YouTube streams will once again be counted toward the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200, after the platform removed itself from the charts at the start of 2026. The renewed partnership was announced by YouTube’s Lyor Cohen in a blog post and will commence on January 16, 2027.

The rollout ends a period when YouTube activity was not part of the Billboard chart calculations covered by the previous arrangement. The split was evident for artists whose music typically did well on the video platform, who were in a different chart landscape without those streams feeding into their Billboard numbers.

YouTube’s departure was tied to problems related to how streaming consumption was being measured. Under the system described in the supplied information, Billboard’s album consumption units counted 2,500 ad-supported streams as equivalent to one album unit, as opposed to 1,000 paid-subscription streams. YouTube said the weighting disadvantaged its ad-supported model and created an unfair situation for artists whose audience mostly listened through free, ad-supported streams.

Why does the row matter? Because streaming numbers feed into how music consumption is reflected in the major charts. Artists who had relied heavily on the platform no longer could claim the same chart contribution from those plays once YouTube was removed from Billboard’s calculations.

The new deal means the two companies have found a way to make it work together again. Cohen’s announcement said the revised arrangement would have a different calculation for album consumption units. New terms take effect January 16, 2027, under which 1,500 ad-supported streams will count as one album consumption unit.

That’s a change from the previous ratio of 2,500 ad-supported streams, responding to the concern YouTube raised about the value of its free listening model. The adjustment could be especially pertinent to artists who have audiences that create a lot of activity via ad-supported listening.

The return of YouTube streams to Billboard’s chart formulas will also restore an important link between one of the world’s largest video platforms and two of the music industry’s most closely tracked rankings. The Hot 100 tracks song performance, while the Billboard 200 measures album performance, making the renewed arrangement relevant to both singles and full-length releases.

The announcement offers a change in how artists’ YouTube audiences could be reflected in chart results once the new system is in place. For listeners, it means that activity on the platform will once again contribute to the Billboard rankings under the revised rules.

The announcement does not mean the change is immediate. The new partnership is set to go into effect on January 16, 2027, providing the industry with a definitive date for when YouTube streams will be included again in Billboard’s calculations.

The new agreement is a major change in the relationship between the two companies following a split that started at the beginning of 2026. The revised streaming ratio is central to the announcement, with YouTube and Billboard preparing to bring platform activity back into the chart conversation.

Wale continues his commitment to creating opportunities for young people with the third annual Gifted Week Program, a four-day initiative designed to connect emerging talent with established figures in sports, music, media and culture. The program, scheduled for November 17-20, features panels, workshops and clinics designed to provide the next generation with access to people and experiences that can support their ambitions.

His management company, EQT, is helping him put together this year’s installment. Gifted Week has been built around the idea of opening doors for young people in his city, especially those who may not have easy access to the professional networks and guidance that can make the difference in a career path.

One of the featured events will take place on November 18, when Gifted Week partners with Howard University for the Sports, Media, Culture & Film workshop. The session will include six panelists from the music and sports industries, providing attendees an opportunity to hear from professionals in industries that often intersect, but can require very different career paths.

The workshop is designed to get participants to bring their ideas, meet others with similar aspirations, and get direct access to people already working in the industries they want to work in. The event description focuses on sharing a vision, meeting peers, and getting to know the people helping shape the business.

The point of Gifted Week is really that focus on access. The talent and ambition to get into an industry is one thing, but knowing how it works is just as important for aspiring sportspeople and sports professionals. When older and younger people are together in the same space, it creates opportunities for conversations that might be hard to arrange otherwise.

The Howard University partnership also provides the program a platform to explore the intersection of sports, media, culture and film. These areas are intersecting more and more, and the workshop format is to have a panel discussion bringing different professional perspectives into one discussion.

Additional panels, clinics, and workshops are part of the full schedule of Gifted Week, Nov. 17-20. It is a program for multiple cohorts of aspiring professionals, geared toward athletes as well as those interested in the business and creative industries surrounding sport.

For Wale, the initiative is about providing young people with access to opportunities that were not always easy to come by on his own journey. Instead of confining his role to his musical career, he’s using the program to bring established professionals into the conversation with the next generation.

As the third annual edition approaches, Gifted Week continues its mission of providing mentorship, networking and professional access. One of the marquee events on the calendar is the November 18 workshop with Howard University, which will have six industry panelists and will allow young participants to begin making connections that may help shape their futures.