I think it is objectively good that Youtube is back in Billboard's tabulations, but I'm not a huge fan of the ratio. The fact 3 million free streams will be equivalent to 2 million premium ones is a bit ridiculous. But it does reduce the weight of ratio and sales indirectly since all songs will have some proportion of free streams. Also, Choosin' Texas is about to have greater of a lead than any of you will likely realize. It has been the most streamed song on Youtube in the US for months now (other than Thriller, holiday music, and Dai Dai)
What an embarrassment for the Christmas cash cow. All that payola, playlisting, radio deals, 1000 vinyls, and fraudulence year after year, just for the general public to turn on her. Wham will put her in her rightful place.