(Billboard) – Billboard unveiled new methodology on Thursday for the long-standing Hot Country Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Latin Songs charts. Each receive a major consumer-influenced face-lift, as digital download sales (tracked by Nielsen SoundScan) and streaming data (tracked by Nielsen BDS from such services as Spotify, Muve, Slacker, Rhapsody, Rdio and Xbox Music, among others) will now be factored into the 50-position rankings, along with existing radio airplay data monitored by Nielsen BDS. The makeovers will enable these charts to match the methodology applied to Billboard’s signature all-genre songs ranking, the Billboard Hot 100.
Concurrently, Hot Rock Songs, which launched as an airplay-only chart in 2009, and Rap Songs, in existence as a radio survey since 1989, will also include digital download sales and streaming data for the first time.
In addition, Billboard is launching a new chart, R&B Songs, which will incorporate the same airplay/sales/streaming hybrid formula to rank the week’s top R&B-only (non-rap) titles. R&B Songs and Rap Songs will serve as 25-position distillations of the overall Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, highlighting the differences between pure R&B and rap titles in the overall, wide-ranging R&B/hip-hop field.
The immediate beneficiaries of this week’s methodology change are Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Mumford & Sons.
Swift holds down the top two slots on Hot Country Songs with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “Red.” Her new country radio single “Begin Again” jumps 37-10. The pop-crossover No. 1 title ranks at No. 36 on Country Airplay (but also gets points associated with its pop-crossover play) and No. 1 on Country Digital Songs, while “Red” is absent from the Country Airplay list, but ranks No. 2 on Country Digital Songs. “Begin Again” appears at No. 29 on Country Airplay and No. 3 on Country Digital Songs.
Rihanna shuffles from No. 66 under the former Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs methodology all the way to No. 1 with “Diamonds,” aided by crossover pop airplay of the track as well as strong digital sales (No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs). “Diamonds” also tops the inaugural R&B Songs tally. On Rap Songs, Psy soars 20-1 with his current No. 2 Hot 100 hit “Gangnam Style.”
While fun. claims the No. 1 slot on Hot Rock Songs with its former Alternative No. 1 and current Hot 100 top 10 hit “Some Nights,” Mumford & Sons ride increased curiosity about their new album ‘Babel’ to overwhelming streaming activity, placing all 12 songs from the set (as well as two others from the album’s deluxe version) on the chart. All but first single “I Will Wait” (No 4) chart with almost all points attributed to streaming; even “Wait,” which rises to No 1 on Alternative this week, boasts 53% of its points from streaming.
