Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States and elsewhere. The results are published in Billboard magazine. Billboard biz, the online extension of the Billboard charts, provides additional weekly charts.[1] There are also Year End charts.[2]
History, methods and description
On January 4, 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade. The first Music Popularity Chart was calculated in July 1940. A variety of song charts followed, which were eventually consolidated into the Hot 100 by mid-1958. The Hot 100 currently combines single sales, radio airplay, digital downloads, and streaming activity (including data from YouTube and other video sites). All of the Billboard charts use this basic formula. What separates the charts is which stations and stores are used; each musical genre has a core audience or retail group. Each genre's department at Billboard is headed up by a chart manager, who makes these determinations.
For many years, a song had to be commercially available as a single to be considered for any of the Billboard charts. At the time, instead of using Nielsen SoundScan or Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS), Billboard obtained its data from manual reports filled out by radio stations and stores. According to the 50th Anniversary issue of Billboard, prior to the official implementation of SoundScan tracking in November 1991, many radio stations and retail stores removed songs from their manual reports after the associated record labels stopped promoting a particular single. Thus songs fell quickly after peaking and had shorter chart lives. In 1990, the country singles chart was the first chart to use SoundScan and BDS. They were followed by the Hot 100 and the R&B chart in 1991. Today, all of the Billboard charts use this technology.
Originally, Billboard had separate charts for different measures of popularity, including disk jockey playings, juke box song selection, and best selling records in retail stores. A composite standing chart that combined these gradually grew to become a top 100, the predecessor to the current Hot 100 chart. The juke box chart ceased publication after the June 17, 1957 issue, the disk jockey chart, after the July 28, 1958 issue, and the best seller chart, after the October 13, 1958 issue. The July 28, 1958 issue was also the last issue that called the composite chart the "Top 100"; the following week began the "Hot 100". Billboard publishes many different charts, with the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 being the most famous. Billboard also has charts for the following music styles: rock, country, dance, bluegrass, jazz, classical, R&B, rap, electronic, pop, Latin, Christian music, comedy albums, catalog albums, and even ringtones for mobile (cell) phones. In 2009 Billboard partnered with MetroLyrics to offer top 10 lyrics for each of the charts.
At the end of each year, Billboard tallies the results of all of its charts, and the results are published in a year-end issue and heard on year-end editions of its American Top 40 and American Country Countdown radio broadcasts. Between 1991 and 2006, the top single/album/artist(s) in each of those charts was/were awarded in the form of the annual Billboard Music Awards, which were held in December until the awards went dormant in 2007. The awards returned in May 2011.
Before September 1995, singles were allowed to chart in the week they first went on sale based on airplay points alone. The policy was changed in September 1995 to only allow a single to debut after a full week of sales on combined sales and airplay points. This allowed several tracks to debut at number one.
In December 1998, the policy was further modified to allow tracks to chart on the basis of airplay alone without a commercial release. This change was made to reflect the changing realities of the music business. Previous to this, several substantial radio and MTV hits had not appeared on the Billboard chart at all, because many major labels chose not to release them as standalone singles, hoping their unavailability would spur greater album sales. Not offering a popular song to the public as a single was unheard of before the 1970s. The genres that suffered most at the time were those that increasingly impacted pop culture, including new genres such as trip hop and grunge. Among the many pre-1999 songs that had ended up in this Hot 100 limbo were The Cardigans' "Lovefool", Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" (which peaked at forty-two), Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" (which hit #9), OMC's "How Bizarre", Sugar Ray's "Fly" and No Doubt's "Don't Speak".
