YouTube returns to Billboard charts as stream formula changes

YouTube is coming back to the Billboard charts in 2027 after Billboard narrowed the weighting between paid and ad-supported streams from 1:2.5 to 1:1.5. Under the new formula, 1,500 ad-supported streams equal one album unit, starting with charts dated Jan. 16, 2027. YouTube had stopped sharing its data in January over the old ratio. For indie artists whose fans mostly listen for free, those plays now count for more on the charts.