Mainstream Top 40 Radio's Most Successful Acts, 1973-Present

[HolidayGuy]

I've been updating the old thread, but it's 180+ days old since the last post, so figured I'd just start a new one, with the three categories all in the initial post.

I've tried to make this as accurate as possible, but there could be some totals that are off. So additions/corrections are welcome.

Totals include solo and featuring credits. Looking at stats via purely solo credits and such would be interesting. Rihanna, for instance, has had 11 "...Featuring Rihanna" hits (five which hit top 10 and three which hit No. 1); and, she's had as many "Rihanna Featuring..." credits. Of her 49 top 40 entries, 25 have been sole Rihanna credits (plus three collaborations where the acts shared equal billing).

Radio & Records' chart started in September 1973. Here are some notes on the R&R chart's history, and other sources:

* 1973-1974: Top 20 chart (some weeks, 21, 22, 23, 24, etc.)
* Nov. 1974-Oct. 1976: Top 40 chart
* Nov. 1976-198163: Top 30 chart
* June 1983-May 1995: Top 40 chart
* May 1995-2006: Top 50 chart (only top 40 is used for these purposes); R&R became part of VNU Media in 2006, and ceased in 2009
* Since R&R ceased, Billboard's pop chart and Mediabase are the sources

Notes:
* As data begins in 1973, keep in mind that acts who had scored hits prior to that are not fully represented here.
* Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart debuted in fall 1992. In regard to hits counts, for example- if a track cracked top 10 on either R&R/Mediabase or Billboard, but not the other, it's counted a top 10 hit.
* "S&M" is not counted for Britney Spears, as her name was never added to airplay credits, even for a single week.
* Mariah Carey's totals include "All I Want For Christmas is You," which appeared on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart (but not R&R).
* Kesha's No. 1s total includes "Right Round," as she's credited for a single week in the Billboard archives.
* George Michael had six Wham-credited hits crack the top 40/top 20/top 10; four of those hit the top 5, and three hit No. 1.
* Bruce Springsteen's "Secret Garden" charted twice; hence the "17 or 18" for this top 40 count.

--------------------------------
Female Solo Acts
(through the 6/12/20 Mediabase Top 40 chart)

Most Top 40 Hits
Madonna: 56
Rihanna: 51
Mariah Carey: 39
Janet Jackson: 39
Nicki Minaj: 39
Britney Spears: 36
Taylor Swift: 32
Whitney Houston: 30
Pink: 29
Katy Perry: 28
Jennifer Lopez: 24
Ariana Grande: 24
Olivia Newton-John: 23
Christina Aguilera: 23
Beyonce: 22
Selena Gomez: 22
Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine: 21
Kelly Clarkson: 21
Lady Gaga: 19
Celine Dion: 18
Linda Ronstadt: 18
Kesha- 17* (totals includes "Right Round")
Demi Lovato: 17 (counting Fall Out Boy's "Irresistible")
Cher: 16
Avril Lavigne: 16

Most Top 20 Hits
Madonna: 48
Rihanna: 38
Mariah Carey: 31
Taylor Swift: 30
Janet Jackson: 29
Britney Spears: 24
Pink: 23
Whitney Houston: 22
Katy Perry: 21
Selena Gomez: 20
Lady Gaga: 20
Ariana Grande: 20
Olivia Newton-John: 19
Christina Aguilera: 19
Beyonce: 18
Kelly Clarkson: 17
Nicki Minaj: 17
Linda Ronstadt: 16
Donna Summer: 15
Jennifer Lopez: 15

Most Top 10 Hits
Madonna: 38
Rihanna: 31
Janet Jackson: 25
Mariah Carey: 25
Pink: 19
Taylor Swift: 19
Whitney Houston: 18
Katy Perry: 17
Olivia Newton-John: 15
Britney Spears: 15
Ariana Grande: 15
Christina Aguilera: 14
Donna Summer: 13
Lady Gaga: 13
Beyonce: 11
Kelly Clarkson: 11
Selena Gomez: 11
Linda Ronstadt: 10
Celine Dion: 10
Gloria Estefan: 10
Jennifer Lopez: 10
Paula Abdul: 10
Kesha- 10

Most Top 5 Hits
Madonna: 33
Janet Jackson: 22
Rihanna: 22
Mariah Carey: 19
Pink: 15
Whitney Houston: 13
Britney Spears: 13
Katy Perry: 13
Taylor Swift: 12
Ariana Grande: 12
Olivia Newton-John: 11
Kelly Clarkson: 10
Donna Summer: 10
Lady Gaga: 10
Beyonce: 9
Paula Abdul: 9
Christina Aguilera: 9
Jennifer Lopez: 8
Barbra Streisand: 7
Linda Ronstadt: 7
Celine Dion: 7
Selena Gomez: 7
Kesha- 7

