Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
YouTube is leaving Billboard. The video streaming giant has announced that it will no longer submit data to the Billboard charts—including the Hot 100 and Billboard 200—beginning January 16, 2026. The comes after Billboard’s announcement of changing the chart methodology that will continue to weigh subscription streams over ad-supported streams.
Lyor Cohen, hip-hop veteran and YouTube's head of music, claimed the current formula “doesn’t reflect how fans engage with music today and ignores the massive engagement from fans who don’t have a subscription.” He believes that both paid/subscription and ad-supported streams should be counted equally.
Music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy explains what this move means for hip-hop, especially rappers like NBA Youngboy, Ice Spice and Pooh Sheisty that out-perform on YouTube over other platforms.
Are the Billboard charts relevant?
billboard.com/pro/youtube-announces-intention-withdraw-data-billboard-charts
#music #hiphop #streaming
YouTube is leaving Billboard. The video streaming giant has announced that it will no longer submit data to the Billboard charts—including the Hot 100 and Billboard 200—beginning January 16, 2026. The comes after Billboard’s announcement of changing the chart methodology that will continue to weigh subscription streams over ad-supported streams.
Lyor Cohen, hip-hop veteran and YouTube's head of music, claimed the current formula “doesn’t reflect how fans engage with music today and ignores the massive engagement from fans who don’t have a subscription.” He believes that both paid/subscription and ad-supported streams should be counted equally.
Music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy explains what this move means for hip-hop, especially rappers like NBA Youngboy, Ice Spice and Pooh Sheisty that out-perform on YouTube over other platforms.
Are the Billboard charts relevant?
billboard.com/pro/youtube-announces-intention-withdraw-data-billboard-charts
#music #hiphop #streaming
