Data and insights company Luminate, which provides data for Billboard’s charts, has partnered with airplay monitoring service Mediabase, and the latter’s radio tracking data will begin fueling Billboard surveys reflecting airplay activity dated Nov. 12.
Luminate previously provided radio data for Billboard airplay charts as monitored by BDS.
Airplay charts (based on audience and/or plays) finalized Monday, Nov. 7 (dated Nov. 12), will be the first using Mediabase data. Individual-format airplay charts dated Nov. 12 will reflect airplay tracked Monday, Oct. 31, through Sunday, Nov. 6. The Nov. 12-dated Radio Songs chart, which serves as the airplay chart component to the all-genre, multi-metric Billboard Hot 100 (which also blends streaming and sales data, as compiled by Luminate), and reflects a Friday-Thursday cycle, will incorporate BDS data for Oct. 28-30 and Mediabase data for Oct. 31-Nov. 3 (with Mediabase data to power Radio Songs thereafter).
Billboard will continue to maintain unique charts and reporter panels, separate from Mediabase’s, for all formats. Upon the change, Billboard will continue to incorporate all current reporting stations that are also monitored by Mediabase for Billboard’s charts. Billboard and Mediabase aim to add additional reporting stations going forward.
Meanwhile, weekly and year-end Billboard charts will continue to be compiled via the same parameters previously applied with BDS data. (Year-end airplay rankings will continue to reflect songs’ activity while on corresponding weekly charts.)
Along with Radio Songs, Billboard’s United States-based airplay charts encompass: Pop Airplay (Mainstream Top 40); Adult Pop Airplay (Adult Top 40); Adult Contemporary; Country Airplay; Rock & Alternative Airplay; Alternative Airplay; Adult Alternative Airplay (Triple A); Mainstream Rock Airplay; R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay; Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay; Adult R&B Airplay; Rap Airplay; Rhythmic Airplay; Latin Airplay; Regional Mexican Airplay; Latin Pop Airplay; Latin Rhythm Airplay; Tropical Airplay; Christian Airplay; Christian AC Airplay; Gospel Airplay; Dance/Mix Show Airplay; Smooth Jazz Airplay; and the seasonal Holiday Airplay chart. (View all Billboard charts here.)
Click here for more information, via Luminate, about the BDS/Mediabase transition (for Luminate subscribers with access to Luminate’s Music Connect platform).
“Mediabase has proven itself to be the most trusted and referenced radio data provider in today’s fast-moving, ever-changing music industry,” said Luminate CEO Rob Jonas in a statement earlier this year. “At Luminate, we pride ourselves in being able to provide our clients – whether they be major record labels, tech companies, film studios, TV networks or indie music powerhouses – with the absolute best information they need to operate and grow their businesses. This new partnership allows us to do just that.”
Said Mediabase president and CEO Philippe Generali, “This new strategic partnership allows us the opportunity to be innovative in our approach to radio monitoring and to further ours and Luminate’s positions as undisputed experts in music data.”
