Frequently Asked Questions
What are Chart Bucks?
Chart Bucks (C$) are the virtual currency used on ChartWars. Every new account starts with C$10,000. They have no real-world value — this is a game.
How do songs get listed?
Songs automatically IPO when they debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. We also track songs from Hot Country, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Latin, and Pop Airplay charts. New chart data is checked daily.
How are prices determined?
Song prices are calculated from 7 real-world signals: Billboard chart rank (25%), Spotify artist followers (20%), YouTube video views (15%), TikTok sound usage (10%), Reddit mentions (10%), Google Trends interest (10%), and Last.fm listeners (5%). Prices update every 15 minutes.
What is an IPO?
When a song first appears on the Billboard Hot 100, it "IPOs" (Initial Public Offering) on ChartWars. The initial price is based on debut rank — a #1 debut = C$100, #100 = C$1. During the 24-hour IPO window, the price is driven by user buy/sell activity.
Can I short sell?
Yes. If you think a song's price will drop, you can open a short position. You need collateral equal to the current share value. Close the position later to lock in profits (or losses).
What are artist stocks?
Artist stocks are index funds that track the average price of all songs by that artist. When you buy artist shares, you're betting on their entire catalog. Artist prices update automatically as their songs move.
What happens when a song falls off the chart?
Songs that fall off the Billboard Hot 100 for 4+ consecutive weeks with declining social signals get delisted from the exchange. Their price decays before removal.
What are transaction fees?
Each trade (buy, sell, short open, and short close) has a 3% fee (minimum C$3.00). This applies to both long and short positions and keeps the virtual economy balanced.
How do achievements work?
There are 60 achievements across 6 categories (Trading, Wealth, Journey, Music, Special). They unlock automatically when you hit milestones like your first trade, reaching C$50,000, or holding a #1 Billboard song.
What are genre indices?
Genre indices (Pop Index, Hip-Hop Index, etc.) track the average price of all songs in a genre — like the S&P 500 but for music categories. Browse them on the Genres page.
How many charts do you track?
We track 8 Billboard charts: Hot 100, Billboard 200, Hot Country, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop, Hot Rock & Alternative, Hot Latin, Pop Airplay, and Artist 100.
Is this real money?
No. ChartWars is entirely virtual. No real money is used, wagered, or earned. It's a free game.