Quick Hits: Stevie Wonder pens editorial; analysis of Spotify’s Katy Perry promo
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Stevie Wonder speaks out for radio fairness. Spotify doubling down on artist relations. Continue Reading
Billboard
Billboard Power 100 list recognizes several of streaming’s top dogs
Billboard published its Power 100 list for 2017. The ranking includes several prominent leaders in the streaming music industry from companies including Apple Music, iHeartMedia, and Pandora. Spotify Chairman/CEO Daniel Ek took the No. 1 spot. Continue Reading
Billboard incorporates Pandora data into Hot 100 chart
Billboard is adding Pandora streaming data to its rankings on the Hot 100 chart. The Pandora numbers now join Nielsen Music’s data about track sales, radio airplay, and on-demand streaming in determining placements. Pandora will also be used for streaming-based charts and the genre-specific charts that are based on the Hot 100 formula. This change will take effect beginning Jan. 31 (for charts dated Feb. 11). Continue Reading
Billboard genre album charts will now include streaming numbers
Billboard is converting its genre album charts to a consumption methodology that accounts for listening on streaming music services. The company first transitioned its Billboard 200 chart to this new accounting system in 2014. The first genre charts with the new methodology will be published on January 31. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Radio still lives, Starboy stats, and women in music
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: The radio star lives on; The Weeknd smashes Spotify record; Billboard’s Women in Music 2016. Continue Reading
Billboard’s No. 1 song last week had the fewest downloads since 2006
Many reports and statistics over the past year have pointed to a demonstrable shift in music consumption toward access via streaming and away from ownership, either in physical or digital formats. The latest data point in this ongoing trend comes from Billboard’s charts. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Digital Power Players; a defender for YouTube; get SoundCloud on vinyl
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Unsung streaming leaders land on Power Players list; a pro-YouTube piece from Financial Times; for the ultimate hipster, SoundCloud-to-vinyl pressings. Continue Reading
Pandora hires Billboard writer for insights and analytics role
Pandora has made a new hire, this time from the media space. The online radio company has hired long-time Billboard writer Glenn Peoples to take on a role in Music Insights and Analytics. Continue Reading
First streaming-exclusive album breaks top 10 of Billboard 200
A streaming-only album has landed on the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for the first time. The work is Chance the Rapper’s new project Coloring Book, which was released on May 13 as an Apple Music exclusive. Continue Reading
Billboard teams with Spotify for chart playback
Billboard has named Spotify as its official streaming partner for 2016. With this new deal, Spotify will power playback on more than 75 charts from the music organization. It will also supply tunes for a New Music Fridays editorial and for three new Spotify-centric charts. Continue Reading
Billboard 200 gets first No. 1 from streaming performance
Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo has been a source of great interest to the music media in recent weeks, thanks to the rapper’s unique take on defining an album and his unusual approach to distribution. But the creation has also been very successful in attracting listeners. Pablo topped multiple album charts on the back of its strong streaming performance. Continue Reading
Digital data diving into the Grammy nominees
Music’s biggest night is always preceded by a wave of predictions. This year is no exception, and in fact, the growing number of channels listeners use to experience their favorite tunes have created even more ways to analyze who might walk away with a Grammy award.
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