On June 25, 2015, Billboard made changes in its chart requirements. Starting July 10, the official street date for all new album releases will be Friday (instead of the current Tuesday) in the United States, For all sales-based charts (ranking both albums and tracks), Billboard and Nielsen changed the chart reporting period to cover the first seven days of an album's release. As a result of the changes, The Billboard 200, Top Albums Sales, Genre-based albums, Digital Songs, genre-based downloads, Streaming Songs, and genre-focused streaming surveys will run on a Friday to Thursday cycle. Radio Songs, which informs the Hot 100, will synch up to that Monday to Sunday period after formerly encompassing each Wednesday to Tuesday. All other radio charts and genre tallies follows the Monday to Sunday cycle, as they are monitored on a real-time basis. The move was made to coincide with the IFPI's move to have all singles and albums to be released on Friday globally.[3]
Incorporating digital platforms
Starting in 2005, Billboard changed its methodology to include paid digital downloads from digital music retailers such as Rhapsody, AmazonMP3, iTunes. This change also allowed songs to chart with or without the help of radio airplay. This meant that a song did not need radio airplay to be eligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. With this policy change, a song could chart based on digital downloads alone.[4]
On July 31, 2007 Billboard changed its methodology for the Hot 100 chart to include digital streams. The digital information at the time was obtained from Yahoo and AOL's streaming platforms. This change was made exclusively to the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The effect of this chart change was minuscule at the time because it was estimated to account for 5% of the chart's total points.[5]
In October 2012, Billboard dramatically changed the methodology for their country, rock, Latin, and rap charts, when they incorporated sales of digital downloads and streaming plays into what had been airplay-only charts. Another change was that rather than measuring airplay only from radio stations of the particular genre, the new methodology measures airplay from all radio formats.[6] This methodology was extended to their Christian and gospel charts in late 2013.[7]
On February 20, 2013, Billboard announced another change in the methodology for their charts that incorporated YouTube video streaming data into the determination of ranking positions on its streaming charts. The incorporation of YouTube streaming data enhanced a formula that includes on-demand audio streaming and online radio streaming. The YouTube video streams that used in this methodology are official video streams, Vevo on YouTube streams, and user-generated clips that utilize authorized audio. Billboard argued that this change was made to further reflect the divergent platforms of music consumption in today's world.[8]
Singles and tracks
All-genre
Chart title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard Hot 100 | sales + airplay + streaming | 100 |
|
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles | 25 |
| |
Heatseekers Songs | 25 |
| |
Hot 100 Airplay | airplay (audience) | 50 |
|
Hot Singles Sales | physical sales | 50 |
|
Digital Songs | digital sales | 50 |
|
Hot Digital Tracks | 75 |
| |
Streaming Songs On-Demand Songs |
streaming | 50 |
|
Billboard Twitter Real-Time | Twitter real-time | 140 |
|
R&B/Hip-Hop
Chart title | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 50 | Ranks the most popular by combining airplay from All formats of radio stations, digital download sales, streaming data and YouTube views of R&B and hip-hop songs. |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay | 50 | Measures airplay based on audience impressions from various R&B/hip-hop stations. |
Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop | 50 | Ranks songs by combining airplay base on radio plays (spins) from 76 R&B/hip-hop stations. |
Adult R&B songs | 20 | Measures airplay from 65 Urban AC radio stations. |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales | Sales component of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It is a separate panel of sales of commercial 12" Maxi singles in the urban market. | |
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | 10 | Ranks the top 10 songs below #50 that have not previously appeared on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. |
Rhythmic Top 40 | Measures airplay spins on 72 rhythmic stations. Rhythmic is a music radio format that includes of a mix of dance, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip hop and R&B hits. These stations also contribute to Dance/Mix Show Airplay panel | |