Most No. 1 Hits
Madonna: 15
Mariah Carey: 14
Whitney Houston: 11
Rihanna: 11
Katy Perry: 11
Taylor Swift: 10
Janet Jackson: 9
Pink: 9
Lady Gaga: 7
Ariana Grande: 7
Beyonce: 6
Britney Spears: 6
Paula Abdul: 6
Alanis Morissette: 5
Barbra Streisand: 5
Christina Aguilera: 5
Kelly Clarkson: 5
Avril Lavigne: 5
Kesha: 5
----------------------------------------------

Male Solo Acts
(through 6/12/20 Mediabase Top 40 Chart)

Most Top 40 Hits
Elton John: 46
Chris Brown: 37
Pitbull: 34
Michael Jackson: 34
Prince: 33
Eminem: 33
Billy Joel: 32
Rod Stewart: 32
Justin Timberlake: 32
Drake: 31
Justin Bieber: 30
Paul McCartney/Wings: 27
Akon: 25
Nelly: 25
John Mellencamp: 24
Bryan Adams: 24
Jay-Z: 24
Kanye West: 24
Flo Rida: 24
Enrique Iglesias: 24
Phil Collins: 22
Usher: 22
Barry Manilow: 21
Bruno Mars: 21
Jason Derulo: 20
Ed Sheeran: 20
Stevie Wonder: 19

Most Top 20 Hits
Elton John: 35
Michael Jackson: 29
Prince: 28
Billy Joel: 26
Justin Timberlake: 26
Rod Stewart: 25
Justin Bieber: 25
Paul McCartney/Wings: 21
John Mellencamp: 20
Bryan Adams: 20
Barry Manilow: 20
Pitbull: 20
Phil Collins: 19
Eminem: 19
Bruno Mars: 19
Chris Brown: 17
Drake: 17
Bruce Springsteen: 16
Stevie Wonder: 16
George Michael: 16
Usher: 16
Akon: 16
Ed Sheeran: 16
Bob Seger: 15
Nelly: 15
Jason Derulo: 15

Most Top 10 Hits
Michael Jackson: 26
Elton John: 24
Prince: 22
Rod Stewart: 19
Paul McCartney/Wings: 18*
Justin Timberlake: 19
Justin Bieber: 16
Phil Collins: 15
Bruno Mars: 15
Billy Joel: 14
Lionel Richie: 14
Bryan Adams: 14
Usher: 13
George Michael: 13
Richard Marx: 13
Barry Manilow: 12
Akon: 12
Nelly: 12
Stevie Wonder: 11
Bob Seger: 11
Bruce Springsteen: 11
Kenny Rogers: 11
Drake: 11
Ed Sheeran: 11
Pitbull: 10
Eminem: 10
John Mellencamp: 10
The Weeknd: 10
Michael Bolton: 10
Jason Derulo: 10
Flo Rida: 10

Most Top 5 Hits
Michael Jackson: 20
Elton John: 19
Justin Timberlake: 17
Phil Collins: 14
Bruno Mars: 14
Prince: 13
Rod Stewart: 13
Paul McCartney/Wings: 12
Justin Bieber: 11
The Weeknd: 10
Billy Joel: 9
Lionel Richie: 9
Bryan Adams: 9
Richard Marx: 9
Pitbull: 9
Usher: 8
George Michael: 8
Michael Bolton: 8
Bob Seger: 7
Kenny Rogers: 7
Eminem: 7
Akon: 7
Bobby Brown: 7
Flo Rida: 7
Post Malone: 7
Ed Sheeran: 7

Most No. 1 Hits
Michael Jackson: 11
Prince: 9
Bruno Mars: 9
Phil Collins: 8
Justin Timberlake: 8
Lionel Richie: 7
Justin Bieber: 7
Elton John: 6
Paul McCartney/Wings: 6
George Michael: 6
Rod Stewart: 5
Nelly: 5
Flo Rida: 5
Eminem: 4
Jason Derulo: 4
Ed Sheeran: 4
Stevie Wonder: 3
Bryan Adams: 3
Kanye West: 3
Chris Brown: 3
Shawn Mendes: 3
Post Malone: 3
The Weeknd: 3
------------------------------

Duos/Groups
(through 6/12/20 Mediabase Top 40 chart)

Most Top 40 Hits
Hall & Oates: 28
Bon Jovi: 27
Maroon 5: 27
Aerosmith: 24
Chicago: 24
U2: 20
Fleetwood Mac: 19
Huey Lewis & the News: 19
Backstreet Boys: 19
Black Eyed Peas: 19
Heart: 18
Def Leppard: 18
Journey: 17
Bee Gees: 16
Van Halen: 16
Duran Duran: 16

