Hot AC turns 14: Who’s still charting?

On Aprill 22, 1994, the old Radio & Records publication released their 1st Hot AC chart (Billboard did not publish an Adult Top 40 chart until March 1996, and it’s based on BDS monitored airplay). Hot AC’s music was much more closely related to its AC sibling back then. For example, Michael Bolton had 2 songs on the first HAC chart.

Is anyone still charting on HAC that was on the first chart? Yes! Three acts are on the current chart as well as the first chart, and 2 of them are major female artists: Mariah Carey and Madonna. Madonna was on her way up the chart in 1994 with her future #1 “I’ll Remember”, while Mariah was peaking in the top 10 with “Without You”. Madonna is in the top 30 at the moment with “4 Minutes” while Mariah just debuted with “Touch My Body”. Counting Crows are the third act to be on both charts. In 1994 they had “Mr Jones”, and they are currently in with “You Can’t Count on Me”.

The first number one was Richard Marx’s “Now and Forever”. He last charted on Mediabase HAC in late 2004/early 2005 with “Ready to Fly’. Celine Dion had 2 hits on the first chart, and she was recently in the HAC top 40 with “Taking Chances”. The aforementioned Michael Bolton hasn’t charted since 1996.

Other big acts were on the first chart: Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, and Heart. None of these acts have charted in the past 5 years. Heart and Billy Joel never hit the chart again after their songs on the first chart fell off.

On the 2nd chart, April 29, 1994, the highest debut ever came in at #13, “If You Go” by Jon Secada. Jon’s last HAC hit was back in 1997.

4/27 chart: 9 months of women at #1, Mariah debuts

“Love Song” by Sarah Bareilles remains at #1 for a tenth week on this week’s Mediabase Hot AC chart. With the exception of one week, solo women have been at #1 on HAC since late August 2007, 9 months ago. Fergie started the run with “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” followed by the impressive run of “Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat. Timbaland/OneRepublic then had a 1 week stay at #1, interrupting the streak. “Love Song” then took over and remains at #1.

Speaking of OneRepublic, they make the top 10 with “Stop & Stare”. It’s their first top 10 with only them getting credit on a song.

As predicted last week, Leona Lewis makes another nice move up the chart, up 5 to #12. She should be top 10 next week. However that is not enough for the biggest move, as “No Air” by Jordin Sparks jumps 6 to #19.

Mariah Carey debuts this week with her 12th song to chart at HAC, “Touch My Body”. Mariah was also on the very first HAC chart back in 1994, but that’s another post.

Madonna update: Madonna inches up 2 more to #28.

All chart data © Mediabase 24/7

HAC Longevity Songs, 2006-

Since songs are removed from the chart after 20 weeks and falling below #15 on the Mediabase HAC chart, reaching 50 weeks or more on the chart has become harder. However in the past couple of years, there have been a couple of songs that made it. Interestingly, both song debuted within a couple of weeks of each other: “How to Save a Life” and “Chasing Cars”. Both songs made it to 52 weeks or more.

If you drop the number to 45 weeks, “Nothing Left to Lose” and “Waiting for the World to Change” join the list.

On this past week’s chart, “Bubbly” is at 41 weeks, but the song is going to most likely fall below #15 and be removed. The next song with potential to go 45 weeks or below is the current #1, “Love Song”. It’s at 34 weeks as of the 4/20 chart, and it’s still at #1.

4/20/08 HAC Chart: Gavin goes top 10, Madonna makes top 30

On this week’s Mediabase Hot AC chart, Gavin Degraw’s “I’m in Love with a Girl” reaches the top 10. This is his first top 10 in 3 years since “Chariot” in 2005. The song does it in a relatively short 9 weeks. Colbie Caillat’s “Realize” also reaches the top 10 this week. The follow-up to her #1 “Bubbly” took 14 weeks to go top 10.

Leona Lewis “only” moves up 3 spots this week after her huge jump last week, but her bullet is even bigger than last week’s. With several songs quickly losing spins above her, look for a potential big move next week.

“Love Is Free” by Sheryl Crow falls from her peak of #18 this week. This is her lowest peak in the top 40 in over 5 years, since “C’Mon C’Mon” in early 2003. (edited 4/24 to correct song title)

Will Miley Cyrus get played on AT20? It doesn’t look like it as “See You Again” stalls again at #23.

Finally, I can’t forget to mention Madonna. “4 Minutes” cracks the top 30 this week at #30. If the chart were ranked by audience instead of spins, she would be a few positions higher.

All chart data © Mediabase 24/7.

AT40 “Highest Debut” Clarified

On last week’s AT40, Ryan stated that Madonna had the highest debut in AT40 history with “4 Minutes”, which entered at #12. However, that is not the case as at least 3 other songs debuted higher in the entire history of AT40, including Madonna’s own “Erotica” at #2 in 1992.

