Hot AC Turns 20 - 20 years of chart feats

[Hot AC Archiver]

Radio & Records published their first Hot AC chart with their April 22, 1994 issue. Using the current Mediabase chart date system, that would correspond to a chart date of April 17. Since the actual anniversary falls between chart dates this year, I decided to compile stats through the April 13, 2014 Mediabase Hot AC chart. Enjoy the following list of significant and insignificant facts. :)

HOT AC FEATS, 1994-2014

Top 20 Songs of the Past 20 Years, ranked by Peak Position.

Rank. Title	Artist	Peak, Weeks at Peak, Year
1. Smooth	Santana f/ Rob Thomas	23 weeks at #1 1999-2000
2. Wherever You Will Go	The Calling	20 weeks at #1, 2001-02
3. Unwell	Matchbox Twenty	20 weeks at #1, 2003
4. Bubbly	Colbie Caillat	17 weeks at #1, 2007-08
5. Complicated	Avril Lavigne	16 weeks at #1, 2002
6. Iris	Goo Goo Dolls	15 weeks at #1, 1998
7. Here without You	3 Doors Down	14 weeks at #1, 2003-04
7. Torn	Natalie Imbruglia	14 weeks at #1, 1998
9. Everything You Want	Vertical Horizon	13 weeks at #1, 2000
9. Bent	Matchbox Twenty	13 weeks at #1, 2000
9. This Love	Maroon 5	13 weeks at #1, 2004
9. Photograph	Nickelback	13 weeks at #1, 2005-06
9. Bad Day	Daniel Powter	13 weeks at #1, 2006
9. Rolling in the Deep	Adele	13 weeks at #1, 2011
15. How to Save a Life	Fray	12 weeks at #1, 2006-07
15. She Will Be Loved	Maroon 5	12 weeks at #1, 2004
15. You Found Me	Fray	12 weeks at #1, 2009
15. Because You Loved Me	Celine Dion	12 weeks at #1, 1996
15. Can You Feel the Love Tonight	Elton John	12 weeks at #1, 1994
15. Just Give Me a Reason	Pink f/ Nate Ruess	12 weeks at #1, 2013

Top 20 Songs of the Past 20 Years, ranked by Normalized Inverse Points.

Rank. Title	Artist	Points
1. You and Me	Lifehouse	5.285
2. Unwell	Matchbox Twenty	5.274
3. Why Don't You and I?	Santana f/ Alex Band	4.989
4. Hanging by a Moment	Lifehouse	4.853
5. Wherever You Will Go	The Calling	4.721
6. Smooth	Santana f/ Rob Thomas	4.642
7. Here without You	3 Doors Down	4.612
8. Hey, Soul Sister	Train	4.464
9. The Reason	Hoobastank	4.427
10. I'm Yours	Jason Mraz	4.352
11. Someday	Nickelback	4.319
12. How to Save a Life	Fray	4.288
13. This Love	Maroon 5	4.208
14. Over My Head (Cable Car)	Fray	4.199
15. Bright Lights	Matchbox Twenty	4.190
16. Breakeven	The Script	4.176
17. One Thing	Finger Eleven	4.037
18. Chasing Cars	Snow Patrol	4.014
19. Complicated	Avril Lavigne	3.977
20. A Thousand Miles	Vanessa Carlton	3.949

Longevity Songs, All years

1. Drops of Jupiter - 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 - 62weeks
7. Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon, 59 weeks
7. Over My Head - Fray - 59 weeks
9. Why Don't You and I? - Santana f/ Alex Band, 55 weeks
9. If You're Gone - Matchbox Twenty, 55 weeks.

