K-Star · Fan guide
How to stream K-pop to help it chart
Stream the official release on charting platforms (Spotify/Apple for global, Melon/Genie/Bugs for Korea, official YouTube MV), at normal volume, to the end, in a varied playlist from your own account — looping, muting, or skipping gets streams discarded.
- 1
Use the official release on platforms that count
Stream the official audio/MV — Spotify and Apple Music for global/Billboard, Melon, Genie and Bugs for the Korean charts, and the official YouTube MV for YouTube counts. Fan-uploaded or sped-up versions do not count.
- 2
Play at normal volume, unmuted, screen on for MVs
Muted or near-zero-volume plays are filtered out as fake streams. For YouTube MV views, keep the volume audible and the video visible — background/locked-screen plays are discounted.
- 3
Let each track play to the end (≥30s, ideally full)
A stream typically only counts after ~30 seconds; skipping early or looping a clip under 30s does not register. Let the title track finish before replaying.
- 4
Vary your sessions — do not loop one song on repeat
Putting one song on infinite repeat triggers anti-fraud filters that void the streams. Build a playlist of the artist’s songs (and others) so plays look organic; space sessions across the day.
- 5
Use your own account, one device, no bots/VPN farms
Streams from a single real account on a normal connection count; shared accounts, automation, and VPN farms are flagged and removed. A paid (premium) stream weighs more than ad-supported on some charts.
FAQ
- Which platforms count for the Billboard charts?
- Billboard counts audio/video streams from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube and others in the US. The official YouTube MV and official audio both count.
- Does looping one song hurt streams?
- Yes. Most services discount or void repeated plays of the same track in a row. Use a varied playlist instead of one-song repeat.
- Do muted YouTube views count?
- No. Muted, hidden, or autoplay-in-background views are filtered out of the official view and stream counts.
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