On this week’s AT40 blog (see link on the blogroll), Toby from the AT40 staff says it was the highest debut in the history of ‘Top 40 Mediabase/Radio & Records’ chart. In other words, this confirms the theory that AT40 only counts the Casey’s Top 40 and current incarnation of AT40 as history.

4/13/08 HAC: Big move for Leona, MB20 get another top 10

On this week’s Mediabase HAC chart, “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis vaults 13 notches to number 20. That’s the biggest move within the top 40 since July of last year, when Matchbox Twenty’s “How Far We’ve Come” jumped 14 spots. The song has a bullet of over 500, which is the biggest since “How Far We’ve Come” had a bullet of over 600 and one of over 500 in 2 consecutive weeks. “How Far” eventually topped out at #2. Leona is looking for similar chart heights.

Speaking of Matchbox Twenty, their latest, “These Hard Times” enters the top 10 this week. This is the group’s 12th top 10 hit and Rob Thomas’ 18th overall top 10. Only 2 of the 20 songs Rob has placed on the chart have not made the top 10.

I can’t have a chart update without a mention of Madonna. She moves up to #32 this week. If she keeps her growth steady, she could break the top 30 next week.

All chart data © Mediabase 24/7.

Madonna “sets” record on AT40

On this week’s Pop version of AT40, Madonna’s “4 Minutes” debuts all the way up at #12.  Ryan says that this is the record for the highest debut in AT40 history. Well, it is for the revisionist history that Premiere Radio Networks has for AT40. Premiere has always pretended that the Shadoe Stevens era of AT40 never existed. For continuity’s sake, they use Casey’s Top 40’s history as part of AT40 history. The old record for highest debut on CT40 was a #14 debut, made by, among others, “If You Go” by Jon Secada and “Frozen” by Madonna.

However, even if you use CT40 instead of the Shadoe era, Ryan’s still wrong. “Upside Down” by Diana Ross debuted at #10 on AT40 way back in 1980. There could be others, but I can’t think of another example at the moment.

Using the true history of AT40, Madonna still holds the record. “Erotica” debuted at #2 back in 1992. So either way you look at it, Madonna still is the record holder.

HAC Chart Mid-week: Leona surges, Daughtry stumbles

After taking a quick look at the latest HAC chart rolling update, a couple of things stand out. Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” is surging up the chart. Her bullet is well over 300 spins. Comparing those to published chart numbers, that’s the biggest bullet since “Whatever It Takes” in January. I’m predicting a big move up the chart by the final update on Sunday.

However, don’t count on my predictions though, as I may have been wrong on a prediction I made in an earlier post. “Feels Like Tonight” is losing spins as of mid week, and its odds of going to #1 look to be diminishing. “Love Song” has a bullet again, another factor again Daughtry. Earlier I predicted “Feels Like Tonight” was going to be #1.

Bullets on HAC can be quite variable, so anything’s possible.

All chart data © Mediabase 24/7.

4/6/08 HAC Chart – Madonna retakes the lead

In an earlier post, I doubted Madonna’s “4 Minutes” would actually make it into the top 40. Well, I was wrong, and this week Madonna debuts on the Mediabase HAC chart at #36. This allows her to take back the lead as the act with most top 40 HAC hits. Madonna has racked up 19 hits now, while Sheryl Crow is now back in 2nd place with 18.  Look for this battle to continue as Sheryl and Madonna will probably be releasing a few more singles from their respective cds.

Elsewhere on the chart, Collective Soul return with their 8th hit, “All that I Know”. The other debut of the week is a winner of the British show “The X Factor”, Leona Lewis. She enters at #33 with “Bleeding Love”.

3 Doors Down look to have their biggest hit since “Let Me Go” made the top 5 back in 2005.  “It’s Not My Time” jumps 8 spots this week to #24.

All chart data is © Mediabase 24/7.

AT40 Plays Mariah’s Latest Twice

On the 3/29/08 Pop version of AT40, Ryan played “Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey twice. First a remix of the song was played as an extra in Hour 3, then the single version was played at its spot in the countdown at the top of Hour 4. It makes one wonder why AT40 would play 2 different versions of the same song within an hour of each other.

When 2 different versions of a song have charted in the top 40, AT40 has played them both in the past. For example, in 1990, two different versions of “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers were in the top 40 at the same time. Shadoe played them both some times, and other times only one was played. However in this case, only one version of Mariah’s song is charting.

So why play it twice? I don’t know, but here are a few guesses:

1. AT40 staff believes that the audience would enjoy hearing the remix version. (However I believe they should have spaced them farther apart in the show).

2. Some of the AT40 staff are big fans of Mariah and convinced the producers that #1 above is true.

3. The staff didn’t think about it much and just thought it might be interesting to hear both.

4. Someone in Mariah’s team wanted to boost airplay stats and convinced AT40 to play both versions in order to boost the airplay stats of the song (AT40 has a few hundred affiliates).

We’ll never know the answer to this one as only the staff knows.

Also, before Mariah’s fans attack, please note that I have no ill will toward Mariah! I was a big fan through the “Daydream” era 10+ years ago.