Longevity Songs, 1994-1999 (songs that debuted in those years)

1. Smooth - Santana f/ Rob Thomas, 68 weeks
2. Slide - Goo Goo Dolls - 62weeks
3. Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon, 59 weeks
4. Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer, 53 weeks
5. I'll Be - Edwin McCain, 50 weeks

2000-2005
1. Drops of Jupiter - Train, 71 weeks
2. You and Me - Lifehouse - 68 weeks
3. Wherever You Will Go - The Calling - 67 weeks
4. Hanging by a Moment - Lifehouse - 64 weeks
5. Over My Head - Fray - 59 weeks

2006-2010
1. I'm Yours - Jason Mraz - 54 weeks
2. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol - 53 weeks
3. Breakeven - The Script - 52 weeks
3. How to Save a Life - The Fray - 52 weeks
5. Hey, Soul Sister - Train - 49 weeks

2011-2014
1. Counting Stars - OneRepublic, 44+ weeks
2. The A Team - Ed Sheeran, 41 weeks
3. Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw, 39 weeks
4. Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men, 38 weeks
5. Home - Phillip Phillips, 37 weeks
5. Ho Hey - Lumineers, 37 weeks
5. Brave - Sara Bareilles, 37 weeks

Most charted songs overall: 26 by Rob Thomas (with Matchbox Twenty, solo, and duets).

Most charted songs by solo female:

1. Rihanna - 22 [4 featurings]
2. Madonna - 21
3. Kelly Clarkson - 19
4. Pink - 19
5. Sheryl Crow - 19 [1 featuring]

Most charted songs by solo male:
1. John Mayer - 16
2. Bruno Mars - 11
2. Gavin DeGraw - 11
2. Elton John - 11
2. Lenny Kravitz - 11
2. Justin Timberlake - 11

Most charted songs by duo/group:
1. Goo Goo Dolls - 19
1. Train - 19
3. Maroon 5 - 17
3. Matchbox Twenty - 17
5. Bon Jovi - 16

Most number ones:
1. Maroon 5 - 8
1. Katy Perry - 8
3. Pink - 7
4. Nickelback - 5
5. Kelly Clarkson - 4
5. Daughtry - 4
5. Matchbox Twenty - 4
*** Rob Thomas has sung on 8 with Santana, Matchbox Twenty, and Solo

Most top 10 hits:
1. Maroon 5 - 14
2. Kelly Clarkson - 13
2. Katy Perry - 13
2. Matchbox Twenty - 13
5. Pink - 12
5. Goo Goo Dolls - 12
5. Train - 12

Year with most #1s: 2012 had 15 songs at #1 during the year

Year with least #1s: 2002 had 5 songs at #1 during the year

Biggest Mover: ^* up 17 notches: "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry, up to #23, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", up to #22  (* Not 100% confirmed)

Miscellaneous Chart Feats:

Most Weeks at #2 (for a song that peaked at #2): 17 weeks. "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback spent 17 weeks at number 2 in 2001-2002.

Most Weeks at #3 (for a song that peaked at #3): 13 weeks. "Barely Breathing" by Duncan Sheik in 1997.

Most Weeks at any peak position outside the top 5: 8 weeks. "Breathe (2am)" by Anna Nalick spent 8 weeks at number 6 in 2005,
"Wordplay" by Jason Mraz spent 8 weeks at #17 in 2005, and "Feel Good Inc" by Gorillaz spent 8 weeks at #19 in 2005.

Most weeks in the top 5: 36 weeks. "You and Me" by Lifehouse in 2005/2006.

Most Weeks in the top 10: 52 weeks. "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" by Train

Most Consecutive Weeks in the top 10 with different songs: 107 weeks (counting the holiday breaks), Nickelback.

Most Weeks in the top 20: 68 weeks. "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" by Train

Highest Debut: #13. "If You Go" by Jon Secada debuted at number 13 on the April 29, 1994 chart.
The highest debut on the 40 position Hot AC chart is #15, "Payphone" by Maroon 5 f/ Wiz Khalifa in 2012.

Fastest Climb to #1: 6 weeks. "I'll Be There for You" by the Rembrandts in 1995 and "Thank U" by Alanis Morissette in 1998.

Slowest Climb to #1: 35 weeks. "Breakeven" by The Script took 35 weeks to reach #1 in 2009-10.

[Libra]

Explain how the normalized inverse points came about, since the rankings involve decimals?

