Drake has blasted the music industry as “so cooked” after Billboard performed a dramatic U-turn and welcomed YouTube streams back into its chart calculations.
The God’s Plan hitmaker shared his reaction after the chart company unveiled a new methodology that will see YouTube data return to its rankings from 2027, following months of disagreement between the two parties.
Taking to his Instagram Story on Wednesday (11.11.26), Drake reposted a screenshot of an article about the change and made his feelings clear.
He wrote: “Wtf this game so cooked,” alongside a shocked-face emoji.
The rapper’s remarks came shortly after YouTube confirmed it had resolved its dispute with Billboard and would once again contribute streaming data to the publication’s influential charts.
The disagreement dates back to the end of 2025, when YouTube announced it would stop supplying data from January 2026 because it opposed Billboard’s weighting system. The platform argued the methodology favoured paid subscription streams too heavily when compared to free, ad-supported listening.
The move sparked debate across the music industry, with artists, record executives and fans divided over whether chart rankings accurately reflected the way people consume music in the streaming era.
Now, however, the two sides have reached an agreement.
On Monday (09.11.26), YouTube revealed it would return to Billboard’s US charts next year after changes were made to the methodology.
Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music, said in a blog post: “We are returning to the Billboard charts starting in 2027. Billboard’s new methodology better reflects how fans engage with music today across both subscription and ad-supported services.”
Alongside the announcement, Billboard unveiled a revised formula that changes how streams are converted into album consumption units on the Billboard 200.
Under the new system, which takes effect with the chart dated January 16, 2027, one album consumption unit will be generated by 1,500 ad-supported streams or 1,000 paid subscription on-demand official audio and video plays from tracks on an album.
The overhaul effectively gives greater weight to ad-supported listening than under the current model.
At present, it takes 2,500 ad-supported streams to equal a single album consumption unit, while 1,000 paid subscription on-demand audio and video streams generate the same result.
Billboard will continue to count one album sale as a single album consumption unit, while 10 track purchases from the same album will also equal one unit.
