Circle Chart Adopts New Policy to Exclude Muted Streams from Calculations

KOREA MUSIC CONTENT ASSOCIATION

In a notable shift that reverberates across the music industry, the Korea Music Content Association, the service provider for the Circle Chart music ranking, announced on Tuesday that it would no longer include music streams conducted while muted in its calculations.

Circle Chart, the authoritative platform for generating music charts based on data from major streaming services such as Melon, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, is aiming to refine its methodology by excluding muted music streams from its evaluations.

The decision comes as the Korea Music Content Association endeavors to enhance the accuracy and integrity of music streaming metrics. A spokesperson for the association disclosed that streams that occur while the sound is muted constitute approximately 7 percent of the total weekly streams, revealing the magnitude of the change being instituted.

"The incorporation of muted music streams into the tally distorts the notion of authentic music engagement," the Korea Music Content Association stated on Tuesday, clarifying its rationale behind the move. This adjustment aligns with a broader drive for consistency, with various music providers already employing mechanisms to filter out inappropriate streaming practices prior to delivering data to Circle Chart.

With its role as the primary source of K-pop data from both domestic and global music platforms, Circle Chart plays a pivotal role in providing insights for weekly music shows, year-end music award ceremonies, and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Choi Kwang-ho, Secretary General of the Korea Music Content Association, emphasized the aspiration for increased accuracy in reflecting the K-pop industry through this transformative step.

While the move ushers in a progressive shift in music analytics, the transition will require the development of new systems to track and distinguish muted streams. Given the intricacies of implementation, the association projected that the policy will be fully enacted by the conclusion of the current year.

This strategic evolution underscores the industry's ongoing efforts to adapt to the digital era's complex landscape, where the nuances of music consumption necessitate continual refinement of measurement methodologies to ensure a fair representation of artists' popularity and fan engagement.

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