Definitely curious to know the dates of the biggest jumps.

Re: "If You Go" 's debut - evidently Hot AC started as <40, how long did that last?

[Hot AC Archiver]

Apr 14, 2014 14:56:41 GMT -5 Libra said:

Explain how the normalized inverse points came about, since the rankings involve decimals?

Definitely curious to know the dates of the biggest jumps.

Re: "If You Go" 's debut - evidently Hot AC started as <40, how long did that last?

IIRC the 17 notch jumps occurred in January and June of 2012.

The Radio & Records Hot AC chart was 30 positions until the May 17, 2002 chart when it expanded to 40.

For the normalized point system, I took each songs points and divided it by the average points for the year the song debuted in. This yields a ratio of how much the song dominated over the rest of the songs of that year, and it helps compensate for changing recurrent rules. For these points, I also went back and applied the current 20 weeks/below #10 rule retroactively to the beginning of the chart.

An example: Let's say that songs that debuted in the year 2004 had an average of 500 chart points. If a song had 2000 points, then it's normalized point value would be 4.000.

[MostInterestingManInTheWorld]

For the normalized point system, I took each songs points and divided it by the average points for the year the song debuted in. This yields a ratio of how much the song dominated over the rest of the songs of that year, and it helps compensate for changing recurrent rules. For these points, I also went back and applied the current 20 weeks/below #10 rule retroactively to the beginning of the chart.

Most excellent. Those recurrent rules (and the general change in how programming works) cause cross-era comparisons to be difficult. This is as good a method for dealing with this as any (if one really wanted to get sophisticated they would assume a normal curve and credit songs for standard deviations above the mean, but then most people would be turned off. )

[Kris]

2006-2010
3. How to Save a Life - The Script - 52 weeks

Was their version better than the fray's? ;)

[Hot AC Archiver]

Apr 19, 2014 5:58:57 GMT -5 Kris said:

2006-2010
3. How to Save a Life - The Script - 52 weeks

Was their version better than the fray's? ;)

Fixed the error. That's why I am a retired Guru and now just an archiver. :)

[Hot AC Archiver]

Here's the chart from 20 years ago today, the very first R&R Hot AC chart April 22, 1994

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 - 10,000 Maniacs
11. Completely - Michael Bolton
12. Said I Loved You…But I Lied - Michael Bolton
13. Baby I Love Your Way - Big Mountain
14. Having a Party - Rod Stewart & R. Wood
15. Beautiful in My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
16. Lullaby - Billy Joel
17. Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through - Meat Loaf
18, (She’s) Some Kind of Wonderful - Huey Lewis & the News
19. Come to My Window - Melissa Etheridge
20. Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
21. Misled - Celine Dion
22. You Mean the World to Me - Toni Braxton
23. Found Out about You - Gin Blossoms
24. In the Time It Takes - Beth N. Chapman & P. Carrack
25. The Woman in Me - Heart
26. In Walked Love - Expose
27. For Whom the Bell Tolls - Bee Gees
28. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing - Vince Gill & Gladys Knight
29. Return to Innocence - Enigma
30. And Our Feelings - Babyface

When the Hot AC chart first started, it was based on points and not spins. I can't remember off hand the date that they switched to spins only, but I believe it was a relatively short period.

Below should be a partial scan of an early R&R Hot AC chart so you can see the point system. I've never used the image service before, so I'm not sure if it will work or how long it will last.

free photo upload

[Hot AC Archiver]

Just an update to change the year with the most #1s to 2014, with 17.

I made a medley of all #1 songs, 1994-2014, which is about 20 minutes long. I don't want to upload it to something like SoundCloud, since technically it's copyrighted material, so I'm not sure how to share it.

[redsea]

Thanks for all the info! Hot AC/Adult Top 40 is my favorite format!

I would enjoy hearing the medley, please let me know when it is posted. Thanks!

I'm wondering, did Breakeven get pushed to Hot AC before Top 40 radio? Just curious, thanks again.

