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.
Official eligibility guidelines
We collaborate with Billboard on official chart eligibility guidelines and reporting criteria. We also work with Billboard to develop the equivalent ratios used to convert eligible music consumption activities 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 occurs rapidly; maintaining our framework requires cooperation across industry stakeholders. Together with Billboard, we review and update the guidelines multiple times per year. The most current versions are always posted here, in the Chart Eligibility section of the Luminate Knowledge Base. Music labels, distributors, retailers, data providers and all other interested parties are responsible for consulting and following up-to-date eligibility rules at all times.
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.
Eligibility articles
Chart eligibility definitions and guidelines are sorted by topic. Jump to an article:
Eligible songs, albums and editions
What retailers need to know to report sales
Eligible product types, pricing policies and exclusions
“Special products,” album bundles, add-ons and merch
Guidance for merchandise “fan pack” products
Guidance for in-store events and pop-up fan experiences (focus release campaign applications)
Partnership details and reporting requirements
Data review requests and forecast guidelines
.
Can’t see the articles? You must log in with Luminate credentials to access complete eligibility guidelines.
If you subscribe to CONNECT or another Luminate product, visit the permalinked Knowledge Base at support.luminatedata.com.
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A team member will reply with instructions and access credentials for the eligibility articles.
Equivalents
We use coefficients known as equivalent ratios to convert music consumption data into 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: Equivalent weighting: Measuring music consumption
More to know
Methodology 101: How Luminate collects, models and measures music data
Charts: The data behind the hit rankings
Methodology FAQs: Formulas, data sources and eligibility criteria
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