Billboard Incorporates Digital Music For Hot 100

Billboard, the world's most comprehensive source of music, digital data and events, today (August 3) announced an expansion of its "Hot 100" formula to include weekly streamed and on-demand music data to the chart's traditional mix of exclusively sales and radio airplay. Finally recognizing the impact the digital era has on sales, Billboard's franchise chart will be supplemented by weekly data from AOL Music and Yahoo! Music, two of the leading sources of online music.

According to Billboard's press release, in the new Billboard Hot 100 formula radio audience will average about 55% of the chart's total points. Digital sales will account for about 40%, and streaming media will determine 5%. Physical singlesin line with the music industry's retreat from that product over the past decadewill account for less than 1% of the chart's new formula.

In addition, Billboard's Hot 100 chart's radio panel will also expand to include all current-based commercial U.S. stations that Nielsen BDS monitors, regardless of whether those stations qualify for a Billboard or Radio & Records format panel. For example, stations removed from Hot Hip Hop Songs' consideration when that chart's criteria was revised last fall will now have a voice on the Hot 100. This increases the Hot 100's station count by nearly 250 stations.