Wikipedia talk:Notability (music)

First, I'm unsure if this is the proper place to ask, nor can I figure out how to open an RfC for this... It comes up time and again in AfD that we don't look at either streaming charts or streaming statistics to show notability, NALBUM or NSONG for example. That might have made sense 10 or even 16 years ago, but in 2026, steaming is likely as important as traditional radio or other forms of media. I've tried to explain to people in AfD that streaming numbers aren't audited, like radio airplay is, as they seem to have "streaming farms" that are used to boost numbers. Is it time to revisit our musical notability requirements, to account for streaming? Oaktree b (talk) 19:14, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

I know Luminate (Billboard) audits their streaming numbers, not sure about others. Nevertheless, nowadays rarely a song debuts on the streaming charts and doesn't make it on the Hot 100. So streaming numbers are already under the chart component. If the song only entered streaming services and nothing else it is because it was trending this week and not worth a mention. MarioSoulTruthFan (talk) 19:20, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Since streaming is now integrated into national chart calculations (this happened more than a decade ago on Billboard in the US), this provides a mechanism for high-streaming artists to reach notability per WP:MUSIC. There's no independent verification of any numbers that streaming services display for musician popularity on their own websites, so they inherently pose an RS problem. Chubbles (talk) 05:49, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

I would like propose a comprehensive approach to anchors to numbered items on this page. I'd like to make it easier to refer to these in discussions! For those interested, please comment on this thread. Thanks! WidgetKid ^{chat me} 22:25, 6 February 2026 (UTC)

Anchor proposal by section (current shortcuts in parentheses):

• Criteria for musicians and ensembles (WP:BAND, WP:MUSICBIO, WP:SINGER)
  Proposal 1: Use #M for music/ian, so #M1 through #M12.

• Individual members, reality television performers (WP:BANDMEMBER, WP:REALITYBIO, WP:REALITYSINGER)
  Proposal 2: Use #I for individual, so #I1 through #I2.

• Criteria for composers and lyricists (WP:COMPOSER)
  Proposal 3: Use #C for composer, so #C1 through #C6.
• Others (WP:NMUSICOTHER)
  Proposal 4: Use #O for other, so #O1 through #O5.
• Recordings (WP:NALBUMS, WP:NALBUM)
  Proposal 5: Use #R for recordings, so #R1 through R7.

• Albums (No shortcuts)
• Singles (No shortcuts)
• Unreleased material (WP:UNRELEASED)
• Future material (WP:FUTUREALBUM, WP:FUTUREALBUMS)

• Songs (WP:NSONG, WP:NSINGLE)
  Proposal 6: Use #S for songs, so #S1 through #S3.

• Covers (WP:NCOVER)

• Concert tours (WP:NCONCERT, WP:NTOUR)
• Resources (No shortcuts)
• If the subject is not notable (WP:SUBNOT)

@Atlantic306: would you like to collaborate on this? WidgetKid ^{chat me} 22:35, 6 February 2026 (UTC)

bit busy at present, but I will check back next week, regards Atlantic306 (talk) 01:50, 7 February 2026 (UTC)

Criteria 1 is in the wrong place. It should start from the previous sentence. For some reason it is in the correct place in the edit source but not on the page. Atlantic306 (talk) 22:31, 7 February 2026 (UTC)

It is in the right place using a computer and on a mobile phone but not on my ipad, ~2026-87982-5 (talk) 14:30, 9 February 2026 (UTC) (Atanic306 not signed in)

I think all the current criteria are in the wrong places - or rather, they should be changed to proposal above. When I initially added #C1-C12 (to WP:BAND), I wasn't taking into account the other sections with shortcuts and numbered criteria. What do you think about the proposal? WidgetKid ^{this is the way} 20:58, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

I'm not against it but i'd like to see some more feedback, imv Atlantic306 (talk) 23:22, 9 February 2026 (UTC)

• As there hasn't been much feedback perhaps you could make this an RFC and also advertise it at Village Pump proposals? regards Atlantic306 (talk) 00:03, 20 February 2026 (UTC)

Hi all. There is a disagreement at the {{Did you know nominations/Roshni (album)}}. Anyone interested is invited to participate. Thank you! M. Billoo 07:54, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

The redirect Wikipedia:NSINGLE has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2026 February 19 § Wikipedia:NSINGLE until a consensus is reached. —TechnoSquirrel69 (sigh) 22:00, 19 February 2026 (UTC)

WP:SNGs such as these are only useful if these are excepted into WP:GNG. If it is not excepted, it's not useful in citing this in AFDs, and can only lead to confusion. Either this SNG is treated as an exception, or is removed entirely. Howard the Duck (talk) 13:49, 22 March 2026 (UTC)