Billboard Magazine Rejiggers Pop Charts

Last week Billboard Magazine altered the methodology of tabulating its pop charts, making a radical change not seen since they began including digital downloads as a ranking criteria.

YouTube streaming data is now factored into the Hot 100 (and other genre charts), enhancing a mix of data that includes digital download track sales (and physical singles sales), as tracked by Nielsen SoundScan, as well as terrestrial radio airplay, on-demand audio streaming, and online radio streaming, as tracked by Nielsen BDS.

And that, at least in part, is why Harlem Shake is #1 this week.  The change also possibly knocked gay-friendly Macklemore's Thrift Shop from the top spot after a four-week run.