Nielsen SoundScan is an information system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett that tracks sales data for singles, albums, and music video products in Canada and the United States for Billboard and other music industry companies. MTV, VH1, and many other North American cable music channels use Nielsen SoundScan data as well.
Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales data for Billboard on March 1, 1991 and the first Hot 100 chart to debut with the system was released on November 301991. Previously, Billboard tracked sales by calling stores across the U.S. and asking about sales; a method that was inherently error-prone and open to outright fraud.
The Recording Industry Association of America also tracks sales (or more specifically, shipments less potential returns) on a long-term basis through the RIAA certification system; it has never used either Nielsen SoundScan or the store-calling method.
