YouTube News

YouTube said music streams return to U.S. charts in 2027

The feed stopped in January when negotiators fought over how to weight ad-supported plays.

By The Creator Wire Staff Published Nov. 9, 2026

YouTube said on November 9 that listening data from its music products will return to major U.S. industry rankings in 2027. The platform halted the feed after January 16, 2026, when it and chart partners could not agree on crediting ad-supported streams at the same level as paid subscriptions.

A revision atop the same announcement said an updated chart formula now treats subscription and ad-supported listening in line with how fans actually stream. YouTube described that change as what brought it back to the table.

Lyor Cohen, global head of music at YouTube, wrote the December 17, 2025 note that first cut off the data. That post said charts overweighted subscription plays, undervalued free listeners, and treated streaming as 84% of U.S. recorded music revenue.

Stream totals from YouTube are scheduled to re-enter those rankings in 2027.

Source: YouTube