ARIA To Incorporate Streaming Figures Into Chart

The weekly Australian single chart will now incorporate statistics from streaming services as the habits of music listeners continue to evolve.

In 2012 the Australian Recording Industry Association [ARIA] launched a streaming chart to track the influx of users on streaming services. As of Monday 24 November, those stats will be incorporated into the singles chart using a weighting system based on the algorithm of the UK and other European charts.

A representative from ARIA was unable to confirm the exact weighting number to theMusic.com.au today.

The streaming services providing data to the charts include Deezer, JB Hi-Fi Now, Rdio, Samsung Music Hub and Spotify.

“Over the past two years, audio streaming has grown at such a rapid rate, that it was only logical that we integrate audio streaming into the Official ARIA Singles Chart,” said ARIA CEO Dan Rosen.

According to global recording industry body IFPI last year international streaming revenue rose 51 percent as overall revenue dropped 3.9 percent. In Australia revenue from streaming services doubled to $20.9 million in 2013 and now makes up 5.9 percent of the market. Unfortunately, 2013 also saw the lowest wholesale figures since digital music figures began being recorded in 2005.

Rosen added, “We aim to continuously evolve the ARIA Charts to ensure that they accurately represent the new ways that Australian music fans are consuming their favourite music.”

At this stage the streaming figures will not count towards accreditations, which will remain the domain of sales – 35,500 units shipped for Gold and 70,000 for Platinum.

Yesterday Taylor Swift – arguably the world’s biggest pop star at the moment – pulled all her music from the Spotify platform.