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The Billboard Hot 100 50 Year Anniversary Charts[1] are historical charts[2] from the Hot 100's first 50
years, August 1958 through July 2008. "Alfred Music" publishing house, saluted the 50th, by publishing
the "Hot 100 50th Anniversary Songbook."[3]
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The
results are published in Billboard Magazine.[4] The primary songs chart - the Hot 100 (top 100 singles)
factor in airplay, as well as music sales in all relevant formats. Billboard is considered the foremost
authority worldwide in music charts, and the rankings have gained a following among the general public.
On January 4, 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade. The first music popularity
chart was calculated in July 1940. A variety of song charts followed, which were eventually consolidated
into the Hot 100 by mid-1958. The Hot 100 currently combines single sales, radio airplay and digital
downloads.
Contents
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• 5 References
Criteria used to determine weekly Hot 100 chart position
Currently, Billboard utilizes a system called Nielsen SoundScan[5] to track sales of singles, albums, videos
and DVDs. This system registers sales when the product is purchased at the cash register of SoundScan-
enabled stores.
Billboard also uses a system called Broadcast Data Systems, or BDS, to track radio airplay. Each song
has an "acoustic fingerprint" which, when played on a BDS capable radio station,[6] is detected. These
detections are added up every week among all radio stations to determine airplay points. Arbitron
statistics[7] are also factored in to give "weight" to airplay based on audience size and time-of-day.
Starting in 2005, Billboard allowed paid digital downloads from digital music stores such as Apple
iTunes to chart with or without the help of radio airplay.
The "50th Anniversary" chart is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100.[8] The
artist chart utilizes the same methodology, with weighted points applied to all titles charted by each artist
during that 50-year span. They are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at number one
earning the greatest value and weeks at number one hundred earning the least.[9]
Hot 100's 50th Anniversary award relative points for every week that a title spent on the chart, regardless
of rank. For the Hot 100's 50th Anniversary, Billboard's charts department ensured a more balanced
representation of hits from all 50 years, by analyzing the length of chart runs in earlier decades, as well as
the average weeks that titles spent in the top 10 and at number one. Weights for earlier spans were then
formulated, to compensate for the shorter chart runs that titles experienced before the 1991 conversion to
precise and objective sales and radio data from Nielsen Music.[10]
Prior to December 1998, songs did not appear on the Billboard Hot 100 until a retail single became
available (which, incidentally, is why hits like Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and No Doubt's
"Don't Speak" never appeared on the Hot 100). In earlier years, retail singles came to market fairly early
in a song's life-usually shortly after, or even before, a song came to radio.
However, during the 1990s, when labels would strategize number-one chart bows by significant hits, the
retail release of some priority singles were withheld until radio audience reached maximum levels.
Although some of these songs spent significant numbers of weeks at number one or in the top ten, the
delay of the sales component ultimately shortened the spans these songs would spend on the chart. With
the new methodology rewarding points for a song's entire chart run, rather than confining points to weeks
spent in the top ten, the shorter chart lives recorded by the songs that debuted at number one impact their
all-time standings.[9]
1. The Beatles
2. Madonna
3. Elton John
4. Elvis Presley
5. Stevie Wonder
6. Mariah Carey
7. Janet Jackson
8. Michael Jackson
9. Whitney Houston
10. The Rolling Stones
11. Paul McCartney/Wings
12. Bee Gees
13. Chicago
14. The Supremes
15. Daryl Hall & John Oates
16. Prince
17. Rod Stewart
18. Olivia Newton-John
19. Aretha Franklin
20. Marvin Gaye
21. Usher
22. Phil Collins
23. Billy Joel
24. Donna Summer
25. Diana Ross
26. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
27. The Temptations
28. The Beach Boys
29. Lionel Richie
30. Neil Diamond
31. The Carpenters
32. Boyz II Men
33. The Jackson 5/The Jacksons
34. Connie Francis
35. Brenda Lee
36. Barbra Streisand
37. Kenny Rogers
38. Bryan Adams
39. Cher
40. George Michael
41. Bobby Vinton
42. John Mellencamp
43. Three Dog Night
44. Huey Lewis and the News
45. Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine
46. Bon Jovi
47. Ray Charles
48. Chubby Checker
49. Foreigner
50. Kool & the Gang
51. Ricky Nelson
52. Duran Duran
53. Commodores
54. Eagles
55. Paul Anka
56. TLC
57. Barry Manilow
58. Dionne Warwick
59. Gladys Knight & the Pips
60. Heart
61. The Everly Brothers
62. R. Kelly
63. Bobby Darin
64. James Brown
65. Paula Abdul
66. Richard Marx
67. Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship
68. Destiny's Child
69. Linda Ronstadt
70. Celine Dion
71. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
72. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
73. Fleetwood Mac
74. Bruce Springsteen
75. The Pointer Sisters
76. John Denver
77. Four Tops
78. Tony Orlando & Dawn
79. The 5th Dimension
80. Alicia Keys
81. Captain & Tennille
82. Andy Gibb
83. Air Supply
84. Nelly
85. Roy Orbison
86. The Spinners
87. Queen
88. 50 Cent
89. Dion
90. Aerosmith
91. Billy Ocean
92. Tommy James
93. Earth, Wind & Fire
94. Brook Benton
95. Michael Bolton
96. Styx
97. Toni Braxton
98. Neil Sedaka
99. Herman's Hermits
100. Simon & Garfunkel
Please note: The "50th Anniversary" chart is from August 1958 through July 2008 only.