Hot Rap Songs | 25 | Ranks the top 25 hip-hop/rap songs by combining airplay from All formats of radio stations, digital download sales, streaming data and YouTube views of rap songs. |
Rap Airplay | 25 | Ranks the top 25 hip-hop/rap songs by airplay spins from R&B/hip-hop and rhythmic radio stations |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrents | Ranks songs that have fallen below No. 50 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and have been on that chart for over 20 weeks. | |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrent Airplay | Ranks the songs that have fallen below No. 25 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and have been on that chart for over 20 weeks. | |
R&B Songs | 25 | Ranks the top 25 R&B songs by combining airplay from all formats of radio stations, digital download sales, streaming data and YouTube views of R&B songs. |
Adult/Pop
Chart title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Mainstream Top 40 (also Pop Songs) | airplay (spins) | 40 | Measures airplay detections (spins) on 157 Contemporary hit radio stations. These stations also contribute to the Dance/Mix Show Airplay panel |
Adult Top 40 (also Adult Pop Songs) | 40 | Measures airplay spins on 90 Hot adult contemporary stations | |
Adult Contemporary | 30 | Measures airplay spins on 85 adult contemporary stations |
Country
Chart title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Hot Country Songs | sales + all format airplay + streaming | 50 | Combines sales, airplay from all radio formats and streaming data |
Country Airplay | airplay (audience) | 60 | Measures airplay audience impression on 128 country music stations |
Rock
Chart title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Hot Rock Songs | Sales, airplay, and streaming |
50 | Ranks the top rock songs based on radio airplay across all formats, sales data, and streaming activity |
Rock Airplay | Airplay (audience) | 50 | Airplay audience impressions on mainstream rock, alternative, and Triple A radio stations |
Rock Digital Songs | Digital sales | 50 | Top-downloaded rock songs, ranked by sales data as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan |
Alternative Songs (also Alternative) | Airplay (spins) | 40 | Measures airplay spins on 50 alternative/modern rock stations |
Alternative Digital Songs | Digital sales | 25 | |
Mainstream Rock | Airplay (spins) | 40 | Measures airplay spins on 77 mainstream rock radio stations encompassing active rock and heritage rock |
Adult Alternative Songs (Triple A) | 30 | Measures airplay spins on 24 adult album alternative radio stations | |
Hard Rock Digital Songs | Digital sales | 25 |
Dance
Chart title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Hot Dance Club Songs | reports from DJs | 50 |
|
Dance/Electronic Songs | Continuous airplay, single sales, digital downloads, online streaming, reports from DJs | 50 |
|
Dance/Mix Show Airplay | Continuous airplay (Spins from exclusive reporters) Mix show airplay (Spins from Mainstream and Rhythmic stations) |
40 |
|
Dance/Electronic Digital Songs | 50 |
| |
Dance/Electronic Digital Streaming Songs | 25 |
|
Latin
Chart title | Chart type | Description |
---|---|---|
Hot Latin Songs | sales + airplay + streaming | The Hot Latin Songs (formerly Hot Latin Tracks) is a weekly music chart that ranks the top fifty Spanish language singles in the American music market. It was established by the magazine in 1986, when music labels and Billboard realized that Spanish-language songs had a great potential to the American audience. As of October 2012, the chart is based on airplay, digital downloads, and streaming for Latin songs and only predominately Spanish-language songs are eligible to rank on this chart. |
Latin Airplay | Airplay (spins) | The Latin Airplay is a weekly music chart that ranks the top fifty Spanish language singles in the American music market. It was established by the magazine after the methodology changed for the Hot Latin Songs chart on October 2012. The chart is based on airplay on 123 Latin music stations. Songs on the chart are not necessarily in Spanish language. |
Latin Digital Songs | Digital sales | Ranks the top-selling Latin digital sales as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. |
Latin Pop Airplay | Airplay (spins) | The Latin Pop Airplay is a weekly monitored Latin pop music radio chart that ranks the most played Latin pop songs on Latin music stations. It was established by the magazine in 1994. |
