Billboard acquiring Nielsen Music to grow chart data visibility
Billboard‘s parent company Valence Media announced its acquisition of Nielsen Music on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The deal will join the two companies under a single ownership again after a decade of separation. Valence’s global music portfolio contains Billboard-The Hollywood Reporter Media Group, dick clark productions, MRC Film, MRC Television, and MRC Non-Fiction.
Previously known as Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen Music was founded in 1991 by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett and since provided Billboard—along with other clients—powerful analytical insights into consumer data such as sales, streams, airplay, downloads, and more. The music consumption analytics platform has notably fueled several of Billboard’s charts including Billboard Hot 100, Billboard 200, Billboard Artist 100, and others. The two entities were owned by Dutch media conglomerate Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeverijen until 2009 when VNU sold Billboard to Prometheus Global Media.
As a result of the acquisition, Valence has established a new MRC Data division with the goals to create new and scaled opportunities across Valence’s diverse music portfolio. The current Billboard-The Hollywood Reporter Media Group president Deanna Brown will lead the division’s efforts.
“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. 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,” stated Brown.
H/T: Billboard
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