YouTube Will Stop Supplying Data to Billboard Charts

By: Michael Jacobs, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – Gay Music News

LAS VEGAS, NV — (December 17, 2025) — Shockwaves rippled across the global music industry Wednesday after YouTube announced it will stop supplying data to Billboard’s music charts, citing what it calls an outdated formula that undervalues ad-supported streaming.

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The decision was confirmed in a blog post by Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music, who argued that Billboard’s current chart methodology fails to accurately reflect how modern audiences consume music.

“Billboard uses an outdated formula that weights subscription-supported streams higher than ad-supported streams,” Cohen wrote. “This ignores massive engagement from fans who don’t pay for subscriptions — and that doesn’t reflect how fans experience music today.”

Cohen emphasized that streaming now accounts for 84% of U.S. recorded music revenue, noting that YouTube believes every stream should be counted equally, regardless of whether it is ad-supported or subscription-based.

The announcement comes just one day after Billboard updated its chart formula, increasing the overall weight of on-demand streaming while slightly narrowing the gap between paid and ad-supported streams from 1:3 to 1:2.5. However, YouTube made clear that the adjustment does not go far enough.

According to Cohen, YouTube will officially stop supplying chart data to Billboard on January 16, 2026, ending a decade-long partnership. Readers were directed to YouTube’s own chart ecosystem as an alternative.

“After a decade of collaboration and extensive discussions, they are unwilling to make meaningful changes,” Cohen stated. “We are committed to achieving equitable representation across music charts.”

The dispute highlights a broader industry debate over how music success should be measured in a digital-first era, where album sales continue to decline and free, ad-supported streaming dominates listener behavior worldwide.

While YouTube argues that engagement-driven listening should carry equal weight, Billboard maintains that paid consumption reflects a higher level of consumer commitment and economic value.

In a statement responding to YouTube’s decision, a Billboard spokesperson defended its methodology:

“There are many ways fans support artists, each with a distinct role in the music ecosystem. Billboard strives to measure that activity appropriately, balancing consumer access, revenue analysis, data validation, and industry guidance.”

The spokesperson added that Billboard hopes YouTube will reconsider its decision, stressing the importance of measuring artist reach and popularity across all platforms.

With YouTube serving as one of the world’s largest music discovery engines, the fallout from this standoff could significantly alter chart rankings, industry benchmarks, and artist visibility heading into 2026.

JRL CHARTS Insight:

The dispute also highlights a long-standing issue affecting gay and queer music artists, who often generate massive visibility, engagement, and fan interaction on platforms like YouTube, yet remain underrepresented on traditional charts. Queer artists frequently thrive in discovery-driven, ad-supported environments where music spreads through clicks, shares, and cultural momentum — metrics that don’t always translate equally under legacy chart formulas. As digital platforms continue to shape how audiences find and support music, the gap between visibility and chart recognition remains a critical conversation for LGBTQ+ artists navigating the modern music ecosystem.

For breaking coverage on the global music business, streaming platforms, and chart-shaping industry shifts, follow JRL CHARTS — your source for Gay Music News with industry authority.

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