Billboard to host Global 100 chart

Tagged the Global 100, the chart will reflect the popularity of song releases across several countries and in the process expand the publication’s list of charts.

The chart is expected to start running later this year, while the publication has announced that it would host an international music conference in 2020.

“The launch of The Global 100 marks a major step in the continuing evolution of the Billboard charts,” said Silvio Pietroluongo, Billboard's senior vice-president charts and data products. “For decades, the US-based Billboard Hot 100 has been viewed throughout the world as the barometer of success in music. Now, Billboard is proud to present a companion chart that will measure the impact of songs on an international scale.”

The plan, says Billboard, is to create "the first authoritative chart ranking top songs globally, based on worldwide streams and download sales", adding that “the chart's ranking will be based on a weighted formula incorporating streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of leading audio and video music services, plus download sales from top music retailers across the globe."

The sales and streaming figures used in the charts will be provided by data giant Nielsen Music and cover more than 180 territories.

“The current musical landscape is no longer defined by borders and The Global 100 will further unify the music world by providing the definitive view of today’s top hits,” said Deanna Brown, head of Billboard – The Hollywood Reporter Media Group. “Coupled with the launch of our international music summit, Billboard is once again showing its commitment to being the leading platform for the music industry.”

It is expected that the chart will include songs by African acts, especially as more big players in the global music industry entering the continent.

“Nielsen has served as the trusted data provider for Billboard charts for more than 25 years in the US and Canada. Leveraging Nielsen’s new global music data expertise and proven methodologies, Billboard will now provide the music industry with a trusted view of chart-ranking artists globally.”

Observers are likely to see Billboard’s latest move as a development based on music from other countries finding large audiences in the US, and indicative of the culture of inclusion fostered by the Internet, as has been alluded to in a New York Times report covering music concerts featuring non-American headliners.

Commenting on the Global 100 in the report, music critic Jon Caramanica wrote that “it will be fascinating to see whether songs made here [the US] make as much of a dent worldwide as songs made elsewhere are making here."