Most Top 20 Hits
Hall & Oates: 21
Chicago: 21
Maroon 5: 21
Aerosmith: 18
Fleetwood Mac: 17
Bon Jovi: 16
Journey: 16
Huey Lewis & the News: 16
Backstreet Boys: 15
Black Eyed Peas: 15
Heart: 14
Duran Duran: 14
Kool and the Gang: 14
Bee Gees: 13
Eagles: 13
Genesis: 13
Def Leppard: 13
Foreigner: 13

Most Top 10 Hits
Maroon 5: 21
Hall & Oates: 18
Chicago: 17
Fleetwood Mac: 14
Aerosmith: 13
Bon Jovi: 13
Huey Lewis & the News: 13
Black Eyed Peas: 13
Bee Gees: 12
Duran Duran: 12
Genesis: 12
Backstreet Boys: 11
Eagles: 10
Foreigner: 10

Most Top 5 Hits
Maroon 5: 17
Hall & Oates: 14
Chicago: 11
Duran Duran: 10
Fleetwood Mac: 9
Bee Gees: 9
Eagles: 9
Genesis: 9
Huey Lewis & the News: 9
Boyz II Men: 8
N Sync: 8
Air Supply: 8
Black Eyed Peas: 8

Most No. 1 Hits
Maroon 5: 11
Bee Gees: 6
Hall & Oates: 6
Chicago: 5
Boyz II Men: 5
Fleetwood Mac: 4
Eagles: 4
Duran Duran: 4
Huey Lewis & the News: 4
Black Eyed Peas: 3
Blondie: 3
Doobie Brothers: 3
No Doubt: 3
Goo Goo Dolls: 3
New Kids on the Block: 3
Roxette: 3
Savage Garden: 3
3 Doors Down: 3
The Chainsmokers: 3

[Unhinged]

FYI, Prince is missing from the Most Top 40 Hits list.

[norbpeti]

Does Madonna still racks up Top 40 Entries? I know her last Top 10 was in 2008 right?

[Unhinged]

^I believe "Living For Love" was her last Top 40 appearance. Peaked at No. 36. And yes, her last Top 10 was "4 Minutes" in 2008.

At the rate Rihanna is going I don't see Madonna holding onto these records much longer. 5 years tops, depending on Rihanna's future longevity.

[HolidayGuy]

Thanks, Unhinged- must have gotten deleted somewhere along the road.

Barring a swift disinterest from the public and radio, Rihanna most certainly will, eventually, have the most totals for the categories. Given her constant releases, solo and not, and her willingness to collaborate with others as much as she does, she's ensuring as much. If she only had one or two "featurings" credits- lead act or not- it would be another story.

If we looked at pure solo credits and/or lead credits, things would look a bit different for some.

[norbpeti]

I can't see Rihanna pooping out hits for 5 yrs that's just not possible. Not trying to be mean

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

Just not possible? Based on what?

[HolidayGuy]

With how the music industry has changed, especially in regard to the "featuring" trend, it's almost like there should be lists for acts who debuted up until a particular year, and then acts who debuted thereafter.

It's the same in regard to acts with the most Hot 100 entries. Between featurings and the digital/a-la-carte era, it's gotten crazy ridiculous.

[norbpeti]

Jul 9, 2016 12:58:29 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

Just not possible? Based on what?

Based on her over exposed persona she's peaking now . Some of her songs are already underperforming . No harsh words ai do enjoy RiRis music here and there

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

Jul 9, 2016 18:05:19 GMT -5 norbpeti said:

Jul 9, 2016 12:58:29 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

Just not possible? Based on what?

Based on her over exposed persona she's peaking now . Some of her songs are already underperforming . No harsh words ai do enjoy RiRis music here and there

How does that make it impossible though? I don't disagree with you that she's been at her peak for a while now and no artist can maintain such heights for very long, but to say she won't be around in five years because of it is a bit... silly? Even if she's not getting back to back Top 10s, surely she could still be getting a few hits here or there.

[HolidayGuy]

Been updating the lists over the weeks, with additions and such.

Kanye West scores another entry this week.

One thing I noticed: Rihanna was not credited at radio for "All of the Lights"?

[trustypepper]

Pretty crazy that Chris Brown has 35 Top 40 hits but isn't even on the list of Most Top 10s (which would require at least 10). That's a pretty poor ratio but just shows how many minor hits he's had.

[HolidayGuy]

Indeed; and he hasn't had a top 10 in a while, so barring a "comeback" hit or a feature hit, "Don't Wake Me Up" may have been his last.

