Youtube numbers will now be included
Four years ago, the RIAA revealed that digital music streams would start being counted for Gold and Platinum certifications. With the entire landscape of the business transitioning to streaming in that time, as well as more music services; The Billboard 200 is finally jumping on board.
According to reports, YouTube streams will now be included into the Billboard 200, and every other album chart through the platform. Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube, has been pushing for the idea since 2016 and finally convinced Billboard president John Amato to implement the new way people absorb free music. It’s not clear when the change will begin; but user-generated clips will also be included in the new metrics that factors in final number counting.
This should be interesting, considering how easy a song can go viral from social media and beyond. Hopefully, YouTube still monitors numbers being inflated by labels and users, so we truly find out how much consumption the general public is really taking in for certain artists.
Billboard will now count YouTube plays as sales. Everyone is going platinum in 2018.
— . (@CAWBBBB) October 5, 2017
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