Hot AC Turns 15: Part IV – Longevity

In this part of the series, we’ll take a look at songs that spent the longest on the chart, as well as artists who have been charting the longest.

Recurrent rules are rules that remove songs from the chart to “recurrent” status. This is done to keep the chart “fresh”. There have been different rules throughout the 15 years that the HAC chart has been around. For example, one rule was songs that have been on the chart for more than 20 weeks will be removed after they fall below #20. The current rule, just implemented this week, states:

Downtrending songs below No. 10 are removed from the chart after 30 weeks. Downtrending songs below No. 15 are removed from the chart after 20 weeks. Songs that have not peaked top 15 are removed from the chart after 20 weeks if they have had two consecutive down weeks in spins.

Thus not many new songs have a chance for getting into the top 10 longevity songs, which are listed below:

1. Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) – Train, 71 weeks
2. Smooth – Santana f/ Rob Thomas, 68 weeks
2. You and Me – Lifehouse, 68 weeks
4. Wherever You Will Go – The Calling, 67 weeks
5. Hanging by a Moment – Lifehouse, 64 weeks
6. Slide – Goo Goo Dolls, 62 weeks
7. Everything You Want – Vertical Horzion, 59 weeks
7. Over My Head (Cable Car) – Fray, 59 weeks
9. Why Don’t You & I? – Santana f/ Alex Band, 55 weeks
9. If You’re Gone – Matchbox Twenty, 55 weeks

Now let’s take a look at some of the artists who have been charting the longest on the Hot AC chart:

Madonna: “I’ll Remember” debuted in April 1994, “4 Minutes” debuted in April 2008
Mariah Carey: “Without You” debuted in April 1994, “Touch My Body” debuted in April 2008
Sheryl Crow: “All I Wanna Do” debuted in August, 1994, “Love Is Free” debuted in January 2008
Bon Jovi: “Always” debuted in October 1994, “Lost Highway” debuted in September 2007
Collective Soul: “December” debuted in August, 1995, “All that I Know” debuted in April 2008
Celine Dion: “The Power of Love” debuted in April 1994, “Taking Chances” debuted in December, 2007
Goo Goo Dolls: “Name” debuted in October 1995, “Real” debuted in October, 2008
Sarah McLachlan: “I Will Remember You” debuted in October 1995, “U Want Me 2″ debuted in September 2008
Alanis Morissette: “Hand in My Pocket” debuted in December, 1995, “Underneath” debuted in May, 2008
U2: “Staring at the Sun” debuted March 1997, “Magnificent” debuted March, 2009
Sting: “When We Dance” debuted October 1994, “Always on Your Side” (Sheryl Crow & Sting) debuted February 2006
Lenny Kravitz: “Can’t Get You Off of My Mind” debuted in May, 1996, “I’ll Be Waiting” debuted in November 2007

Hot AC Turns 15: Part III – Most Hits

This is the third part in the series on the Hot AC Chart, which turned 15 on April 22…

Let’s look at acts with most hits on the Hot AC chart. First up is the Solo Men category:

1. Elton John – 11 hits
1. John Mayer – 11 hits
3. Lenny Kravitz – 10 hits
4. John Mellencamp – 9 hits
5. Sting – 8 hits
6. Jack Johnson – 7 hits
6. Jason Mraz – 7 hits
6. Santana – 7 hits
6. Seal – 7 hits
6. Rod Stewart – 7 hits
6. [Five for Fighting] – 7 hits

Next, Solo Women:

1. Madonna – 19 hits
2. Sheryl Crow – 18 hits
3. Alanis Morissette – 15 hits
4. Mariah Carey – 13 hits
4. Celine Dion – 13 hits
4. Jewel – 13 hits
7. Sarah McLachlan – 12 hits
8. Christina Aguilera – 11 hits
8. Avril Lavigne – 11 hits
8. Pink – 11 hits

Groups:

1. Goo Goo Dolls – 14 hits
1. Matchbox 20 – 14 hits
1. Dave Matthews Band – 14 hits
4. Bon Jovi – 12 hits
4. Hootie & the Blowfish- 12 hits
4. U2 – 12 hits
7. Coldplay -11 hits
7. Counting Crows – 11 hits
7. Nickelback – 11 hits
10. 3 Doors Down – 10 hits
10. Train – 10 hits

Overall, adding all of any person’s work together, e.g. RobThomas solo+MB20…

1. Rob Thomas [solo + Matchbox Twenty + featured on Santana] – 21 hits
2. Madonna – 19 hits
3. Shery Crow – 18 hits
4. Gwen Stefani [Solo + No Doubt + featured on Moby] – 16 hits
5. Alanis Morissette – 15 hits
5. John Rzeznik [Goo Goo Dolls + 1 solo] – 15 hits
7. Dave Matthews Band – 14 hits
[Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty as separate acts also had 14 hits]
8. Jon Bon Jovi [Bon Jovi+1 solo hit] – 13 hits
9. Mariah Carey – 13 hits
9. Celine Dion – 13 hits
9. Jewel – 13 hits

Hot AC Chart: Turns 15 – Part II, Biggest Hits

Welcome to the second entry in a series about the history of the Hot AC chart. In this blog, we’ll rank the top songs in the chart’s history.

