YouTube to withdraw streaming numbers from US Billboard charts

Songs streamed on YouTube will soon no longer count towards the Billboard charts in the US.

The change will come into effect on 16th January, 2026, according to Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s global head of music, who announced the development in a blog post last week. Cohen said the change had been made due to an ongoing dispute between the two companies related to Billboard’s decision to weight subscriber streams more favourably than ad-supported streams in its chart tallies.

Billboard‘s recent announcement on how it will newly weight streaming numbers means that a single stream by a YouTube or Spotify subscriber will now be equal to two-and-a-half streams by a non-subscriber. The ratio was previously three to one, meaning a free stream was worth even less.

Cohen has argued that this is an “outdated formula” that “ignores the massive engagement from fans who don’t have a subscription”. Further pointing out that streaming accounts for 84% of recorded music revenue in the US, Cohen added that YouTube preferred a one to one ratio in streaming numbers. It’s not fully known, however, why YouTube wants free streams to count more favourably in chart data.

Responding to YouTube’s decision, a spokesperson for Billboard said: “There are so many ways a fan can support an artist they love, and each has a specific place in the music ecosystem. Billboard strives to measure that activity appropriately; balanced by various factors including consumer access, revenue analysis, data validation and industry guidance.

“It is our hope that YouTube reconsiders and joins Billboard in recognising the reach and popularity of artists on all music platforms and in celebrating their achievements though the power of fans and how they interact with the music that they love.”