Gangnam Style out of the most viewed music chart due to YouTube changes

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YouTube changes search to rank based on how long users watch videos, not clicks

If you have been searching for any YouTube videos today, you may have been seeing the results of an update to how the website ranks content and determines what most closely matches what you're looking for. Google has announced that it is expanding changes introduced in August to how video discovery across all of search, so that videos get higher rankings based on how long viewers are engaged — not how many clicks a video gets. The difference is that videos that simply manage to attract a click through thanks to its title or preview but fail to keep users watching won't be promoted in search. In addition, the update to the algorithm will take into account how long users' overall YouTube visits are. This means that videos will get higher rankings if users not only watch it in its entirety, but if they continue on to stay on YouTube and watch more videos. The change is a logical one to focus on bringing users content that keeps them entertained and interested, while keeping them on YouTube. It also fits in well with Google's push to improve the relevancy of search results across the board.

Source: The Verge

op:

The youtube music top 100 videos category works with a combination of algorithms that take into account clickthru and referral links along with views, comments and likes. Now it also includes time watched and time spent looking through related videos. Ganganm Style entered the top 100 at #15 on 2012/7/31 and dropped out on 2012/10/16. The changes went live on the week of 2012/10/12.

Here's the performance history on YT 100
2012/7/31(TOP15)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120802
2012/8/07(TOP3)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120810
2012/8/14(TOP2)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120815
2012/8/21(TOP2)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120823
2012/8/28(TOP1)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120830
2012/9/04(TOP1)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120907
2012/9/11(TOP1)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120913
2012/9/18(TOP1)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120920
2012/9/25(TOP1)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20120927
2012/10/02(TOP1)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20121003
2012/10/09(TOP1)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20121011
2012/10/16 (dropped completely)→http://www.youtube.com/charts/videos_views/music?d=20121018

What does this mean for Gangnam Style? People are not watching the whole video. This past week at least, most people that did watch it saw less than half of it. That's less than a minute fifteen seconds. While this doesn't affect total view counts, it lessens the search rankings.

What does this mean for your oppas and unnies? it'll be almost impossible to get them on the front page and reach a wider mainstream audience through the sheer force of your refresh views unless the track is actually popular, and view bots will have to find another way.

Source: Youtube creators blog
Source: creators blog "why we focus on watch time"

Leave a Comment

odd_fish_stick 16th-Oct-2012 06:16 am (UTC)

AVENGE PSY!!!

gigabytexx 16th-Oct-2012 06:29 am (UTC)

This past week at least, most people that did watch it saw less than half of it. That's less than a minute fifteen seconds.

When the first time I heard about the batshit crazy Gangnam Style thing, I got curious and eventually went on Youtube and take a look at the video. But I closed the tab in less than a minute because I was thinking, "WTF." apparently many people are doing teh same.

deeinanutshell 16th-Oct-2012 06:45 am (UTC)

is it me or is Psy mad unlucky
first billboard changes their rules and now this
just let the poor man get his #1s.

rinn1e 16th-Oct-2012 06:52 am (UTC)

cue kpop stans calling it 'racism', and claiming it as USA wants to suppressed Kpop from taking over...

I think Youtube has been working on the system since JB, Lady Gaga and kpop fandoms keeps refreshing. Especially with Psy blowout, Kpop fans took it up a notch.

What is the new rules on Billboard?

odd_fish_stick 16th-Oct-2012 07:00 am (UTC)

it says this has been implemented gradually since august. I don't think they did this because of music artists hogging all the spotlight specifically, but because of dishonest creators that mislead viewers. it discourages them from using misleading titles like OFFICIAL VIDEO (all of my hate) and thumbnails of unrelated sexy shit people will click on and then X out five seconds later. It also discourages them from using LIKE THIS!!! campaigns to get their subscribers to get them on the front page.

rinn1e 16th-Oct-2012 07:27 am (UTC)

Ugh, I forgot about those people. It's a good thing that I disable recommendation and such on youtube, and only keep it to my youtube homepage and not the front page.

soramai 16th-Oct-2012 07:23 am (UTC)

and claiming it as USA wants to suppressed Kpop from taking over...

titre ou description

kamelover101 16th-Oct-2012 07:39 am (UTC)

