Billboard 200 Chart

[Jordan Miller]

Was it the inevitable?

YouTube could play a role on how artists are ranked on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

The Google-owned video streaming giant could help YouTube stars grab a spot on the ever-changing Billboard 200. The chart ranks the Top 200 albums in the U.S. based off of sales and streaming. If YouTube gets its way, it will influence the future of the chart, but the real question is: does it even matter?

The answer is YES. Here's why it does:

As Hits Daily Double points out, unlike other streaming services, YouTube requires no login, which increases "the potential—and now incentive—for manipulation and fraud." This fraud and manipulation could benefit country and rock acts and indie labels. It's also putting pressure on labels to get honest with their data who use their hidden figures to target charts that suit their liking.

It does not benefit the artist.

Hypebot reports that YouTube is under fire from the music industry because they pay labels, artists and other rights holders a fraction of what their competitors shell out. "By comparison, Spotify pays out approximately 75% more for its ad supported tier and 515% more for paid streaming than Google owned YouTube," they report. Struggling artists will struggle even more.

User generated videos will also be taken into consideration to tally the Billboard 200, which is deeply concerning. So if a video of a cat dancing to "Bodak Yellow" goes viral, will that boost Cardi B's chances for a higher ranking album on the Billboard 200? That seems extremely odd, but it's 2017 and therefore makes complete sense.

Is it the inevitable?

It seems that way. Billboard recently changed their formula behind its Hot 100 chart; one YouTube view counts the same as a stream from Spotify or Apple Music. Hypebot claims the Billboard 200 / YouTube inclusion is still in the discussion stages, but HDD seems pretty confident it's only a matter of time.

Get ready for a world where Rebecca Black has a No. 1 album.

Thoughts on YouTube affecting the Billboard 200 chart? Let us know in Exhale.

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[jcf523]

I didn't think they could **** the charts up more than they have, but here we go.

[BoyToySoldier]

This is such bullshit, so basically watching a ******* viral video on loop is now equal to actually purchasing an album? 

[popprison]

I think this is fine actually. 

[BoyToySoldier]

32 minutes ago, popprison said:

I think this is fine actually. 

I can understand the appeal for singles, but not the album charts.

[DMVofficial]

YouTube stream already kind of do factor into the 200 chart though...

If a song gets 1,500 plays that counts as one song sale, 10 of these song sales will count as an album. 

So 15,000 streams = 1 albums sale right? Hasn't this been a rule since early 2014?

[KatLove]

Someone needs to revolutionize the Music industry pronto.

[SlayOut]

3 hours ago, BoyToySoldier said:

This is such bullshit, so basically watching a ******* viral video on loop is now equal to actually purchasing an album? 

Time for viral videos with Britney songs to commence.

[dasho]

they need to release If Im Dancing now so the memes and the viral videos will pop out like mushrooms

[PokemonSpears]

3 hours ago, SlayOut said:

Time for viral videos with Britney songs to commence.

I can already see them being muted/taken down before they're even uploaded Even the Private Show ad on her own channel was blocked

On the other hand, ITZ and BOMT might rank again, and even BJ because of Toxic, BOMT and WB :P

 

[PokemonSpears]

But who are we kidding, in a world where a song like Despacito gets 4B views, and Britney's latest single barely hit the 70M mark, we can only dream of her next album landing in the top 100. With this rule her next eras will be cancelled before the lead single even comes out.

[Spearsfan]

I thought YouTube already was getting counted? I'm wrong 

[Noname2022]

It's not the fault of Billboard but of the digital age. Nobody's buying **** anymore and they have to fill the charts.

[Chris88]

It's not surprising and it actually makes sense. YouTube is already a source of income for various artists who don't have access to more public exposure and still manage to have a lot of views so it isn't shocking I guess to count views in chart positions. And For Rebecca Black, yes it was the worst song (at the time) but it went viral and people were sharing the link and talking about it everywhere so why not bank on that (and chart for that matter) at the same time while she was being made fun of? How many bad songs ranked in the charts (sans YouTube) and were very very bad (What Did the fox say?/ It Wasn't Me "Shaggy"/ etc...) 

[Britneyriri]

So I'm guessing real talent  won t chart 

[ZAM9315]

Well for britney this could be good 

[Spearsfan]

15 minutes ago, ZAM9315 said:

Well for britney this could be good 

Not really. Most ppl get over 100 million a week after video release. It takes years for Britney 

 

[WootsWow]

Them Youtubers are coming for weaves then. 

[MX3]

I think that could be legit - but only if its been uploaded on the artists vevo channel. like official lyric or music videos. I don't know why they would include like, weird vines and other sources. 

[BritneyJeanSpearsOfficial]

Here we go  

Can’t wait for you guys to hear my No 1. Album