Image credit: Music Ally — https://musically.com/2026/09/11/smart-album-formats-now-chart-eligible-in-the-us/
Billboard has opened U.S. charts to select Smart Media album formats — physical products that unlock album content through QR codes, NFC, and similar tech. The change takes effect with the tracking week beginning October 2, 2026.
According to Music Ally’s reporting, Billboard said it wants to recognize new ways fans discover, collect, and engage with music. Similar formats are already chart-eligible in markets including the U.K., Australia, and Germany.
During an introductory phase, each eligible Smart Media Album transaction will count as 0.5 equivalent album unit toward Billboard’s album consumption charts, and as one full album sale on album sales charts.
Marketers already work with vendors such as Serenade, IYK, and ZATAP on formats ranging from stickers and keyrings to mini vinyl and trading cards. U.S. eligibility is expected to raise the stakes for those campaign tools.