There is no doubt that digital music streaming is here to stay. In fact, there’s been no doubt for a couple of years now. Services like Spotify, Rhapsody, Pandora, and more draw millions of users who find digital streaming a better alternative to listening to traditional radio stations.
Now it looks like Billboard is finally catching up to the digital music age. The magazine’s editorial director, Bill Werde, told the Wall Street Journal yesterday that Billboard’s song charts would start including certain digital music services in the data it uses to compile the charts. Charts are usually compiled based on radio plays and digital downloads. Digital music streaming risen significantly in recent months, and Werde said that it has “recently hit a critical mass,” prompting Billboard to start including it as a basis for their charts.
A total of six services are being incorporated into Billboard’s chart data: Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio, MOG, Muve Music, and Slacker Radio. Notably absent from the list are Pandora and YouTube.
Are you glad Billboard is including streaming data? Should they have made this move before now? Are there any services you think they should add that aren’t on the list? Let us know in the comments.