It begins with "Poor Little Fool" - Ricky Nelson at 2 weeks and ends with "I Kissed a Girl" - Katy Perry
at 4 weeks. ("I Kissed a girl" topped the charts for an additional 3 weeks but the "50th Anniversary" was
over at the end of July 2008).
• 16 weeks
Peak Date:
• 14 weeks
Peak Date:
• 13 weeks
Peak Date:
• 12 weeks
Peak Date:
• 11 weeks
Peak Date:
Peak Date:
One-Hit wonders
Peak Date:
No. of Hits
108 – Elvis Presley – 1st Appearance: "Hard Headed Woman" – (Peak: No. 4; 1958)
89 – James Brown – 1st Appearance: "Try Me" – (Peak: No. 48; 1958)
73 – Aretha Franklin – 1st Appearance: "Won't Be Long" – (Peak: No. 76; 1961)
73 – Ray Charles – 1st Appearance: "Rockhouse (Part 2)" – (Peak: No. 79; 1958)
72 – The Beatles – 1st Appearance: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" – (Peak: No. 1; 1964)
67 – Elton John – 1st Appearance: "Border Song" – (Peak: No. 92; 1970)
63 – Stevie Wonder – 1st Appearance: "Fingertips" – (Peak: No. 1; 1963)
57 – The Rolling Stones – 1st Appearance: "Not Fade Away" – (Peak: No. 48; 1964)
56 – Marvin Gaye – 1st Appearance: "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" – (Peak: No. 46; 1962)
56 – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – 1st Appearance: "Sherry" – (Peak: No. 1; 1962)
56 – Dionne Warwick – 1st Appearance: "Don't Make Me Over" – (Peak: No. 21; 1963)
Weeks at No. 2
All for/4 Love – Color Me Badd 1/25/1992 – (Bryan Adams / Rod Stewart / Sting) 1/22/1994
Best of My Love – Eagles 3/1/1975 – The Emotions 8/20/1977
Big Girls Don't Cry – The 4 Seasons 11/16/1962 – Fergie 9/8/2007
Family Affair – Sly & the Family Stone 12/4/1971 – Mary J. Blige 11/3/2001
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys 12/10/1966 – Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch 10/5/1991
I'm Sorry – Brenda Lee 7/23/1960 – John Denver 9/27/1975
Jump – Van Halen 2/25/1984 – Kris Kross 4/25/1992
My Love – Petula Clark 2/5/1966 – Paul McCartney & Wings 6/2/1973 – Justin Timberlake
featuring T.I. 11/11/2006
One More Try – George Michael 5/28/1988 – Timmy T 3/23/1991
Take a Bow – Madonna 2/25/95 – Rihanna 5/24/08
Venus – Frankie Avalon 3/14/1959 – Shocking Blue 2/7/1970 & Bananarama 9/6/1986
Wild Wild West – The Escape Club 11/12/1988 – Will Smith featuring Dru Hill & Kool Moe Dee
7/24/1999
20 – The Beatles First No. 1: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1964)
18 – Mariah Carey First No. 1: "Vision of Love" (1990)
13 – Michael Jackson First No. 1: "Ben" (1972)
12 – Madonna First No. 1: "Like a Virgin" (1984)
12 – The Supremes First No. 1: "Where Did Our Love Go" (1964)
11 – Whitney Houston First No. 1: "Saving All My Love for You" (1985)
10 – Janet Jackson First No. 1: "When I Think of You" (1986)
10 – Stevie Wonder First No. 1: "Fingertips - Pt. 2" (1963)
9 – Bee Gees First No. 1: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (1971)
9 – Elton John First No. 1: "Crocodile Rock" (1973)
9 – Paul McCartney & Wings First No. 1: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" (1973)
8 – The Rolling Stones First No. 1: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965)
8 – Usher First No. 1: "Nice and Slow" (1998)
18 – The Beatles First No. 1: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1964)
12 – The Supremes First No. 1: "Where Did Our Love Go" (1964)
7 – Elvis Presley First No. 1: "A Big Hunk o' Love" (1959)
5 – The Rolling Stones First No. 1: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965)
4 – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons First No. 1: "Sherry" (1962)
4 – Bobby Vinton First No. 1: "Roses Are Red (My Love)" (1962)
3 – The Beach Boys First No. 1: "I Get Around" (1964)
3 – Ray Charles First No. 1: "Georgia on My Mind" (1960)
3 – Chubby Checker First No. 1: "The Twist" (1960)
3 – Connie Francis First No. 1: "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" (1960)
3 – The Monkees First No. 1: "Last Train to Clarksville" (1966)
3 – The Rascals First No. 1: "Good Lovin'" (1966)
9 – Bee Gees First 1970s No. 1: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (1971)
6 – Elton John First 1970s No. 1: "Crocodile Rock" (1973)
6 – Paul McCartney / Wings First 1970s No. 1: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" (1973)
