
Post Malone: the songwriter Austin Post continues to make waves with his song Rockstar. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Austin Post continues the ‘Rockstar’ climb on the US chart as the songwriter benefits from a clever YouTube monetisation hack
It’s often been said that YouTube doesn’t value artists. The platform has built itself on the DMCA Safe Harbor provisions and pays one of the lowest streaming rates in music. But that doesn’t mean it can’t still be a useful tool.
This week, Austin Post continues to make waves with his song Rockstar, due in part to a clever YouTube ‘hack’ by Republic Records. The label uploaded the track to Youtube on September 21st, except it wasn’t the full track. What they uploaded was a three-minute-thirty-eight-second loop of the chorus. The thing is, even though you cannot hear Rockstar in its entirety, each play still counts towards its ranking on the Billboard Hot 100 and other industry metrics.
Due in part to this play for better monetization, (If you want to hear the full track, you have to use another service which pays the rights-holders more favorably) Austin Post continues his ascent through the ranks of today’s Hot Hitmakers, coming in at No 4 this week.
US Songwriting Chart (4 November 2017)
RANK | SONGWRITER | SONG – ARTIST |
1 ↑ | MICHAEL WILLIAMS II | Unforgettable – French Montana (ft. Swae Lee) Humble – Kendrick Lamar Rake It Up – Yo Gotti (ft. Nicki Minaj) Stunting Ain’t Nuthin – Gucci Mane (ft. Slim Jxmmi & Young Dolph) |
2 ↓ | SHAYAA ABRAHAM-JOSEPH | Bank Account – 21 Savage Rockstar – Post Malone (ft. 21 Savage) |
3 | ED SHEERAN | Perfect – Ed Sheeran Shape Of You – Ed Sheeran Strip That Down – Liam Payne (ft. Quavo) |
4 ↑ | AUSTIN POST | Go Flex – Post Malone I Fall Apart – Post Malone Rockstar – Post Malone (ft. 21 Savage) Congratulations – Post Malone (ft. Quavo) |
5 ↑ | KHALID ROBINSON | Location – Khalid 1-800-273-8255 – Logic (ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid) Silence – Marshmello (ft. Khalid) |
6 ↓ | JAHSEH ONFROY | Roll In Peace – Kodak Black (ft. XXXTENTACION) Jocelyn Flores – XXXTENTACION F**k Love – XXXTENTACION (ft. Trippie Redd) |
7 | CHARLIE PUTH & JACOB KASHER | Attention – Charlie Puth How Long – Charlie Puth |
8 ↑ | DIEUSON OCTAVE | Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) – Cardi B Pills And Automobiles – Chris Brown (ft. Yo Gotti, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie & Kodak Black) Transportin’ – Kodak Black Roll In Peace – Kodak Black (ft. XXXTENTACION) |
9 ↑ | FRENCH MONTANA & SWAE LEE | Unforgettable – French Montana (ft. Swae Lee) |
10 ↑ | SYMERE WOODS | Sauce It Up – Lil Uzi Vert The Way Life Goes – Lil Uzi Vert XO TOUR Llif3 – Lil Uzi Vert |
Every track charting on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week is given a point value, which is then split equally among the songwriters listed for each, and then ranked in order of those totals.
UK Songwriting Chart (20 October 2017)
RANK | SONGWRITER | SONG – ARTIST |
1 | ED SHEERAN | A Different Way – DJ Snake (ft. Lauv) Castle On The Hill – Ed Sheeran Perfect – Ed Sheeran Shape Of You – Ed Sheeran Strip That Down – Liam Payne (ft. Quavo) Your Song – Rita Ora |
2 ↑ | YXNG BANE | Bestie – Yungen (ft. Yxng Bane) Rihanna – Yxng Bane |
3 ↑ | KHALID ROBINSON | Young Dumb & Broke – Khalid 1-800-273-8255 – Logic (ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid) Silence – Marshmello (ft. Khalid) |
4 ↑ | SHAYAA ABRAHAM-JOSEPH | Bank Account – 21 Savage Rockstar – Post Malone (ft. 21 Savage) |
5 ↑ | MICHAEL DAPAAH | Man’s Not Hot – Big Shaq |
6 ↑ | BELCALIS ALMANZAR | Bodak Yellow (Money Moves) – Cardi B |
7 ↑ | FRENCH MONTANA | Unforgettable – French Montana (ft. Swae Lee) Hurtin’ Me – Stefflon Don & French Montana |
8 ↑ | STEVE MAC | A Different Way – DJ Snake (ft. Lauv) Shape Of You – Ed Sheeran Strip That Down – Liam Payne (ft. Quavo) What About Us – Pink Your Song – Rita Ora |
9 ↑ | AUSTIN POST | I Fall Apart – Post Malone Congratulations – Post Malone & Quavo Rockstar – Post Malone (ft. 21 Savage) |
10 ✮ | JAHSEH ONFROY | Jocelyn Flores – XXXTENTACION |
Every track charting on the UK’s Official Singles Chart for the week is given a point value, which is then split equally among the songwriters listed for each, and then ranked in order of those totals.
![]() | The Hot Hitmakers chart is repurposed with kind permission of Royalty Exchange, the online music royalties marketplace. |
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