Billboard Parent Valence Acquires Nielsen Music, Launches Data Division

Billboard and Hollywood Reporter parent Valence Media has completed its expected acquisition of Neilsen Music and launched MRC Data, a new division to provide data and analytics to the music industry.

For more than 25 years, Nielsen Music has delivered data from streaming and digital downloads to physical purchases to determine the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard 200, Billboard Artist 100 and other top genre and airplay charts.

“answering the request from the music industry for a more coordinated, powerful, agile and global suite of independent measurement products”

MRC Data will be led by Billboard-The Hollywood Reporter Media Group President Deanna Brown. The acquisition reunites the industry’s leading music consumption data platform with the Billboard charts, after a near decade long separation, to create a global provider of data and analytics servicing all digital service providers (DSPs), labels, airplay, and music retailers. 

The acquisition includes:

• Music Connect – a measurement and analytics platform and API that provides music streaming, airplay and sales data for artists, albums and songs
• Broadcast Data Systems – a single resource for streaming, sales and airplay data at national and local market levels in the US and Canada
• Music 360 – comprehensive music research and insights reports for consumer trends impacting the industry

“By bringing Nielsen Music Products and Billboard back together, we’re answering the request from the music industry for a more coordinated, powerful, agile and global suite of independent measurement products,” said Brown. “The new MRC Data division will leverage our scale and global, multimedia perspective to operate as a true accelerant for our music business colleagues and stakeholders.”

Global 100

Earlier this year Billboard announced plans to launch The Global 100, the first authoritative chart ranking the world’s top songs. The Global 100, set to launch in 2020, will deliver worldwide streaming and digital sales numbers from top DSPs for an unprecedented, holistic view of the top songs and artists across the globe as well as the new ability to benchmark against competition.