Most Successful Acts on CHR/Pop, 1973-Present

[HolidayGuy]

Some of the board's favorite ladies have been among the most successful acts at the Pop/Mainstream Top 40 format in the last 25+ years. Interesting to note, because today, they're not getting the kind of reception you'd think there would be for the format's most successful acts. Age plays a factor, I suppose, in addition to musical climate and trends.

For the most part, I'm looking at Radio & Records peaks (though Billboard peaks aren't that far off in most cases). Hopefully I've counted correctly.

Mariah Carey's "Obsessed" is her 37th top 40 entry at the pop format (this includes "All I Want For Christmas is You," which did chart on BB's Mainstream Top 40 chart)- that's the third-most entries in the last 30 years. Janet Jackson has 38 entries (excluding "Diamonds," which was never credited to her on the pop chart), and Madonna has 53.

Looking at the most top 20 hits at the pop format since 1979, Madonna leads with 48, followed by Janet (29). Michael J. has 29. Mariah currently has 29, including "Obsessed."

For most top 10 hits at the pop format since 1979, it's Madonna (38), followed by Michael Jackson (26) and Janet Jackson (25). Mariah has 24.

And, for most No. 1 hits at the pop format, two of our favorite ladies lead the pack: Madonna (15) and Mariah (14). Michael J. and Whitney have had 11 chart-toppers in the last 30 years (though if we extend it back to the early 1970s, MJ probably has another #1 with "Ben").

Just nice to look back, and say shame-shame-shame to pop radio for not giving it up more for its most successful acts, ages be damned. :)

[HolidayGuy]

*not counting "Diamonds" in Janet Jackson's tally*

[pinkeatspeaches]

do you have any source?

[Night Senses]

How many #1s does Janet have on the pop format?

[Au$tin]

Aug 5, 2009 17:54:01 GMT -5 Night Senses said:

How many #1s does Janet have on the pop format?

9. The first being "When I Think of You," and the last being "All for You."

What Have You Done for Me Lately - #8
Nasty - #5
When I Think of You - #1
Control - #5
Let's Wait A While - #3
The Pleasure Principal - #11
Miss You Much - #1
Rhythm Nation - #2
Escapade - #1
Alright - #2
Come Back to Me - #1
Black Cat - #1
Love Will Never Do Without You - #1
State of the World - #4
Best Thing in Life are Free - #2
That's the Way Love Goes - #1
If - #2
Again - #1
Because of Love - #2
Anytime, Anyplace - #8
You Want This - #10
Scream - #19
Runaway - #2
24Play - #35
Got 'Til It's Gone - #35
Together Again - #5
I Get Lonely - #32
Go Deep - #11
Every Time - #44
Doesn't Really Matter - #3
All for You - #1
Someone to Call My Lover - #3
Son of a Gun - #22
Just a Little While - #19
All Nite (Don't Stop) - #33
Call on Me - #32
Feedback - #29

[HolidayGuy]

As stated, the info is from Radio & Records (which touted itself as the industry's leading newspaper or however it called it- probably was for airplay purposes). In the case of a track like "All I Want For Christmas is You," R&R didn't chart it- but Billboard did via its Mainstream Top 40 chart.

Janet Jackson hasn't had a top 10 at pop since 2001, and her last top 20 was 2004. Whitney Houston has gone even longer- her last top 10 was 2000 ("My Love is Your Love"), and that also was her last top 20. Her last top 5 at pop? Shockingly, all the way back in 1993 ("I Have Nothing").

Prince has had 22 top 10s at the pop format- his last being back in 1994 ("The Most Beautiful Girl in the World").

RE top 10s- if we went back to the early 70s, Elton John had 24 top 10s (13 from 1979-present). The site that has the charts archive has Elton's hits from the early 70s, but not MJ's- wonder why.

[Night Senses]

Thanks GuiltyBattlefield (Masquerain) and HolidayGuy for all the info.

[Janhova's Witness]

Go on girl!! Miss Janet.

[PDC1987]

Aug 5, 2009 17:50:52 GMT -5 pinkeatspeaches said:

do you have any source?