[Hot AC Archiver]

Well it took a while, but here are links to the medley. I put them on YouTube, so I had to make 2 parts.

Part 1: 1994-early 2010


Part 2: Early 2010-December 2014:

[musiciscool]

Jan 17, 2015 16:57:24 GMT -5 Hot AC Archiver said:

Well it took a while, but here are links to the medley. I put them on YouTube, so I had to make 2 parts.

Part 1: 1994-early 2010


Part 2: Early 2010-December 2014:

Thank You so much for posting this! Such great music and good memories! HOT AC music is such a good genre.

[redsea]

That was so much fun! Thank you for making those videos!

[redsea]

I love Hot AC so much!

[Deleted]

Smooth by Santana will forever be one of the greatest songs of all time in my books!

[bat1990]

For the first eight minutes of the Number Ones mash up, I was like

:'( :'( :'( My childhood :'( :'( :'(

[johnnywest]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what I have for the year-end #1 songs on Hot AC:

1994 – Now & Forever - Richard Marx
1995 – In The House of Stone & Light - Martin Page
1996 – Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman
1997 – Barely Breathing – Duncan Sheik
1998 – Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls
1999 – Slide - The Goo Goo Dolls
2000 – Everything You Want - Vertical Horizon
2001 – If You're Gone - Matchbox Twenty
2002 – Wherever You Will Go - The Calling
2003 – Unwell - Matchbox Twenty
2004 – This Love - Maroon 5
2005 – Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day
2006 – Over My Head (Cable Car) – The Fray (Bad Day – Daniel Powter AT40-HAC)
2007 – It's Not Over – Daughtry
2008 – Love Song - Sara Bareilles
2009 – You Found Me – The Fray
2010 – Hey Soul Sister – Train
2011 – Rolling In The Deep – Adele
2012 – Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
2013 – Ho Hey – The Lumineers
2014 – Best Day Of My Life – American Authors

[dajross6]

Apr 14, 2014 15:37:16 GMT -5 Hot AC Archiver said:

Apr 14, 2014 14:56:41 GMT -5 Libra said:

Explain how the normalized inverse points came about, since the rankings involve decimals?

For the normalized point system, I took each songs points and divided it by the average points for the year the song debuted in. This yields a ratio of how much the song dominated over the rest of the songs of that year, and it helps compensate for changing recurrent rules. For these points, I also went back and applied the current 20 weeks/below #10 rule retroactively to the beginning of the chart.

An example: Let's say that songs that debuted in the year 2004 had an average of 500 chart points. If a song had 2000 points, then it's normalized point value would be 4.000.

Another question on this...how much does the average song point total change year to year? If you're using #1=40, #2=39, etc., wouldn't the average be the same every year (if used in this way, there would be the same amount of points every week times number of weeks), give or take a week? I'm trying to do something similar for my own personal chart and I'm trying to figure out the best way to attack this.

[Hot AC Archiver]

^^ the average is similar for each year with similar recurrent rules. For example, the last few years have had averages around 350 points (give or take 30). Back with the more lenient recurrent rules, the average was over 450.

[dajross6]

Thanks :)

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

Very good work. Alot of great songs came to memory. BTW, about that song by Maroon 5 - "Payphone"; wasn't there a special edit made for HOT AC format which never featured the Wiz Khalifa, rap, At least I remember Rick Dees' Hot Adult list playing a rapless, "Payphone"?

[trustypepper]

Jan 24, 2015 3:52:15 GMT -5 Doc Indie Party Rock said:

Very good work. Alot of great songs came to memory. BTW, about that song by Maroon 5 - "Payphone"; wasn't there a special edit made for HOT AC format which never featured the Wiz Khalifa, rap, At least I remember Rick Dees' Hot Adult list playing a rapless, "Payphone"?

Absolutely correct, there was a solo version that HAC played with Adam singing the bridge instead of the rap from Wiz

[Hot AC Archiver]

I updated the part 2 video to include 2015. The URL is now: youtu.be/jgUHZRzmzMo