Lyor Cohen, the worldwide head of music at YouTube, announced on Wednesday that the company will no longer submit its data to the U.S. Billboard charts next month because of a dispute over how streams are counted.
The mechanism used by Billboard to separate paid/subscription streams from ad-supported (i.e., free) streaming lies at the heart of the issue: YouTube has long maintained that ad-supported streams should be weighted equally, but Billboard changed its chart rules on Monday to upgrade them with a new ratio between the two tiers, reducing from 1:3 to 1:2.5, meaning that 2.5 ad-supported streams now equal one paid/subscription stream.
A person listening to a video clip in the background is not the same as someone looking for a song on Spotify, according to Billboard, which regularly adjusts its charts’ methodology. It uses a weighting system that is comparable to other streaming services.
Luminate, a major supplier for Billboard’s chart data, will continue to get data from YouTube.
Cohen makes the following claim in the announcement, which was published on YouTube Music’s blog: “After January 16, YouTube data will no longer be delivered or factored into the U.S. Billboard charts because we believe every fan matters and every play should count equally.”
He goes on, “Billboard uses an outdated formula that weights subscription-supported streams higher than ad-supported.” “This ignores the enormous engagement from fans without a subscription and doesn’t reflect how fans interact with music today.” 84% of U.S. recorded music revenue comes from streaming, which is the main way Americans listen to music. All we’re asking is that all streams, whether ad-supported or subscription-based, be tallied equally and fairly because every fan counts and every play should be taken into account.
“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 hope to work with Billboard to return to theirs, and we are committed to achieving equitable representation across the charts,” he says.
In response, a spokesperson for Billboard said in a statement: “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 recognizing 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.”