Latin Regional Mexican Airplay | Airplay (spins) | The Latin Regional Mexican Airplay is a weekly chart that ranks Regional Mexican music information from different genres like Mariachi, Norteño, Banda and Duranguense. This chart is based on airplay from 65 regional Mexican stations; the radio charts are compiled using information tracked by from Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. It was established by the magazine in 1994. |
Latin Tropical Airplay | Airplay (spins) | The Latin Tropical Airplay (a.k.a., Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay) is a weekly monitored chart that ranks Tropical music information from different genres like Merengue, Salsa, Bachata, Guaracha and others on 18 Latin music stations. It was established by the magazine in 1994. |
Latin Rhythm Airplay | Airplay (spins) | The Latin Rhythm Airplay chart comprises singles and tracks from artists who represent the Hispanic rhythmic/Hurban genre including Reggaeton, Hispanic R&B/Hip-Hop, Rhythmic Pop/Dance and crossovers from English-language and/or bilingual acts, monitoring 15 Latin rhythm radio stations. This chart came about as a result of radio stations tapping into the growing second and third generation Hispanic audience who wanted a Spanish-speaking or bilingual alternative to the formats they felt represented them. The magazine established it in 2005. |
Christian
Chart title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Christian Songs | sales + all format airplay + streaming | 50 | Combines sales, airplay from all radio formats and streaming data |
Christian Digital Songs | 50 | ||
Christian Airplay | 50 | ||
Gospel Songs | 30 | ||
Hot AC/CHR | |||
Inspo |
Jazz
Chart title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Smooth Jazz Songs | airplay (spins) | 30 | Measures airplay spins on 14 smooth jazz stations |
Ringtones
Chart title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Hot Ringtones | ringtone sale | 40 | Ranks weekly sales of polyphonic ringtones for mobile phones, launched in 2004[10] |
Hot RingMasters | 40 | Ranks weekly sales of master ringtones for mobile phones | |
Hot Videoclips | 25 | Ranks top 25 most popular music videos according to digital sales and TV play on shows such as TRL and 106 & Park |
Canadian charts
Chart Title | Chart type | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Canadian Hot 100 | airplay + sales + streaming[11] | 100 |
|
Emerging Canadian Artist | 30 |
| |
Hot Digital Songs | digital sales | 75 |
|
Hot 100 Airplay | airplay (audience) | 75 |
|
All-format Airplay | airplay (spins) | 50 | |
CHR/Top 40 Airplay | 50 |
| |
AC Airplay | 50 |
| |
Hot AC Airplay | 50 |
| |
Country Airplay | 50 |
| |
Rock Airplay | 50 |
|
International charts
Billboard Chart Title | Description |
---|---|
Brasil Hot 100 Airplay | The Brazil Hot 100 Airplay ranks the most listening singles and tracks in Brazil. |
Euro Digital Songs | The chart ranks the best selling digital singles and tracks in Europe. |
Japan Hot 100 | The Japan Hot 100 ranks the best selling singles and tracks in Japan. |
Mexican Airplay[12] | The Mexican Airplay ranks the best-performing singles in Mexico. |
Mexican Espanol Airplay | The Mexican Espanol Airplay ranks the best-performing singles in Spanish-language in Mexico. |
Discontinued charts
Chart Title | Discontinuation date | Description |
---|---|---|
Country Singles Sales | 2005 |
|
Top 40 Tracks | March 2005 |
|
Pop 100 | June 13, 2009 |
|
Pop 100 Airplay |
| |
European Hot 100 Singles | December 11, 2010 |
|
Global Dance Tracks | June 29, 2013 |
|
Korea K-Pop Hot 100[13][14] | July 17, 2014 |
|
Hot Dance Singles Sales | 2013 |
|
Albums
Chart title | Number of positions |
Description |
---|---|---|
Billboard 200 | 200 |
|
Top Album Sales | 100 |
|
Top Current Albums | 100 |
|
Top Pop Catalog Albums | 50 |
|
Top Internet Albums | 40 |
|
Tastemakers |
| |
Digital Albums | 50 | |
Heatseekers Albums | 25 |
|
Heatseekers Albums (East North Central) | ||
Heatseekers Albums (Middle Atlantic) | ||
Heatseekers Albums (Mountain) | ||
Heatseekers Albums (Northeast) | ||
Heatseekers Albums (Pacific) | ||
Heatseekers Albums (South Atlantic) | ||
Heatseekers Albums (South Central) | ||
Heatseekers Albums (West North Central) | ||
Independent Albums | 50 |
|
Top Rock Albums | 50 | |
Alternative Albums | 25 | |
Hard Rock Albums | 25 | |
Folk Albums | 25 | |
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 50 | |
R&B/Hip-Hop Catalog Albums | 25 | |
Rap Albums | 25 | |
R&B Albums | 25 |
|
Top Country Albums | 50 | |
Country Catalog Albums | 25 | |
Bluegrass Albums | 15 | |
Top Latin Albums | 30 | |
Regional Mexican Albums | ||
Latin Pop Albums | 30 | |
Tropical Albums | ||
Latin Rhythm Albums | ||
Classical Albums Top Classical Albums | ||
Traditional Classical Albums | ||
Classical Crossover Albums | ||
Classical Budget/Midline Albums | ||
Christian Albums | 50 | |
Gospel Albums | 40 | |
Christian & Gospel Albums | ||
