Pandora streaming data will now factor into Billboard charts
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Billboard announced today that they have made an exclusive agreement with Pandora that will add Pandora's streaming data to the Billboard Hot 100, which ranks the week’s most popular songs across all genres, including Hot Rock Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, and more, and Billboard's other streaming-based charts.
Currently, Billboard’s Hot 100 genre ranking is determined by a formula blending track sales, radio airplay and streaming, measured by Nielsen Music. It will now include influential data from Pandora.
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Co-president of The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group John Amato tells Billboard that they’re excited to include Pandora’s streaming data into the measurement of song popularity on the various charts.
“Billboard's unrivaled charts are the definitive source for ranking music popularity. For decades, the charts have acted as a place where both artists measure success and fans discover music,” Amato says. “Close to 80 million music lovers listen to Pandora every month and we look forward to bringing our brands together to incorporate Pandora's data into our charts.”
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Pandora’s founder and CEO Tim Westergren is equally thrilled to be working with Billboard, as Pandora represents roughly 10 percent of all radio listening.
“Over the last few years, Pandora has shared more and more data with the music industry. We started with artists and managers, then direct-deal label partners, and now Billboard for inclusion in the iconic Hot 100 chart,” Westergren tells Billboard.
“Pandora is now the No. 1 radio station in 87 U.S. markets and represents roughly 10 percent all radio listening. With the inclusion of Pandora data, the Billboard charts that have guided listeners and been so central to the music industry for decades now reflect a truer measure of a song's popularity today.”
According to Billboard, Pandora is joining other music streaming sites, including Google Radio and Napster, subscription services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon and SoundCloud, and video on-demand platforms, including YouTube and VidZone.
The data from Pandora’s streaming service will be incorporated into the Billboard charts starting Feb. 11.