With "24K Magic" debuting this week, I updated Bruno Mars' totals; also, I had him at six No. 1s, but he has seven.

[HolidayGuy]

Three notable achievements for the 11/5 charts:

Rihanna landed another top 40 entry; Bruno Mars scored a new top 10; and Maroon 5 landed a new top 20.

[HolidayGuy]

Britney Spears lands a 36th top 40 entry this week. In recent weeks, Maroon 5 scored another top 10, while Rihanna landed another top 20, Bruno Mars scored another top 5, etc. etc.

For the next chart, Lady Gaga is aiming for her 17th top 40 entry.

Once Ariana Grande lands another top 5, she will be added to the tracking list (she's currently at six).

[Dvorak]

An Important Omission....

Duos/Groups
(through 12/17/16 Mainstream Top 40/Pop Songs chart)

Most Top 40 Hits
Hall & Oates: 28
Bon Jovi: 27
Aerosmith: 24
Chicago: 24
Maroon 5: 22
U2: 20
Fleetwood Mac: 19
Huey Lewis & the News: 19
Heart: 18
Def Leppard: 18
Backstreet Boys: 18
Black Eyed Peas: 18
Journey: 17
Bee Gees: 16
Van Halen: 16
Duran Duran: 16

[HolidayGuy]

^Thank you for noticing the omission. :)

For the Dec. 24 charts, Rihanna scores yet another top 20, and Taylor Swift lands a 24th top 40 entry, while Lady Gaga scores her 17th. Maroon 5 lands another top 5- one more to tie Hall and Oates for most on the duo/group list.

Swift's counts for top 40/20/10 were off, but they should be up to date now.

[HolidayGuy]

Thanks to yet another "featuring" credit for both, Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj land new top 40 entries. And, Taylor Swift scores another top 20.

[SPRΞΞ]

JT has a shot at most #1's on the male side.

[leonagwen]

Hard to believe that Elton John only has 6.Thought he had more.

[HolidayGuy]

^"Crocodile Rock" hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 prior to Radio & Records starting, so that is another one (though whether it peaked at No. 1 on a top 40 radio chart, I'd have to look into). "That's What Friends Friends Are For," on which he's credited, but not on R&R (or Billboard initially,but now is counted in his totals) would be another. Should I include that one?

I've thought of incorporating other historical data for acts who had success pre-R&R.

The hits just keep on comin' for Rihanna, who scores a 30th top 10, as "Love on the Brain" climbs 13-10* on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart. Here's the breakdown on those top 10s:

14 Rihanna
8 Rihanna Featuring...
6 ... Featuring Rihanna
2 equal credit

[HolidayGuy]

Maroon 5 lands a ninth No. 1 this week, while Taylor Swift scores a 14th top 10 (this is one higher than Billboard's count, as "22" peaked at No. 10 on the Mediabase chart, and 12 on Billboard's).

[HolidayGuy]

This week, Rihanna landed a new top 5, Katy Perry a new top 20 and Maroon 5 a new top 40.

[HolidayGuy]

Bruno Mars scores a 15th top 10 this week, while Nicki Minaj lands a 32nd top 40 entry, with yet another "featuring" credit.

[HolidayGuy]

Katy Perry and Lady Gaga land their 16th top 10 and top 20 hits, respectively, this week ("Perfect Illusion" peaked at No. 20 on Mediabase, so I include that). And, Flo Rida scores a 24th top 40 entry.

EDIT: Nicki Minaj, with yet another "featuring" credit, scores a 33rd top 40 entry, while Jason Derulo lands a 19th.

[HolidayGuy]

Beyonce and Jay-Z land their 22nd and 24th top 40 entries this wee, as "Shining" enters at No. 40.

For some reason, "Swalla" shows as debut this week; I know I didn't imagine seeing it at No. 39 on last week's BDS chart.

[HolidayGuy]

This week's action sees Bruno Mars scoring a new top 5, and P!nk landing a 26th top 40 entry.

[HolidayGuy]

Bruno Mars scores an eighth No. 1, while Maroon 5 score a 17th top 10. And, Nicki Minaj scores yet another "featuring" top 40 entry.

[musiciscool]

Apr 26, 2017 19:02:55 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Bruno Mars scores an eighth No. 1, while Maroon 5 score a 17th top 10. And, Nicki Minaj scores yet another "featuring" top 40 entry.

Just wanted to point out that Bruno Mars should be above Lionel Richie as Bruno has 8 #1's to Lionel's 7 #1's.

[HolidayGuy]

^Thanks. My eyes were playin' tricks on me when I first updated. :)

One more top 5/top 10 and Maroon 5 will share the top of those categories with Hall & Oates. Of course, if we include acts prior to the start of R&R, neither would be tops.