What did Billboard do?

taylorniw 16th-Oct-2012 09:08 pm (UTC)

http://www.billboard.com/news/taylor-swift-rihanna-psy-buoyed-by-billboard-1007978552.story#/news/taylor-swift-rihanna-psy-buoyed-by-billboard-1007978552.story

ashiva 16th-Oct-2012 10:26 am (UTC)

It's almost certainly glitch unlike what OP claims. My explanation: http://omonatheydidnt.livejournal.com/9996712.html?thread=1028422824&style=mine#t1028422824

odd_fish_stick 16th-Oct-2012 05:08 pm (UTC)

maybe so. we'll know if it's a glitch if it's not back up this week

ashiva 16th-Oct-2012 10:38 pm (UTC)

It's back to #1 (Probably just a coincidence, but interestingly it was put back on soon after my comment about maybe One Direction's label paying YouTube to drop it off got to as top comment in Gangnam Style MV @ youtube *tinfoil hat*)

odd_fish_stick 16th-Oct-2012 10:47 pm (UTC)

haha, i checked this afternoon and it wasn't still. finally, PSY HAS BEEN AVENGED!! Youtube is watching...

mjspice 16th-Oct-2012 11:37 am (UTC)

They're just jealous that someone came in & took over popculture in less than a day. XP

noonabites 17th-Oct-2012 06:32 am (UTC)

The Billboard changes actually HELPED him. He is now #1 on the Rap charts and still #2 on Hot 100.

the_erotomanic 16th-Oct-2012 07:31 am (UTC)

i just download the videos off youtube, so it's easier for me to rewatch them. but that's turning me into a media hoarder. :o(

mjspice 16th-Oct-2012 11:41 am (UTC)

Actually there is no choice nowadays because many of the file-sharing sites are shut down. :(

kamelover101 16th-Oct-2012 07:40 am (UTC)

Half of Gangnam Styles views were just people randomly clicking on it or rewatching it. And I'm sure 100m of those views were botted.

ullielvidina 16th-Oct-2012 07:54 am (UTC)

I think it's fair. Because if the viewers are genuinely like the video, they will rewatch it again. Fair play.

pluhzee 16th-Oct-2012 07:57 am (UTC)

Tbh I think it's great. In a way I hope it will help remove those top comment like "help XX get to YYM before ZZ date". I think Youtube's comment should be a place for people to share their love of music and not fighting to get to the top. It's too sad.
I hope they're going to re-work the suggestions as well

benihime99 16th-Oct-2012 09:30 am (UTC)

It seems fair tbh
However I can already see some "YOUTUBE HATE PSY AND IS SO RACIST" comment just like before
The same youtube that invited Psy to their headquarter... oh well

ashiva 16th-Oct-2012 09:56 am (UTC)

This change is meant to push forward those TV like content channels that youtube is trying to push with some serious money support over user generated content channels.

Also OP, I'm pretty sure reason that PSY being dropped is actually a glitch 'cause his likes and comments keep continuing to grow, so I doubt so many of the views would be click throughs that it would completely drop out of top 100. Also in order your view to register you have to view most of the video. And Gangnam Style got about 60 million times during last week. So him being dropped off the chart is total BS on behalf of youtube.

Edited at 2012-10-16 09:56 am (UTC)

hyde_my_dreams 16th-Oct-2012 10:07 am (UTC)

I think the first part is a good idea (the length of viewing), but what does continuing to watch OTHER videos on YT have to do with whether one video should go up on the ranks? That doesn't make sense to me.

ashiva 16th-Oct-2012 10:13 am (UTC)

Youtube is trying to push TV series type of channels they sponsor like WIGS instead of channels with less serial content.

kawaiisis86 16th-Oct-2012 11:12 am (UTC)

This makes a lot of sense and tbh it doesn't matter if Psy fell off the list because the hype and momentum has already happened. He had a number 1 in the UK and has been all over the billboard charts and when reporters talk about it they refer to it as the most viewed video of all time. So the precedent has already been set. Psy is all good at this point.

mjspice 16th-Oct-2012 11:39 am (UTC)

That kinda sucks really for PSY Oppa but at least this way acts like Rebecca Whatshername, Justina Blieber & Creepy Girlfriend won't get anymore extra views.