The Hot AC charts are slower than the Pop charts, as stations play music for longer periods. Thus songs can spend many weeks (or months!) at #1. Here are the top songs in Hot AC history, ranked by most weeks at #1:

1. Smooth – Santana f/ Rob Thomas, 23 weeks at #1
2. Wherever You Will Go – The Calling, 20 weeks at #1
2. Unwell – Matchbox Twenty, 20 weeks at #1
4. Bubbly – Colbie Caillat, 17 weeks at #1
5. Complicated – Avril Lavigne, 16 weeks at #1
6. Iris – Goo Goo Dols, 15 weeks at #1
7. Torn – Natalie Imbruglia, 14 weeks at #1
7. Here without You – 3 Doors Down, 14 weeks at #1
9. This Love, Maroon 5, 13 weeks at #1
9. Bent – Matchbox Twenty, 13 weeks at #1
9. Photograph – Nickelback, 13 weeks at #1
9. Bad Day – Daniel Powter, 13 weeks at #1
9. Everything You Want – Vertical Horizon, 13 weeks at #1

A song’s rank can also be determined by using a simple inverse point system, where every week’s chart position is given points (e.g. a week at #1 gets 40 points, while a week at #40 gets 1 point). Add in weeks on chart and weeks at #1 to get a final total. Here are the top songs based on an inverse point system:

1. Drops of Jupiter – Train, 2459 points
2. You and Me – Lifehouse, 2370 points
3. Smooth – Santana f/ Rob Thomas, 2314 points
4. Wherever You Will Go, The Calling, 2303 points
5. Hanging by a Moment, Lifehouse, 2216 points
6. Slide – Goo Goo Dolls, 2027 points
7. Everything You Want – Vertical Horizon, 1973 points
8. Unwell – Matchbox Twenty, 1944 points
9. Why Don’t You & I? – Santana f/ Alex Band, 1877 points
10. If You’re Gone – Matchbox Twenty, 1858 points

Hot AC Chart Turns 15 Years Old – Part I

Fifteen years ago, the old Radio & Records magazine published the first Hot AC Chart. In the mid-1990s, radio formats continued to splinter. The “Pop” format (CHR) fragmented into CHR/Pop [or what Billboard calls Top 40/Mainstream] and CHR/Rhythmic [Top 40/Rhythmic]. In between CHR/Pop and the Adult Contemporary (AC) format, there were stations avoiding “hard rock and rap” yet still playing music that was “too hard” for AC stations. To reflect these stations, Radio and Records created the Hot AC chart.  Later in 1996, Billboard did the same, creating the Adult Top 40 chart.

The first chart carried the date of 4/22/94. The 30 position chart was created from a panel of less than 40 stations. Initially, songs were ranked on a “point” system.  Points were determined using the number of times a song was played in a week (spins) combined with how many people were listening (audience). However, the chart was eventually ranked by spins alone.  Early on in the chart, a song could reach #1 with just over 1000 spins.  Through the years, the format continued to grow, and many more stations were added to the panel. Today you need a few thousand spins to reach #1. This week the #1 song has nearly 4000 spins, and the chart’s panel is composed of about 100 stations.

In 2001, Radio & Records parterned with Mediabase 24/7 to get the data for the chart. In 2002, the chart extended from 30 positions to 40.  Back in 2006, the parent company of Billboard bought Radio & Records and began using their BDS data for the chart. However, this blog continued to follow Mediabase for the chart data and still does so today.

Since the chart began, over 1500 songs have charted on Hot AC.  As of the 4/19/09 chart, there have been 108 songs to reach #1.

Here is the top 10 on the first Hot AC Chart:

1. Now and Forever – Richard Marx
2. Everyday – Phil Collins
3. Love Sneakin’ Up on You – Bonnie Raitt
4. Streets of Philadelphia – Bruce Springsteen
5. The Power of Love – Celine Dion
6. The Sign – Ace of Base
7. Without You – Mariah Carey
8. Breathe Again – Toni Braxton
9. I’ll Remember – Madonna
10. Because the Night – 10000 Maniacs

In the coming days we’ll post some chart feats, including most hits, biggest #1s, longest charting, etc.

4/12/09 Hot AC Chart – Shinedown’s big move, David Cook debuts

Pink continues on top of the chart for a second week with “Sober”.  No other songs looks to challenge Pink any time soon. The next song below her with a bullet is “Gives You Hell”, which is still several hundred spins behind.

