1/25/09 Hot AC Chart: Kelly Clarkson’s big move, U2 return

At the top of the chart this week, Nickelback’s “Gotta Be Somebody” spends a 4th week at #1. The next #1 contender moves up to #4, the Fray’s “You Found Me”. Inching up a spot to #6 is “Light on” by David Cook. Rounding out the top 10 action is Taylor Swift, who earns a 2nd top 10 hit as “Love Story” moves up to #8.

Pink climbs 5 to #17 with “Sober”, and Pink has had or tied for the biggest mover the past several weeks. However, Kelly Clarkson has no competition in this category this week. “My Life Would Suck without You” leaps 13 notches to #20.  This is the biggest move since Leona Lewis also moved up 13 to #20 last spring with “Bleeding Love”. ” My Life” is Kelly’s 7th top 20 hit.

Two songs debut this week, including the return of U2. U2 have the highest debut of the week at #37 with “Get on Your Boots”.  It’s their first song on the chart since ” Window in the Sky” reached the top 30 back in early 2007. “Boots” is U2’s 11th hit to make the Hot AC chart. The other debut of the week is Katy Perry’s 3rd hit, “Thinking of You”.

All chart data © Mediabase 24/7

1/18/09 Hot AC Chart: Nickelback’s #1 standing overall, Kelly Clarkson returns

Nickelback hold at the top of the chart for a third week with “Gotta Be Somebody.” On this past week’s AT20, it was stated that they have the most #1s of the current decade. While that is true, in the bigger picture they are just 1 away from having the most #1s of any act in the history of the Hot AC chart.  Nickelback have 5 #1 hits, but Rob Thomas has 6 overall. He’s had 4 #1s with Matchbox Twenty, 1 as a solo artist, and 1 as a featured artist. Nickelback look to have more hits off of their latest cd, so they do have a shot at tying or setting a new record.

For you Idol watchers, David Cook moves up a couple of more notches to #7 with “Light on”.  “The Time of My Life” peaked at #6.

Speaking of Idol, Idol winner Kelly Clarkson returns to the Hot AC chart after about a year and a half away. She has the highest debut of the week at #33 with “My Life Would Suck without You”. It’s Kelly’s 10th hit on the HAC chart. VH-1 is, as of this writing, offering a free download of the song: http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/clarkson_kelly/artist.jhtml
This week’s other debut is by Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat, “Lucky”.

Single ladies make big moves up the chart: Pink’s “Sober”, Lady GaGa’s “Just Dance”, and Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” each move up 6 notches this week to tie for the biggest move. Pink has been one of the biggest movers for 3 weeks in a row.

Britney Spears moves up to #32 with “Womanizer”. You may know that another act currently on the chart does an interesting cover of the song: The All-American Rejects:

All chart data ©  Mediabase 24/7

1/11/09 Hot AC Chart: David Cook goes top 10, Christina makes top 20

Holding at the top of the chart for a second week is “Gotta Be Somebody” by Nickelback. Not a lot of change occurs in the top 10, as the top 7 songs hold their spots from last week.  For the moment, the song that looks to be the next #1 contender is “You Found Me”, which moves up to #8.

Entering the top 10 at #9 is David Cook’s “Light on”. This is David’s 2nd top 10 on Hot AC, and David now becomes the only American Idol alumnus to score top 10s with his first 2 charted songs. Kelly Clarkson missed the top 10 with “A Moment Like This” and “Miss Independent”. Chris Daughtry barely charted with his version of “Wanted Dead or Alive” from Idol, which stopped at #35 in 2006.

Christina Aguilera enters the top 20 at #20 with “Keeps Gettin’ Better”. It’s her 4th top 20 hit on Hot AC. She first charted on the pop chart nearly 10 years ago.

The only debut this week is by the Veronicas, who enter with “Untouched”.

All chart data © Mediabase 24/7.

1/4/09 Hot AC Chart: Post Holiday Cleanup, Nickelback hit #1

Nickelback climb to the top of the chart this week as “Gotta Be Somebody” moves 2-1. This is Nickelback’s 5th chart-topper, and the 5th #1 out of their last 6 hits.  Nickelback have had 10 hits make the Hot AC chart, so half of their songs reached #1.

Songs 3 through 6 have all peaked inthe top 2 spots, and there are 3 former #1s on the chart. That’s a relatively high number of former #1s for the slow moving Hot AC Chart.

No songs enter or exit the top 10 this week. David Cook looks to enter next week though, but this week he is spending a 5th week at the #11 position. Coldplay’s “Lovers in Japan” cracks the top 20 this week at #20, giving them 2 songs in the top 20.

For fans of former teen stars: “Keeps Gettin’ Better” climbs to a new peak of #21 this week, while “Womanizer” moves up to a new peak of #34.

The chart is still recovering from the holidays, so all 40 songs see an increase in spins this week. There are 3 re-entries and 1 debut as all recurrents are finally removed. The only new song this week is Snow Patrol’s “Crack the Shutters”.

All chart data © Mediabase Research

Hot AC Top 100 of 2008 Info

With 2008 now behind us, let’s take a look at some facts about the chart and the top 100 of the year as compiled by Mediabase:

• 9 songs were in the #1 position during the 2008 calendar year
• For 28 weeks of the calendar year, the #1 song was by a solo woman
• The biggest move up the chart was by “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis, which leaped 13 notches in 1 week to #20.
• The highest debut of the year was “You Showed By” by the Fray, which entered at #22. This ties the record for the highest debut for the 40 position version of the chart.
• “Viva La Vida” and “It’s Not My Time” traded the #1 spot a couple of times during their run
• Rob Thomas became the act with most charted hits on Hot AC, with 20. (Includes solo, Matchbox Twenty, etc).

For the top 100 of the year:

• 23 solo women charted
• 23 solo men charted
• 28 groups charted

Through January 5 or so, you can find Mediabase’s top 50 chart at:

http://www.mediabase.com/USATODAYPDF/MBUSATODAY.pdf