YouTube has recently published its first music chart that features tracks creators use in YouTube Shorts. Similarly to the other charts on the related YouTube website, the Shorts chart provides a snapshot of the current music trends on the platform. YouTube Shorts, which receive around 70 billion views per day, introduced these charts as a way to celebrate and help artists gain recognition across all music formats.
These charts have partially existed in some form for a long time on various platforms like Spotify, usually as playlists made by users or as a part of the “Big on the Internet” playlist. However, they typically reflect music trends on other platforms, such as Instagram Reels or TikTok. Of course, there are also YouTube Shorts playlists, but they reflect the personal preferences of a playlist creator or mix YouTube Shorts music with tracks from other short videos. That's why the chart made specifically by YouTube using their own statistics for the tracks used in Shorts is relatively new.
Read also: Music Curation in the AI Era: Evolution or Extinction?
Where to Find YouTube Shorts Chart
You can find it on the YouTube Charts website. At the top of the webpage, you can see the “Shorts Songs” section, which will send you to the Shorts chart page. The charts are also featured on YouTube's analytics and insights tools, making it easy for creators and musicians to see which tracks are currently trending.
How Is the Chart Organized?
The YouTube Shorts Charts are organized based on several key metrics. Firstly, you can select the chart period as daily or weekly. The exact dates can also be selected to see what was trending on specific dates. As the feature is new, there could possibly be monthly and yearly options soon. Currently, only the dates in July and August 2024 are available.
Secondly, you can sort your chart by choosing the most popular songs, the biggest movers, or the highest debut. Sorting by "Most Popular" shows the tracks that are currently being used the most in YouTube Shorts. This metric is based on the number of times a song has been featured in Shorts, reflecting the overall popularity of the track among creators.
Sorting by “Biggest Movers” shows those songs that have seen the most significant increase in usage and engagement over a recent period. It reflects sudden spikes in popularity, often due to viral trends, challenges, or notable events that have caused a spike in song usage.
Sorting by "Highest Debut" shows the new entries in the charts that made the most significant impact when they were first released. These are the songs that entered the charts in a high position on their first appearance.
Another great feature is that you can choose the region for the chart to see the songs trending in different parts of the world or your country, for example, if you are traveling or using a VPN. You can also switch to “Global” to see what is trending worldwide.
In addition, you can click on the song in the chart to see the official video clip of that song on YouTube. At the same time, you can also click the link on the video page to see popular Shorts filmed using this track.
Why Did YouTube Start Shorts Chart?
YouTube introduced Shorts Charts to cater to the rising popularity of short-form content and the integral role music plays in these videos. The primary goal of this chart is, of course, to provide visibility to trending tracks and the artists behind them.
“YouTube Charts are a true reflection of global music culture and a celebration of artists and their success, powered by billions of fans around the world,” says Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music.
Another reason for introducing this feature could be to motivate creators by showcasing popular music trends and inspiring others. This could be useful both for video makers and music producers. The former can see which songs are trending to ride the hype wave, while the latter can aim to reach the top of the chart as their song gains streams. As for the YouTube viewers, the chart can help them discover trends because they can see which songs are currently on top, listen to them right away on YouTube, or even enjoy the top songs without ads if they have a YouTube Music subscription or YouTube Premium.
How Music Producers Can Get Featured on the YouTube Shorts Chart
Music producers can create catchy and engaging music that resonates with a broad audience. This is one of the most effective ways to gain exposure. In addition, partnering with popular YouTube creators to feature your music in their shorts can significantly increase exposure and the number of videos using your song.
Promoting your music on social media and other platforms will also encourage its use in shorts, leading to more views as your video gains traction on the platform and is shared with the relevant audiences. In addition, aligning your music with current trends and challenges can further increase the likelihood of it being used by creators.
Being featured on the YouTube Shorts Chart can boost a song's exposure to a global audience. Songs trending on Shorts will likely receive more interactions, including likes, comments, and shares. Artists can reach new audiences and expand their fanbase as more users discover and use their music in Shorts. That also usually means increased streams and downloads, which can lead to higher revenue from various music platforms.
