Billboard Factors in YouTube Views

Billboard and Nielsen are now factoring in U.S. YouTube data when determining the Billboard Hot 100 music rankings, in a move that boosted the online phenom “Harlem Shake” to the top spot this week.

The updated methodology now includes YouTube streaming data alongside digital download sales, physical sales, terrestrial radio airplay, on-demand audio streaming and online radio streaming in determining the Hot 100 singles chart as well as other genre charts.

The viral “Harlem Shake,” which was ranked No. 15 before YouTube views were included, wasn’t the only song to get a boost from the change–Rihanna's "Stay" jumped from No. 57 to No. 3 and Drake's "Started From the Bottom" moved up to No. 10 from No. 63.