Billboard Digital Songs Chart

The Billboard Digital Songs Chart ranks the best-selling digital songs on a global scale. This ranking is published weekly by Billboard on their website and within Billboard Magazine. The data from the Digital Songs Chart is a component of the Billboard Hot Singles Chart.

The weekly tracking period was initially Saturday-to-Saturday but was later changed to Sunday-to-Sunday in 2021. Global releases are currently expected to be released on Fridays. The Billboard Digital Songs Chart is published on Sunday evening.

The first number one song of the Billboard Digital Songs Chart was "#sideEFFECTS" by Rihanna featuring Kendrick Lamar.

## History

In 2014, the Digital Songs Chart was created as a component for the newly renamed Hot Singles Chart. Throughout the years, the formula and rules for the Digital Songs Chart would be adjusted to be more representative of the music industry.

## Compilation

### Current Methodology

`(Sales / Max Sales) * 100%`

The sales of each release is determined by private purchases at the weekly digital store. However, additional aspects may also affect the sales value of individual releases. These aspects are:

* Depreciation; after release, all songs will cumulatively lose 25% of their sales per week. This drop does not apply on the week a remix is released.
* Format; promotional singles will automatically lose 50% of their sales for the lifespan of their release, as to distinguish between official and promotional singles.
* Sales Adjustment; all songs released will have their sales adjusted by the same amount so that the sales value of the lowest selling song each week is exactly 1. This is known as the "random flop" mechanic, to ensure the charts stay competitive.

### Former Methodologies

#### Seasons 2-8 (2014-2019)

Prior to Season 9, the sales of each release would be determined by a public digital store. The change to the private store was trialled in the final week of Season 8.

During Seasons 2 to 4, the Billboard Charts were calculated using a chart position-based formula, rather than a points-based formula. In 2016, these were re-calculated using the points-based formula introduced in Season 5. At this time, a Season 1 chart was also created retroactively.

## Policy Changes

The methods and policies by which this data is obtained and compiled have changed many times throughout the chart's history.

### Remixes

In 2015, the ability to track remixed singles was officially added to the Digital Songs Chart. These remixes would chart for one extra chart week, and would allow songs to keep the same level of interest and popularity as the week before. Since their inception, remix releases have become an industry standard for any artist wanting truly successful hits.

### Rolling Charts

In 2017, a new feature was added to all Billboard Charts. This new feature was rolling charts. Rolling charts would allow any song that had not yet finished its full chart run, to chart in a future season until its chart run was finished. In addition, artists could no longer get eliminated from #PopIndustry, therefore meaning their releases would not be removed from the charts ahead of time.

### Promotional Singles

In 2021, Billboard allowed a new release type to chart. A promotional single could be released alongside an official single, and would count as its own standalone single with half of the chart points it would normally attain. Promotional singles could be released once weekly, and could not be remixed. This change was instantly adopted by many of the industry's most successful artists.