YouTube will share its music streaming data with Billboard again in 2027. The two sides had been in a dispute over how charts count paid and free streams. YouTube confirmed the news on Monday, November 9. It added the update to a blog post by Lyor Cohen, its Global Head of Music. Cohen said Billboard's new method better shows how people listen to music.
YouTube announced in December 2025 that it would stop sending data to Billboard. The move took effect in January 2026. The company said Billboard's formula gave too much weight to paid streams. Under that formula, 1,000 paid streams counted the same as 2,500 free streams that run on ads.
The streaming platform said this did not match how people listen today. Millions of fans enjoy music for free and never buy a subscription. After YouTube pulled its data, its streams dropped out of Billboard's charts in January 2026. The charts lost a huge source of listening numbers.
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Billboard has now changed its formula. Under the new rule, 1,000 paid streams will equal 1,500 free streams. This gives free streams more power in the rankings. Paid streams still count for more, but the gap is smaller.
The change starts with the charts dated January 16, 2027. Those charts will use data from January 1 to January 7.
YouTube's return could shift chart rankings. Independent artists may gain the most. So may acts with big fan bases in other countries. Music videos, live shows and lyric videos draw a lot of listening on the streaming platform. Adding that data gives Billboard a fuller view of what people play.
The revised formula gives free, ad-supported streams greater weight, although paid streams will continue to count more.