As of Monday January 30th, “the world’s most influential music brand” Billboard, unveiled an exclusive agreement that will be adding Pandora streaming data to the Billboard Hot 100. In this agreement Pandora will affect streaming-based charts as well as “Hot 100 formula-based genre rankings such as Hot Country Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Latin Songs, Hot Rock Songs and Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.”
Billboard explains that Pandora’s data “positively” affects about forty titles, including nine songs that will rise up in the ranks by five or more places. These titles include “Chill Bill” by Rob $tone, along with others entering the Hot 100 as a result of Pandora Influence like Million Reasons by Lady Gaga and Dancing On My Own by English pop artist Callum Scott.
Pandora’s VP of Charts & Data Development, Silvio Pietroluongo says “We’re thrilled to bring Pandora aboard as a contributor to our songs charts. Founder and CEO Tim Westergren also had comments about the new partnership:
“Pandora is now the #1 radio station in 87 U.S. markets and represents roughly 10 percent of all radio listening. With the inclusion of Pandora data, the Billboard charts that have guided listeners and been so central to the music industry for decades now reflect a truer measure of a song’s popularity today. I’m thrilled that the ‘Pandora effect’ will now be formally recognized in the industry’s gold standard for measurement.”
Pandora’s data will be revealed on Billboard.com Tuesday January 31st.