Billboard Unveils New Charting Methodology

Billboard has revealed a new methodology for some long-standing genre charts. Hot Country Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Latin Songs charts are all receiving the upgrade. Each of these charts have had a face-lift incorporating digital download sales (tracked by Nielsen SoundScan) and streaming data (tracked by Nielsen BDS from services like Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio, Muve, Slacker, Xbox Music and more) which, along with Nielsen BDS monitored radio airplay, will help to determine the 50-position rankings.

This brings these charts into line with the methodology being used to determine the song ranking for Billboard's all-genre chart, the Billboard Hot 100.

At the same time Hot Rock Songs, which has been an airplay-only chart since 2009, and Rap Songs, which has been a radio survey since 1989, will now both include digital download sales and streaming data.