Editing Billboard charts (section)

=== Incorporation of digital platforms ===
Starting on February 12, 2005, ''Billboard'' changed its methodology to include paid [[music download|digital downloads]] from digital music retailers such as [[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]], AmazonMP3, and [[iTunes Store|iTunes]]. With this policy change, a song could chart based on digital downloads alone.<ref name="Inc.2005">{{cite book |title=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vhQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64|access-date=July 25, 2013|date=February 12, 2005|publisher=Nielsen Business Media |page=64|issn=0006-2510|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102114659/http://books.google.com/books?id=vhQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64|archive-date=January 2, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 31, 2007, ''Billboard'' changed its methodology for the Hot 100 chart to include digital streams, which at the time was obtained from [[Yahoo]] and AOL's streaming platforms. This change was made exclusively to the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart. The effect of this chart change was minuscule at the time because it was estimated to account for 5% of the chart's total points.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-hot-100-to-include-digital-streams-1050326/ |title=Hot 100 To Include Digital Streams |magazine=Billboard |date=2007-07-31 |access-date=2021-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614022316/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1050326/billboard-hot-100-to-include-digital-streams |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2012, ''Billboard'' significantly changed the methodology for its country, rock, Latin, and rap charts, when it incorporated sales of digital downloads and streaming plays into what had previously been airplay-only charts. Another change was that rather than measuring airplay only from radio stations of a particular genre, the new methodology measures airplay from all radio formats.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fans-react-as-billboard-changes-charts-formula-81487/| title= Fans React as Billboard Changes Charts Formula| last= Knopper| first= Steve| date= 19 October 2012| magazine= [[Rolling Stone]]| access-date= 26 December 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160509235111/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/fans-react-as-billboard-changes-charts-formula-20121019| archive-date= May 9, 2016| url-status= live}}</ref> This methodology was extended to their Christian and gospel charts in late 2013.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=''Billboard'' staff |date=November 25, 2013 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-christian-gospel-charts-to-get-a-consumer-focused/ |title=Billboard Christian & Gospel Charts to Get a Consumer-Focused Facelift |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128194401/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/5800744/billboard-christian-gospel-charts-to-get-a-consumer-focused |archive-date=November 28, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> These methodology changes resulted in higher positions on the genre charts for songs with crossover appeal to other genres and radio formats (especially pop) at the expense of songs that appeal almost exclusively to core fans of the given genre, a change that proved controversial with those devotees.<ref>{{cite web |author=Chris Molanphy |date=April 14, 2014 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/9378-i-know-you-got-soul-the-trouble-with-billboards-rbhip-hop-chart/ |title=I Know You Got Soul: The Trouble With Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Chart |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=January 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121143650/https://pitchfork.com/features/article/9378-i-know-you-got-soul-the-trouble-with-billboards-rbhip-hop-chart/ |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On February 20, 2013, ''Billboard'' announced another change in the methodology for its charts that incorporated [[YouTube]] video streaming data into the determination of ranking positions on streaming charts. The incorporation of YouTube streaming data enhanced a formula that includes on-demand audio streaming and online radio streaming. The YouTube video streams that used in this methodology are official video streams, [[Vevo]] on YouTube streams, and user-generated clips that use authorized audio. ''Billboard'' said this change was made to further reflect the divergent platforms of music consumption in today's world.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/hot-100-news-billboard-and-nielsen-add-youtube-video-streaming-to-platforms/ |title=Hot 100 News: Billboard and Nielsen Add YouTube Video Streaming to Platforms |magazine=Billboard |date=2013-02-20 |access-date=2021-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515071934/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1549399/hot-100-news-billboard-and-nielsen-add-youtube-video-streaming-to-platforms |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>