Jazz Albums | 35 | |
Traditional Jazz Albums | 15 | |
Contemporary Jazz Albums | 15 |
|
Dance/Electronic Albums | 25 | |
Blues Albums | ||
Cast Albums |
| |
Comedy Albums | ||
Compilation Albums | 20 | |
Holiday Albums | 50 | |
Kid Albums | 15 | |
New Age Albums | ||
Reggae Albums | ||
Soundtracks | 30 | |
World Albums |
|
Other charts
In December 2010, Billboard announced a new chart titled Social 50, which ranks the most active artists on the world's leading social networking sites. The Social 50 chart tallies artists' popularity using their weekly additions of friends/fans/followers, along with weekly artist page views and weekly song plays on Myspace, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and iLike.[19]
In January 2011, Billboard introduced another chart called Uncharted, which lists new and developing artists, who are yet to appear on any major Billboard chart, "...regardless of their country of origin."[20] The ranking is based on the views and fans on social networking websites like Myspace and Facebook. To appear on Uncharted, the artists must be registered Myspace Music artists, and should not have appeared on any major Billboard charts before.[20]
In May 2014, after the Korea K-Pop Hot 100 chart was discontinued in the U.S., the Billboard K-Town column continued to provide chart information for K-pop artists on all Billboard charts.[14][15]
The Billboard Artist 100 began in 2014.
Further reading
- Durkee, Rob. "American Top 40: The Countdown of the Century." Schriner Books, New York City, 1999.
- Battistini, Pete. "American Top 40 with Casey Kasem The 1970s." Authorhouse.com, January 31, 2005. ISBN 1-4184-1070-5
- Parker, Martin (1991). "Making Sense with the Hit Parade". Popular Music 10 (2): 205–17. doi:10.1017/s0261143000004517.
- Hakanen, Ernest (1998). "Counting Down to the Number One:Evolution of the Meaning of Popular Music Charts". Popular Music 17 (1): 98–111. doi:10.1017/s0261143000000507.
- "About Us". Nielsen Business Media Inc. 2009.
- "Billboard.com FAQ". Nielsen Business Media Inc. 2009.
- "Billboard Latest Charts Lyrics". MetroLyrics. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
References
- ↑ Billboard biz charts, Billboard's online reference for the music community, retrieved on December 6, 2014
- ↑ "Charts - Year End". Billboard.
- ↑ "Billboard to Alter Chart Tracking Week for Global Release Date" from Billboard (June 24, 2015)
- ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (February 12, 2005). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 64. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
- ↑ "Hot 100 To Include Digital Streams". Billboard. 2007-07-31. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ↑ Knopper, Steve (19 October 2012). "Fans React as Billboard Changes Charts Formula". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
- ↑ Billboard staff (November 25, 2013). "Billboard Christian & Gospel Charts to Get a Consumer-Focused Facelift". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Hot 100 News: Billboard and Nielsen Add YouTube Video Streaming to Platforms". Billboard. 2013-02-20. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
- ↑ "Billboard Twitter Real-Time Charts FAQ". Billboard. May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ↑ "Billboard Bows Ringtones Chart | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
- ↑ "Billboard's Canadian Hot 100 Now Incorporates Spotify Listening". Billboard. December 23, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Mexico Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ↑ "Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 Launches; Sistar Is No. 1 on New Korea Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 25, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
- 1 2 "Korea K-Pop Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- 1 2 Benjamin, Jeff (April 9, 2014). "Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 Launches; Sistar Is No. 1 on New Korea Chart". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ↑ Binkert, Lisa. "Bruno Mars Live: Billboard Tastemakers". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ↑ "Billboard R&B Albums". billboard.com. Retrieved December 16, 2015. Description per "How it works" section of webpage.
- ↑ "Billboard #1 Contemporary Jazz Albums of 1987". JAZZ LPS.
- ↑ Billboard debuts new Social 50 chart. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 5, 2010
- 1 2 "Billboard - Music Charts, Music News, Artist Photo Gallery & Free Video". Billboard.
External links
- Billboard charts available to view for free
- Full list of charts that Billboard publishes for subscribers
- Singles charts archive access, from 1940 to 2010 on worldcharts.co.uk
|
|