5 – Eagles First 1970s No. 1: "Best Of My Love" (1975)
5 – Stevie Wonder First 1970s No. 1: "Superstition" (1973)
4 – John Denver First 1970s No. 1: "Sunshine on My Shoulders" (1974)
4 – KC and the Sunshine Band First 1970s No. 1: "Get Down Tonight" (1975)
4 – The Jackson 5 First 1970s No. 1: "I Want You Back" (1970)
4 – Diana Ross First 1970s No. 1: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (1970)
4 – Barbra Streisand First 1970s No. 1: "The Way We Were" (1974)
4 – Donna Summer First 1970s No. 1: "MacArthur Park" (1978)
References
1. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Charts
2. ^ Press Release: Billboard Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Hot 100 with All-Time Charts
and a Collector's Issue. Reuters.com.
3. ^ http://news.harmony-central.com/Product-news/Alfred-Music-Publishing-Salutes-Billboard-
Magazine-and-Music-Making-with-the-Hot-100-50th-Anniversary-Songbook.
4. ^ Billboard Magazine
5. ^ Nielsen Soundscan Generated Charts
6. ^ USA BDS Radio Stations
7. ^ that uses BDS,Arbitron Radio Today Statistics 2008
8. ^ "Weekly Hot 100". The Billboard Hot 100. http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-
100#/charts/hot-100.
9. ^ a b Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Charts FAQ
10. ^ Nielsen Company
11. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary All-Time Top Songs
12. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary All-Time Top Artists
13. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary All-Time Top Latin Songs
14. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary All-Time Top Country Songs
15. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary All-Time Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
16. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary All-Time Top Rock Songs
17. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Songs of the Year: 1958-2007
18. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Every No. 1 Song: 1958-2008
19. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Song With the Most Weeks at No. 1
20. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary One-Hit Wonders
21. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Most Weeks at No. 1 By Artist
22. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Most Hot 100 Hits By Artist
23. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Most No. 2 Hits Without Reaching No. 1 By Artist
24. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Most Weeks at No. 2 Without Reaching No. 1 By Title
25. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Different Songs, Same Titles To Hit No. 1
26. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Same Songs To Hit No. 1 By Two Different Artists
27. ^ Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Most No. 1s By Artist (All-Time)
Singles and tracks Hot 100 Airplay • Hot Singles Sales • Hot Digital Songs • Hot Digital
Hot 100
Tracks • Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Mainstream Top 40 • Pop 100 (defunct) • Pop 100 Airplay (defunct) • Top 40
Pop
Tracks (defunct)
RockAlternative Songs • Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks • Rock Songs
Hot Dance Club Songs • Hot Dance Airplay • Hot Dance Singles Sales • Hot
Dance
Dance/Electronic Digital Songs
Hot Latin Songs, Latin Pop Songs, Regional Mexican, Tropical Songs,
Latin
Rhythm Airplay
Canadian Hot 100 • European Hot 100 (defunct) • Japan Hot 100 • Brasil Hot
International
100 Airplay • Türkiye Top 20 (defunct)
U.S. • Japan • Hot Dance Club Songs • Hot Dance Airplay • Hot Alternative Tracks • Hot
Lists of artists who
Mainstream Rock Tracks • Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks • Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs •
reached number one
Rhythmic Airplay • Country • Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks
Hot 100 50th Anniversary Charts • Billboard Radio Monitor (defunct) • List of Billboard
See also Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones • Hot Country Songs achievements • R&R
(defunct) • Billboard Greece • Billboard Türkiye • Billboard Brasil • Billboard En Español