Billboard Canadian Hot 100 & Billboard Canadian Albums Charts Undergo Methodology Changes for 2026
Below is an explainer on the charts’ new streaming weights.
Following the switch of the Billboard Canadian Albums chart to a new weighting methodology to match that of the United States-based Billboard 200, the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 songs chart has shifted to the updated paid to ad-supported 1:2.5 streaming ratio. This is effective with the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart dated Jan. 31, 2026
As previously reported, Billboard’s charts have added more weight to on-demand streaming to better reflect an increase in streaming revenue and changing consumer behaviors. As part of the change, paid/subscription on-demand streams continue to be weighted more favourably compared to ad-supported on-demand streams, with the ratio between the two tiers narrowing from 1:3 to 1:2.5 based on analysis of streaming revenue.
Effective with the Billboard Canadian Albums and Billboard 200 charts dated Jan. 17, each album consumption unit now equals 2,500 ad-supported or 1,000 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. Each album consumption unit continues to equal one album sale or 10 individual tracks sold from an album.
As previously noted, the changes mean that it will take 33.3% fewer ad-supported on-demand streams of songs from an album, and 20% fewer paid/subscription on-demand streams of songs from an album, to equal an album unit.
