How does the Mediabase chart differ from Billboard?
First of all, the similarities outweigh the differences. About 110 stations are on both panels. There are about 15 unique Billboard stations and about 15 unique Mediabase stations. And they’re both trying to measure listeners. Mediabase uses a points system to rank the songs, calculated by an undisclosed formula involving audience and spins. It is possible for Song A to be ahead of Song B in both spins and audience, and still to have Song B ranked ahead. Doesn’t happen all that often, but when songs are close, it can. Because of the difference in panel stations, and the difference in how songs are ranked, there are always going to be some differences between MB charts and Billboard charts. Sometimes the two charts feature different #1 songs, and that always gets some attention. Also, the way that songs are removed from the Mediabase chart is different from Billboard’s system. Songs go recurrent on the third week they are losing spins, not counting any weeks they were the #1 song. That’
