The changes to the Hot 100 will take place in the 8/11/07 issue. They've been running test charts all year long.

Historically, the Hot 100 formula has been roughly airplay (60%) and sales (40%). The new chart changes will adjust the chart back to it's more historic ratios.

Over the last year the chart had seen the ratio for airplay (40%-30%) and sales (60%-70%) change dramatically due to large digital growth in 2006 and 2007.

The breakout of the new Hot 100 formula will basically be airplay (55%), sales (40%) and on-demand streaming (5%).

Airplay will now include all BDS monitored stations regardless of whether they report to a specific format or not (it will also include the stations removed from the Country panel for not playing enough currents).
[Edited 7/23/07 15:44pm]
[Edited 7/23/07 16:15pm]

asg said:

Looks like a mistake to me. Airplay is the one area where individual consumers have the least input. I'd prefer sales/downloads to be the majority.

Bad move by Billboard.

I wonder if the shit-hop songs are gonna lose charting because of the change back.

This will just lead to more labels buying radio time like they are doing now, but now they figure it will count more.

I've heard they would change album certifications

5,000,000 diamond
500,000 Platinum
100,000 Gold

The Hot 100 is such a joke!!!!! It's basically the Clear Channel Hot 100...shouldnt it be like the rest of the world where it's PURELY sales - people seeking out to pay for a song? Lame lame lame...someone at Billboard must be blowing someone at Clear Channel or vice versa to 1) keep CC and its playlists the industry standard for success or 2) to make Billboard seem more legit...whichever, it's pathetic. It's all about iTunes, digital downloading, and LISTENER REQUESTED material, not the frozen since 3 weeks ago CC bullshit.

krayzie said:

Ive actually heard that too, i heard they are looking to reduce levels to similar levels of UK sales, which at this point are doing more than here.

badujunkie said:

Just looking at the HOT 100 is crazy at this point, i remember when there were actual singles released, mainly in the 80s. You would release a single and just as it peaked your next single was debuting, now i look at a HOT 100 and there are still songs on there in the Top 40 that were their 6 months ago, the reason? Keep the public DUMB..

AlexdeParis said:

I agree. This just gives radio DJ's and programmers the right to dictate what THEY want to play. I don't believe this bullshit about them playing what the audience wants to here. I have told many DJ's that if they play a certain song, then the audience would have a chance to make up their own minds whether they like it or not. The radio people tell the same old lie and say that the audience doesn't want to hear a certain song. HTF do they know if they don't play it for the people to make up their minds? The charts should be based on 50% airplay and 50% sales. That's the only fair way to do it. It makes me sick to think that these radio people can decide if an artist's music deserves to be played and the consumer/audience has basically nothing to say about it.

lastdecember said:

That's just stuipid, considering there's only 60m people in the U.K, compared to what? 350m in the U.S?