WE STRONGLY SUGGEST ALL USA & PR STAYS FAMILIARIZE YOURSELVES WITH HOW CHARTING WORKS.
See our Chart Section to learn more.
We understand that not all USA and Puerto Rico STAYs can afford to purchase multiple albums or, even with donated funds, dedicate the time required to make ten digital purchases per week. However, gaining a clear understanding of how charts work and the many factors that indirectly influence Billboard rankings can empower every STAY to contribute in meaningful ways.
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Even simple actions, like interacting with the official sound from Stray Kids’ account on TikTok, sharing your streaming platform link once a day, or Shazaming the track daily, can make a significant difference. These small efforts, which take less than 30 seconds and cost nothing, are impactful ways every STAY can support.
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For more information, visit our various chart sections to learn more. Created in collaboration with dedicated STAYs, we have compiled comprehensive guides, and breaks downs about how music charts, including Billboard, are influenced by social media and global fan efforts. It’s designed to help every STAY understand how they can make a difference, no matter their resources.
Dedicated Info Page
for USA & PR STAY
STAYs who live in the United States and Puerto Rico carry the responsibility of ensuring our fandom continues Stray Kids Billboard 200 & HOT 100 success. Only STAYs who purchase, download and stream within the United States and Puerto Rico can add to the data collected to place Stray Kids on these charts.
ISTAY can help with Billboards World Charts and worldwide streaming charts like Spotify but the only way to help USA & PR STAYs with Billboard 200 & HOT 100 is by supporting and donating to projects that direct funds and efforts towards these specific charts.
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We have gathered information to help with these efforts.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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• PREORDER PHYSICALS FROM BILLBOARD APPROVED RETAILERS
Fanbases & Accounts to Follow:
Stray Kids USA Fanbase
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Billboard SKZ
Twitter​ | Instagram | ​​Facebook | Email | Billboard SKZ Site
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SKZonRADIO
Fanbase that guides STAYs through radio requesting weekly for Airplay criteria for Billboard.
Website | Twitter | Instagram​ | TikTok
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STAYfy MISSION
Project that raises funds to help STAYs stream on premium accounts during a comeback.
Fanbases Projects:
Billboard 200 - FREE HOP Albums - Organized by Stray Kids USA
Mission: Protect Stray Kids’ #1 streak on BB200!
Fill out the form to receive a free album.
Generous STAYs who are willing to sponsor an album for a STAY please contact Stray Kids USA.
Please be sure to help spread the word on all platforms to find more requests and sponsors!
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Open until 12/13/24
PHYSICAL PURCHASES
• Limit your purchase to 4 albums max per transaction.
• If buying more than 4, split the transaction. It's recommended to buy from other stores or use different accounts and cards/payment methods.
• Make sure the store you are ordering from counts on Billboard.
• Make sure the album is the USA version.
• Your album will count on Billboard upon shipment, not when ordered.
• Must be shipped to a USA or PR address.
​Offline buying (Target, Walmart, etc.)
• Limit your purchase to 4 albums max per transaction.
• Please buy the album in-store to strengthen first-week sales.
• Cash-basis payment is recommended if doing multiple transactions.
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• Amazon - be careful and look to be sure it's being shipped and sold directly from Amazon and not a 3rd party or it won't count. USE THE OFFICIAL LINK THAT IS POSTED BY STRAY KIDS SOCIAL MEDIA SITES TO AVOID THIS MISTAKE!
• Walmart - when purchasing online from Walmart be careful and look to be sure it's being shipped and sold directly from Walmart and not a 3rd party or it won't count. USE THE OFFICIAL LINK THAT IS POSTED BY STRAY KIDS SOCIAL MEDIA SITES TO AVOID THIS MISTAKE!
WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR PURCHASES COUNT TOWARDS BILLBOARD?CHECK TO SEE IF THE RETAILER IS ON THE ACTIVE US RETAILERS THAT REPORT TO LUMINATE
CHECK THE LIST HERE
PURCHASING & DIGITAL DOWNLOADS
General guide:
Before making any purchase, make sure to read the guide first in order to make sure your purchases count.
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• 1 physical album = 1 digital album = 10 digital tracks
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If buying on iTunes:
• Limit your buying to 1 copy/card per week.
• Buy the title track first, then buy/complete the album. If you can’t complete the album, buy as many individual tracks as you can.
• Do not gift the song directly using iTunes, as it does not count on Billboard.
• If using iTunes + Apple Music, “delete downloads” on Apple Music after buying so your streams count.
• Do not use VPN!
• If you have already purchased the album/songs before, you cannot repurchase them. What you can do is create another Apple ID and use the same card (that you have used in the past tracking period) again once that week.
