Music Video Streaming Guide
Why is Music Video Streaming Important?
Streaming music videos (MVs) contributes to BTS’s music charting, creates exposure and helps their music reach listeners all over the world, and helps key industry players understand the demand for BTS’s music.
QUICK GUIDE TO MV STREAMING
Below is a quick guide to streaming BTS’s music videos. Follow these tips to help the group with charting.
➡️ HOW DO I MAKE MY MV STREAMS COUNT?
Billboard only counts streams from officially licensed music videos and US-based plays for its charts.
➡️ Streaming on Facebook
Make sure the video is uploaded onto the official Facebook pages for BTS, BIGHIT MUSIC, or HYBE.
➡️ Streaming on YouTube
Make sure the video is on the official HYBE LABELS YouTube channel. (Note that MVs released before the “FIRE” era may have higher views on the 1theK YouTube channel.)
The key is to act like a human, not a robot. Manually search for the BTS MV you want, intentionally choose to click on the video, and play the video in its entirety. When the video ends, watch a different video.
Don’t use a playlist, especially during the first 24 hours. Also note that videos in playlists will count as one view, regardless of the number of times you watch it.
Please DO NOT USE VPN! It is considered cheating and YouTube’s algorithm can detect it and delete views.
Use your YouTube Premium account to stream on only one device at a time, one browser at a time.
FULL GUIDE TO MV STREAMING
Check out this full guide if you’d like more comprehensive information about streaming BTS’s music videos and making sure your streams count.
➡️ How does Billboard count music video streams?
For Billboard charts:
1,250 streams on a premium account = 1 unit/album sale
3,750 streams on a free account = 1 unit/album sale
Billboard counts officially licensed video content plays from YouTube, Facebook, Apple, Spotify, Tidal, and Vevo.
Facebook
Do music video streams on Facebook count for Billboard charts?
As of March 27, 2021, Billboard counts ad-supported, on-demand streams from officially licensed music videos on Facebook. These are factored into charts that incorporate streaming data, such as Hot 100, Billboard 200, Artist 100, Billboard Global 200, and more.
Note that Billboard only counts US-based plays.
IMPORTANT: In order to ensure you’re watching an officially licensed music video, make sure it’s uploaded onto the official Facebook pages for BTS, BIGHIT MUSIC, or HYBE. (Source: 1)
YouTube
Do music video streams on YouTube count for Billboard charts?
Since February 2013, YouTube streams have been factored into the Billboard Hot 100 and other song-specific charts. As of January 3, 2020, video and audio data from YouTube has been factored into the Billboard 200 charts.
Note that Billboard only counts US-based plays.
IMPORTANT: In order to ensure you’re watching an officially licensed music video, make sure the video is on the official HYBE LABELS YouTube channel. (Note that MVs released before the “FIRE” era may have higher views on the 1theK YouTube channel.)
(Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4)
➡️ How does YouTube count the first 24-hour views?
On September 13, 2019, YouTube clarified that "videos eligible for YouTube’s 24-hour record debuts are those with the highest views from organic sources within the first 24 hours of the video’s public release." YouTube also makes sure that videos are viewed by actual humans and not computer programs.
Eligible videos include "direct links to the video, search results, external sites that embed the video and YouTube features like the homepage, watch next and Trending."
This means that videos embedded on sites outside of YouTube count, such as the Weverse app, our website, and any other sites where BTS's MVs are embedded!
Please note that embedded videos on autoplay mode will not be counted as a view because the user did not manually click.
Therefore, please don't use a playlist to watch the music video. In order for the view to count, you will need to manually search for it and intentionally choose to watch the video.
Also note that videos in playlists count as one view, regardless of the number of times you watch it.
YouTube also announced that "paid advertising views on YouTube will no longer be considered when looking at a 24-hour record debut." The changes will not impact YouTube’s existing 24-hour record debut holders.
(Sources: 1, 2)
➡️ How do I make my YouTube streams count?
The key is to act like a human, not a robot!
Step 1: Log onto your YouTube account.
If you have a premium YouTube account, please use it! It is easier for premium accounts to obtain 1 album/unit sale.
Even if you don't have a premium account, it's okay. Just keep on streaming and doing your best!
Step 2: Search for the BTS MV you are looking for.
Manually search for the video. Don’t use a playlist, especially during the first 24 hours.
Make sure the MV is on the official HYBE LABELS YouTube channel.
(Note that MVs released before the “FIRE” era may have higher views on the 1theK YouTube channel.)
Step 3: Play the music video in its entirety and do not repeat.
When the video ends, watch a different video.
Playing the same music video on repeat will not help.
IMPORTANT: According to YouTube's Help Center, "Metrics are algorithmically confirmed … To verify that metrics are accurate, YouTube may temporarily slow down, freeze, or change your metric count, and discard low-quality playbacks."
Stream on only one device at a time, one browser at a time. Using multiple devices to watch the same video across multiple windows and tabs are considered low-quality playbacks.
Please DO NOT USE VPN! Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is considered cheating and YouTube’s algorithm can detect it and delete views.