YouTube’s Departure and
the Battle for Chart Equity
On Dec. 17, 2025, YouTube announced that it would no longer provide streaming data to Billboard charts. A month later, the act came into effect in protest against the change in Billboard’s charting system. Since early 2013, music streamed on YouTube have continuously contributed to Billboard charts. These streams were weighed equally as those from paid services until 2018, when tiered streaming values were introduced. Since then, the amount of ad-supported streams necessary to count as one album consumption unit has grown to more than three times the amount of paid streams necessary. Following this trend, Billboard reported that their charts would begin to rely more on paid or subscription streams rather than ad-supported streams. Shortly after, YouTube addressed the impending change in a blog article written by Cohen. “[The Billboard formula] doesn’t reflect how fans engage with music today and ignores the massive engagement from fans who don’t have a subscription,” Cohen wrote. “[YouTube is] simply asking that every stream is counted fairly and equally, whether it is subscription-based or ad-supported—because every fan matters and every play should count.” While the withdrawal of YouTube streams appears to damage Billboard’s revenue, original alterations in streaming values result from a lack of profit, as seen in comparisons made by Full Stop Management CEO Irving Azoff. “YouTube recently touted that it paid artists $8 billion over the past year,” Azoff wrote. “During the same period, Spotify generated roughly $18 billion in revenue and paid about $12 billion to music rights holders.” Similar protests have occurred in past years. Some claim that paid-for music should be advantaged due to direct customer input. Likewise, responses mirroring YouTube’s have surfaced: calls for every listener’s stream to count the same. The ongoing debate fluctuates amongst involved companies. Parts of the music industry that have relied heavily on YouTube streams—such as Korean-pop—now face new hurdles. However, as listeners turn away from ad-supported services like YouTube, charts inevitably follow suit. Companies seeking to maximize profit have brought about resulting changes.
Syliva Liang
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The last pennies minted
As new payment methods such as credit and debit have been introduced and popularised throughout the past decades, the United States’ cash and coins have remained relevant to this day. However, adapting to the developing nation is bound to affect traditional practices, evident by the stoppage of penny production on Nov. 12, 2025.
Syliva Liang
First Responder Course Enables Students
This past Monday marked the start of the First Responder five-point-five course at MC, initiated for the first time in school history. This 30 hour program enables students to respond in medical or trauma emergencies, through training that includes the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) program, AHA (American Heart Association), and the STOP THE BLEED campaign. MC’s fire science teacher, Michael Martinez, developed the class through observations as an educator. “The [students] were not knowledgeable on emergency response…I saw a need and thought it’d be a good idea to offer the class,” Martinez said. Martinez spent fifteen years in the firefighting service, retiring as a captain and EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). He aims to foster a community of well-informed individuals, trained to become upstanding citizens. “They’re going to get some skills on how to deal with emergency situations; how to think calmly, clearly, and perform actions that can save lives,” Martinez said. Students enrolled believe the class will enhance their exploration of future career paths. Freshman Lin Quirimit has career goals that align with the course. “I want to be a paramedic when I grow up and possibly even work as a firefighter if I can…this class in general is a really good intro for that,” Quirimit said. Quirimit notes the companionship developed with her peers despite the novelty of the class. “Even though we have only met for one day, the people in it are really high spirited, they’re really kind; it already kind of feels like a family,” Quirimit said. Junior Samiah Bradford enrolled to deepen her knowledge and enhance her skills as she pursues nursing. Bradford looks forward to the course and learning from Martinez. “He keeps us engaged, he keeps the conversation going… I can’t wait to see what else he has got planned for us,” Bradford said. Students will transition from theory to simulated fieldwork, with eventual certification. The course is projected to end a week before the school year ends.
Mannat Kaur