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If buying on other digital stores:
• Stray Kids Shop, Qobuz, Amazon, 7digital (on 7Digital Buy MP3 and FLAC in separate transactions)
• Limit buying to 1 copy / account / platform PER EMAIL!
• Make sure to download the song/album until it says “0 (zero).”
• Your purchase will only count on Billboard once you have downloaded it. So for email-delivered digital purchases like Stationhead, you must check your email and download all files until it says Zero (0) otherwise it will not count on charts.
• If you would like to buy more than 1, make sure to use another account with a different email if you can change payment methods.
• Recommended that you buy from different platforms.
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​Notes:
• SKZ Shop and iTunes are the most recommended platform.
• Unique purchases remove the risk of sales getting filtered out. It is highly recommended, especially if buying multiple copies, that you have your friends/family purchase on your behalf.
• As much as possible, make your identity unique every time. Do not use the same details/email/account, especially if buying multiple times on a single platform. It is recommended that you buy from different platforms.
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GUIDES FOR EACH PLATFORM
NEED FUNDS TO PURCHASE SONGS ON ITUNES OR OTHER DIGITAL DOWNLOAD PLATFORMS?
DM SKZ_USA
STREAMING
General guide:
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• Use PREMIUM ACCOUNTS or PREMIUM FREE TRIALS.
• ACT HUMAN. Avoid Bot Like Behavior. Interact with the platform.
• DO NOT MUTE PLATFORMS. Volume at least 50%. Use headphones or PC Sound Mixer to control Volume.
• DO NOT LOOP PLAYLISTS; Pandora is the ONLY exception.
​• DO NOT SHUFFLE PLAYLISTS.
• DO NOT USE VPN.
• ALWAYS LIKE ALBUM & SONGS ON EVERY PLATFORM.
• SHARE DIRECTLY FROM THE PLATFORM TO HELP TREND.
These are just overall guidelines when streaming. Be sure to read the detailed guides for each platform separately!
• Spotify
• YouTube
• YouTube Music
• Apple Music
• Amazon Music
• Pandora
• Deezer
• Audiomack
RADIO & AIRPLAY
Airplay is how often a song is being played through broadcasting via a radio station (aka through “spins”). This can lead to increased visibility of an album or single song release, especially when played often. It also can bring in new fans or brand recognition.
Even with streaming and digital music, radio airplay remains a vital tool for the introduction of new music.
Types of Radio Play - There are two types of radio play: commercial and non-commercial.
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Commercial Radio
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FM Stations & Satellite Radio: These are the traditional commercial radio stations and satellite radio networks (e.g., SiriusXM) that dominate the airwaves. In 2022 alone, there were 15,377 commercial radio stations in the US. They have extensive reach and cater to a broad audience.​
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Advertising: Commercial radio tends to play advertisements in longer blocks.
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Wary of Non-English Songs: As even Billboard noted, in the US, top 40 stations usually shy away from foreign songs.
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Non-Commercial Radio
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Types: These consist of nonprofit radio (e.g., NPR), college radio, smaller independent stations and web-first online radio.
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​Ads Illegal: Under Section 399b of the Communications Act of 1934, it is illegal to play advertisements on non-commercial radio.
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​Flexibility: Although mainstream US radio stations are more averse to playing non-English songs, non-commercial stations DJs often have more flexibility in their playlists and are able to play more independent and emerging artists.
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Importance in Chart Performance
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Although streaming platforms have taken a bite out of radio listeners, radio still plays a large part in charting and artist branding.​
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Audience Reach: On average, 91% of 18-and-older adults in the US are reached each month by radio, according to Nielsen. This compares with other sources (both ad-supported and subscription-based): 43% for Spotify, 35% for YouTube Music, 18% for both Pandora and Apple Music, 13% for Amazon Music, and 10% for satellite radio.
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For example, daily audio consumption of AM/FM radio accounts for 5 times the daily audio consumption of ad-supported streaming (85% vs. 15%).​​​
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Chart Points: Radio airplay points for chart ranking (be that airplay-only or as a component, such as for the Billboard Hot 100) are based on audience impressions, or the amount of spins on chart-monitored radio stations and the stations’ audience size. Paid plays (e.g., those during paid air time) or bumper music (i.e., short music clips that segue between program elements) do not count.​
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For example, the Hot 100 formula typically targets a ratio of 30% to 40% for airplay, with 35% to 45% for sales and 20% to 30% for streaming.​
We now have a dedicated fanbase specifically for radio requests, be sure to follow them on Twitter or check our their Website where they have all request information available for STAYs!
