How to make it to Billboard Charts
How to make it to Billboard Charts
Billboard evaluates the weekly performance of songs and albums in the United States and other countries. According to Billboard website, Billboard charts are based on fan interactions with an artist’s music.
The metrics used to measure these fan interactions with an artist’s music include:
- Album sales and download
- Track downloads
- Radio Airplay and Touring
- Streamings
- Social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Vevo, YouTube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music.
Weekly sales and streams charts are monitored on a Friday-to-Thursday cycle. Radio airplay song charts however follow the Monday to Sunday cycle. The charts are released each Tuesday. Because Streams and sales are considered when determining a song’s position on the billboard, independent artists who do not have a single radio play can also make it to the Billboard with an effective campaign.
How Charting Works:
Airplay is tracked through Broadcast Data Systems (BDS). BDS uses digital pattern-recognition technology to identify song’s that air on radio and TV channels, across the United States and Canada. This process is done 24/7 and captures over 100 million songs annually. The data from BDS is used not only by Billboard, but also by radio stations, record company executives, publishing firms, performance rights organizations, music retailers, and film and TV producers.
Billboard takes social media and streaming into consideration now. It was not until 2005 that streaming became popular. It took a few more years for the first non-traditional artist to make their way to the Billboard Top 100 Charts. Artists must engage with their fans through the comment sections of social media platforms, they must also encourage fans to mention their music. Getting fans to hashtag albums or singles is an effective way to increase sales and therefore get a place on the charts.
Album sales is the biggest consideration in getting charted. The Billboard uses the Nielsen SoundScan which tracks sales of music and music videos in the US and Canada. Artists need to get an UPC (Universal Product Code) for their albums; a 12-digit number attached to your project which makes it recognizable and traceable throughout the world. By scanning a UPC code, the system collects sales information from about 14,000 retail and nontraditional sources like online stores and concert sales.
For an independent artist to be assured of a position on the Billboard, they need to sell between 450 to 500 albums in the first week. This is an easy number for major labels, since they own distribution channels and have aggressive marketing plans. An independent artist can do the same by organizing a “pre-order campaign” for the album because all sales prior to the actual release date are counted as Week One Sales.
It is important to promote your project. Enough noise should be made amongst your supporters in anticipation of your release. Remind them that the project is on the way and when it’s done, let them know too. Come up with creative ways to do this; increase tours and performances to get new fans and be in touch with old fans.
Release several versions of your song. All the various versions of your song (covers, acapella, etc) will be counted as the same song for charting purposes. Different people will like different versions, so put out every version you feel inspired to and it will increase your chances of landing a spot in the charts.
Get some radio attention. It is difficult for an Indie Artist to have connections to the top radio stations, but it could be easy for them to contact some local radio stations and online radio channels who can easily play their song. If it is a good project, more radio stations will pick it up.
