THE CHART IN YOUR HEART

I have always wanted to research and find out how the music charts are calculated and work in the current music industry.

Here is the breakdown on the top 3 charts that I wanted to investigate.

1. THE CHART IN YOUR HEART

Personally at the end of the day, the only chart that really should matter is the CHART IN YOUR HEART. This is hopefully WHY you, me and all of us create music – to fulfill that pulse and beat in your heart to combine melody, lyrics and rhythm to create emotion. So first and foremost please always follow the true value of the chart in your heart and if you’re getting #1’s on that chart then you’ve won the worldwide music talent competition. There are extra bonus points if your Mom likes your music a lot as well!

2. The Billboard Music Charts

On January 4th, 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade. A variety of song charts followed, which were eventually consolidated into the Hot 100 by mid-1958. The Hot 100 is the US music industry standard song popularity chart which currently combines single sales, radio airplay, digital downloads, and streaming activity (including data from YouTube and other video sites). All of the Billboard charts use this basic formula. High-ranking tracks and albums can be driven by one or all of these different avenues, with some of the biggest songs charting thanks to extensive radio airplay, while others climb the charts through their streaming power. What separates the different Billboard charts (ie: HOT 100 to Adult Contemporary) is which stations and stores are used; each musical genre has a core audience or retail group. Each genre's department at Billboard is headed up by a chart manager, who makes these determinations.

For more detailed information please see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_charts

https://www.billboard.com/biz/billboard-charts-legend

3. iTunes Charts

The short answer is "we don't know" as no official information has ever been released on how iTunes charts are formally calculated. We can only assume they're based on downloads and streams. Given that the published charts are presented as "live" rather than covering any specified timeslot, there is obviously some kind of algorithm at play.

NOTES:

- The best type of song for revenue generation is a slow and steady climb to #1.

- A chart topping song should go from #100 (or higher up than #1) to #1 and not #1 to #100. If you debut at #1 and fall to #25 three days later that means you're a social media star and not a rock star.