Entering the top 10 this week is “Not Meant to Be”, which reaches the top 10  in its 22nd week. Looking top 10 bound soon is Nickelback’s “If Today Was Your Last Day”. The song jumps up 6 to #15, and it is the only new song in the top 20 this week. However, that move is not the biggest mover, or even the second biggest mover. Shinedown jump 9 again this week and move up to #22. They’ve been the biggest mover for 2 weeks in a row. Also moving up big this week is Lady GaGa, who soars 8 to #21 this week with “Poker Face”. Will she have two simultaneous top 20s next week?

There are a couple of songs who move down this week but still see an increase in spins, aka backwards bullets: “The Fear” (18-19), and “So Close, So Far” (24-25).

This week’s highest debut is by David Cook, who enters at #38 with “Come Back to Me”. It’s his 3rd hit on the Hot AC chart. Both his other songs reached the top 10. In the useless trivia department, the only other song with “Come Back” in the title to chart on Hot AC is “Come Back” by Londonbeat back in 1995.  This week’s other debut is by Jesse McCartney, who comes in at #40 with “How Do You Sleep?”

Finally, a question to you readers out there: Does anyone actually read and enjoy these weekly posts?   Is there something you’d like to see in this column, keeping in mind I don’t want to trample on Mediabase’s copyrights? Thanks!

All chart data ©  Mediabase 24/7

April 5, 2009 Hot AC Chart: Pink scores first #1, Flo Rida debuts

(updated 4/9/09 to add “Lady Marmalade” )

Pink pushes the Fray out of the top spot this week as “Sober” rises 2-1. This is Pink’s first #1 on the Hot AC chart, out of 10 charted singles as a solo artist. Pink first charted solo on Hot AC in 2002.  However, she first appeared with Christina Aguilera and others on “Lady Marmalade” in 2001. On the pop chart, Pink has had 5 number one hits. See the end of this post for a summary of Pink’s career on the Hot AC chart.

In the lower part of the top 10, Lady GaGa climbs to #9 with “Just Dance”. This means that half of the top 10 songs are by solo women. Lady GaGa has 2 songs in the top 30 this week. “Poker Face” moves up to #29.

Two late blooming songs continue their climb up the chart this week: In its 21st week, “Not Meant to Be” rises 3 to #12, and in its 22nd week, “Rock & Roll” inches up to #17.

A couple of songs make big moves on the chart: “Second Chance” by Shinedown jumps 9 to #31, and “If Today Was Your Last Day” by Nickelback  rises 8 to #21.

Debuting this week at #40 is rapper Flo Rida, with “Right Round”. This is his first appearance on the chart. Earlier this year another rapper made an appearance on the chart, but he was a featured artist on a Kevin Rudolf song. The rapper? Lil Wayne.

Other debuts this week include new songs by Mat Kearney and Safetysuit.

Here’s Pink’s Hot AC chart career:

1. Lady Marmalade, #21
2. Get the Party Started, #16
3. Don’t Let Me Get Me, #16
4. Just Like a Pill, #17
5. Family Portrait, #37
6. Feel Good Time, #28
7. Stupid Girls, #27
8. U + Ur Hand, #5
9. Who Knew, #2 (for 13 weeks!)
10. So What, #2
11. Sober, #1

Pink’s Pop chart career can be found on the Pop Archive site.

3/29/09 Hot AC Chart: Single Females abound in the top 20, Nickelback’s strong debut

At the top of the chart this week, The Fray hold at #1 for a sixth week. However, look for their reign to end as early as next week. Pink is on track to score her first #1 on the Hot AC Chart. “Sober’ holds at #2, but the song has one of the biggest bullets on the chart, with an increase of over 200 spins.  Just below Pink is Kelly Clarkson, who holds at #3.  She is still bulleted, but her bullet is much smaller than Pink’s. Kelly might sneak up to #2, but her chances for #1 appear slim at the moment.

Three of the top 5 songs are by solo females. The last time this happened was in late 2007. However, 9 of the top 20 songs are by solo women. The last time this happened was 5 years ago in the spring of 2004.  Interestingly, none of the solo women that charted in 2004 are in the top 20 this week.

Jason Mraz is now in his 53rd week on the chart. This puts his song in the top 15 in terms of longevity on the Hot AC chart. The last song to spend at least 53 weeks on the chart was “Over My Head” by the Fray.

Nickelback soar onto the chart up at #29 with “If Today Was Your Last Day”. This is their 11th hit on the Hot AC chart. The song is also their 2nd highest debut on the 40 position chart. “Gotta Be Somebody” debuted at #26.   “How You Remind Me” debuted at #24, but that was when the chart only extended to 30 positions.

The week’s only other debut is “Second Chance” by Shinedown.

All chart data © Mediabase 24/7.