About the Charts: Eligibility guidelines and review process
Luminate is the most comprehensive global provider of data and analytics to the entertainment industry. In addition to our suite of productivity tools, we power the Billboard Charts, the industry-standard measurement of music consumption.
*** NOTE: Chart availability and guidelines ***
At this time, the CONNECT platform does not host official Billboard charts. Complete and up to date eligibility guidelines can be found in the legacy Music Connect Knowledge Base, linked below. Log in with your Luminate credentials to view the guidelines.
Go to: Luminate Chart Eligibility Guidelines [must log in]
Back to Chart Eligibility
Official guidelines
We collaborate with Billboard to maintain guidelines for chart eligibility; we also develop equivalent ratios to convert methods of music consumption into equal units that can be ranked on the charts. These chart eligibility guidelines + equivalent ratios create a framework for determining music popularity.
Innovation in music consumption occurs rapidly; maintaining our framework requires cooperation across music-industry stakeholders. Together with Billboard, we review and update eligibility guidelines and equivalents multiple times per year.
Please note that Billboard ultimately determines eligibility for their charts. Final judgments on eligibility and chart rankings, both in general and in specific cases, are made by Billboard. Refer to the Billboard Charts Legend for official definitions and recurrent rules.
Luminate Chart Eligibility review
Luminate reviews its Chart Eligibility Model once per three (3) months. In the review, we assess feedback and trends.
Unmentioned Tactics
If you are considering a launch tactic to amplify the release of an album or single that went unmentioned in the Chart Eligibility guidelines, it is ineligible for chart inclusion.
Eligibility Petitioning
Our equivalent formulas and eligibility guidelines require contribution from multiple stakeholders. Please use our
Eligibility Petition Form to suggest release tactics you feel merit consideration. They will be taken into account during chart model reviews.
Equivalents
We apply coefficients (equivalent ratios) to convert music consumption activities into comparable units that can be tracked, ranked and measured. The equivalent ratios and contributing data are maintained by Luminate’s staff of developers, data scientists and analysts.
Read more: Billboard Equivalents: Key chart ratios
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