Massive Changes Coming To SBS’s “Inkigayo” Score Calculations

SBS‘s popular music show Inkigayo will undergo significant changes in its scoring system starting in the fourth quarter of 2024. These updates aim to better reflect the evolving ways K-Pop is being consumed both domestically and internationally, specifically acknowledging the growing influence of global music platforms.

Currently, Inkigayo charts are calculated using a total of 11,500 points, with 5,500 points allocated to digital scores and 3,000 points to social media (SNS) activity.

However, under the new system, the total score will be reduced to 10,000 points. The maximum digital score will drop slightly to 5,000 points, while the SNS score will be adjusted to 2,000 points. The album sales will remain at 1000 points.

Additionally, the music platforms that factor into the score will expand beyond Korean services like Melon, Genie, and FLO to include global music platforms. However, it is still unclear which international platforms will be included and how much weight they will hold.

Along with these changes, Inkigayo will continue to adjust the weighting of other factors that contribute to the overall chart rankings. In the updated system, digital scores will contribute 50% of the total, SNS 20%, album sales 10%, broadcast appearances 10%, pre-voting 5%, and real-time voting another 5%.

These changes come as a response to the rapidly changing consumption patterns of K-Pop fans around the world. As international fans continue to play a larger role in the industry, Inkigayo hopes to offer a more accurate and inclusive representation of the artists’ success.

The new system will go into effect starting with the October 6, 2024, broadcast. According to Inkigayo, fans can look forward to a more dynamic chart that reflects K-pop’s global reach.