The two new surveys feature artists from more than 30 international territories.
MRC yesterday announced the launch of the two new global Billboard surveys, which are powered by MRC Data/Nielsen Music: the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts.
The two lists, one inclusive of worldwide songs (Billboard Global 200) and the other including all territories but excluding the U.S. (Billboard Global Excl. U.S.), rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world.
Chart rankings are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales from full-service digital music retailers from around the world.
Cardi B‘s “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, and Maluma‘s “Hawái” rank at No. 1 on the maiden Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, respectively, dated Sept. 19.
As for all the artists on the two new tallies, what countries boast the best showings?
The U.S. reigns over both initial global rankings with a considerable presence, with U.S. artists accounting for 60% of titles on the Billboard Global 200. Even without U.S. data included in the methodology of the Global Excl. U.S. chart, 38% of all titles are by domestic artists.
Unsurprisingly, these figures are modest relative to the country’s 80% hold over the Billboard Hot 100, which is based solely on stateside data.
Going deeper into the new global tallies, both charts further separate themselves from the Hot 100. While the Hot 100 features artists from a spread of ten different international territories (with the U.S. and Puerto Rico counted separately), the Global Excl. U.S. chart includes representation from 31 territories, while the Billboard Global 200 sports a reach of 25 territories.
Notably, both global rankings are 200 positions deep, double the length of the Hot 100. Using an even playing field of just the top 100 titles from the new charts, the Hot 100’s ten represented territories are still dwarfed by 22 territories on the Global Excl. U.S. chart and 20 on the Billboard Global 200.
The U.K. follows the U.S. in presence on all three charts, claiming 14% of the Global Excl. U.S. chart and 10% of the Billboard Global 200. On the Hot 100, Canada ranks third with 5%, though that is where the global charts diverge. The Global Excl. U.S. listing favors Puerto Rico (7%), Japan (6%), Colombia (5%), and South Korea (4.5%) over Canada (4%).
This representation speaks volumes to the global popularity of Latin and Asian-pop genres. While Japanese artists are absent from the Hot 100, nine different acts from Japan show, for a total of 12 titles, on the Global Excl U.S. chart.
Further, the Hot 100 features two titles by South Korean acts, although one is an English-language song (BTS’ “Dynamite”) and the other is a collab with a well-known American pop star (“Ice Cream” by BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez). Both global rankings include multiple tracks by each group, plus songs by fellow South Korean acts iTZY and Pinkfong.
Additional representation from Asia shows via the United Arab Emirates’ Hussain Al Jassmi, at No. 145 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart with “Bel Bont El3areedh,” plus featured credits by artists in India and the Philippines.
Ten acts from Puerto Rico appear on both charts as lead artists, including Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny, and Jay Wheeler. Ozuna leads all Puerto Rican artists with four titles on the Global Excl. U.S. chart and three on the Billboard Global 200.
Fresh off the Aug. 21 release of his new album Papi Juancho, Maluma leads Colombian acts with three entries on the Billboard Global 200. He extends that spread to four songs on the Global Excl. U.S. chart, including that ranking’s No. 1 title, “Hawái.” J Balvin, Feid, and Camilo add to Colombia’s fruitful global presence.
Further Latin and South American company is evident by way of Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Jamaica, and Venezuela and a feature from Cameroon.
Outside of the U.K., European countries on the global charts include France, Germany, Italy, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, and Sweden.
Four titles from the continent of Australia (two from Australia and two from New Zealand) appear across both global charts.
Plus, the continent of Africa is represented by “Jerusalema” by Master KG, Nomcebo Zikode (South Africa) and Burna Boy (Nigeria) at No. 45 on the Billboard Global 200 and No. 21 on the Global Excl U.S. chart.
Not only do the new global charts display a wide cross-section of international artists, they also reflect cross-national collaboration. While 15% of the Hot 100 comprises songs by artists from two or more different territories, the sum jumps to 26% for the Global Excl. U.S. chart and 22% of the Billboard Global 200.
Further, only one song on the Hot 100 features artists from three or more territories: “Un Dia (One Day)” represents Colombia (J Balvin), the U.K. (Dua Lipa), and Puerto Rico (Bad Bunny and Tainy). The Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts feature six and seven such songs, respectively, mixing acts from the U.S., Panama, Australia, the Philippines, and more.
