2-21-13 Billboard Shake-up

[Niveous]

Today on the Billboard charts, a song debuted at #1. This is only the 21st time that has occurred in the chart’s 50+ year history. But this one is very special. The song is “Harlem Shake” by Baauer. What makes this interesting is the reason why this hit #1. Billboard has decided to change its method of determining what makes a hit. Prior to this week, the charts were based on:
- On Demand Audio Streams (Spotify, Slacker, etc.)
- Radio Airplay (On and offline, the part I always found sketchy)
- Physical Sales (the dying breed)
- Digital Downloads

This week, they decided to add YouTube streaming into the formula. The Harlem Shake reaped the benefits, as the song lacks a heavy radio presence but has been the basis of about 4,000 videos in the last week. Another song that benefitted is Psy’s Gangnam Style which suddenly went from #48 back up to #26. (Note- if the song would’ve fallen beyond #50, it would’ve been removed from the chart completely. The chart rules state that if a song has been on the chart for more than 20 weeks and falls below the halfway mark, #50, its chart run ends).

I think that this change in what makes a “hit” according to Billboard is very interesting. Now, a song can go viral on YouTube without a physical release and potentially make it onto the Hot 100 (though I do not know the exact formula of how much each criterion is weighed). Will this be an incentive for some artists to make more interesting videos? How will the chart evolve with this addition? Will we see genres that don’t sell as well make a chart resurgence? How about songs that now will get a boost from younger audiences who may not have the money to buy the songs but will play the hell out of them on YouTube?

As a dedicated chart watcher, I think this is an interesting development. What do you think?

[ken]

It seems like adding youtube plays to the equation will make the chart meaningless. What happens when "Cat Playing Piano" gets a million hits? Is the cats "song" #1 Hot Single? Is it going to win a grammy? Seems unlikely.

[Niveous]

Now the question is raised- what merits being called a hit record?

I see the dilemma when it comes to memes but what if it were a jazz song that suddenly got a million views because of a good video? Does it deserve to be a hit?

One note about the Harlem Shake. It did not get to the #1 spot just on YouTube views. It did have some backing through digital downloads. But it also lacked radio airplay, so the point may be moot if they balance each other out.

[fluffy]

I would love to see Badger Badger get the recognition it truly deserves.

[jb]

Mushroom!

[Billy's Little Trip]

I'm partial to Magical Trevor.

[Niveous]

If you're talking Weebls, you have to go Amazing Horse, Kenya, or Moustaches.

Or the more serious, "The Driver" by Savlonic



*this post is my way of accepting that this topic has gone way off the rails.

[JonPorobil]

Way to split the vote, dudes.