[HolidayGuy]

Forgot that Radio & Records started in 1973- so that explains the absence of MJ's early 1970s hits. From 1973-1975, he had just one top 30 on the Hot 100 "Just a Little Bit of You"), and I know the sie of R&Rs charts varied from time to time.

[HolidayGuy]

Bringing this back up.

Anyone among today's acts with the potential to threaten the Queen of Pop's hits counts?
(hits counts per Radio & Records; with the exception of Carey, whose total includes "All I Want For Christmas is You," which did appear on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart.)

Number of Top 50 Hits: 55
Elton John has the second most since 1973 (48), while Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey each have 40. At the rate things are going as of late, 55 may stand for some time.

Number of Top 40 Hits: 53
Elton John again is second, with 46. Janet Jackson is in third, with 38. Mariah Carey has 37. Again, 53 should stand for some time.

Number of Top 20 Hits: 48
Elton John, in second, has 35. Mariah Carey has 30. Janet has 29. Michael Jackson also has 29; he'd have more counting the handful of hits he enjoyed from 1970-1973, before R&R started. Prince has 28. I'd say 48 also will stand for some time.

Number of Top 10 Hits: 38
Michael Jackson is second, with 26. Janet and Mariah are next, tied with 25 a piece. Elton John has 24, while Prince has 22. With the challenge for acts 40+ to score, again, I'd say this number is safe for a while.

Number of Top 5 Hits: 33
Janet has 22, with Michael in third with 20. Elton John and Mariah Carey each have 18. Another number that should stand for some time.

Number of #1 Hits: 15
Carey is right behind with 14. Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston have 11 each. However, I'd say that Lady Gaga has the potential to challenge- she's racked up six chart-toppers in less than two years, after all. her hitmaking really would have to continue hot to challenge Madge's totals in the other categories.

[HolidayGuy]

I updated some of the tallies I had posted.

Since this board loves the females, I also came up with these lists, covering 1973-present.

Again, I'm counting "All I Want For Christmas is You" as an entry, as it peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Top 40/mainstream chart (it shouldn't be penalized because Radio & Records didn't chart holiday titles).

If I've overlooked anything, do let me know.

Most Top 40 Pop Hits- Females
Madonna: 53
Janet Jackson: 38
Mariah Carey: 37
Whitney Houston: 29
Britney Spears: 25
Olivia Newton-John: 22
Rihanna: 22 (including two latest singles)
Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine: 21
Pink: 19
Christina Aguilera: 19
Celine Dion: 18
Linda Ronstadt: 18

Most Top 20 Pop Hits- Female
Madonna: 48
Mariah Carey: 30
Janet Jackson: 29
Whitney Houston: 22
Rihanna: 19 (including two latest singles)
Olivia Newton-John: 18
Pink: 17
Britney Spears: 16
Linda Ronstadt: 16
Christina Aguilera: 15
Donna Summer: 15
Beyonce: 14

Top 10 Pop Hits- Females
Madonna: 38
Janet Jackson: 25
Mariah Carey: 25
Whitney Houston: 18
Rihanna: 16 (includes latest singles)
Olivia Newton-John: 15
Pink: 13
Donna Summer: 13
Britney Spears: 11
Christina Aguilera: 11
Beyonce: 11

Most No. 1 Pop Hits- Females
Madonna: 15
Mariah Carey: 14
Whitney Houston: 11
Janet Jackson: 9
Rihanna: 7 (if "Love the Way You Lie" hit No. 1; this also includes "Only Girl")
Beyonce: 6
Lady Gaga: 6
Paula Abdul: 6
Britney Spears: 5
Pink: 5
Alanis Morissette: 5
Barbra Streisand: 5

[Vic]

Nice to see Olivia representing. She would certainly rank higher if this we before 1979.

[Epic Fail]

wOW rIRI iS ALREADY A LEGEND ONLY REALLY TRAILING MADONNA, MARIAH, JANET AND WHITNEY.

[Lozzy]

Nov 21, 2010 17:43:57 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Rihanna: 6 ("Love the Way You Lie" and "Only Girl" peaked at No. 1, correct?)

Love the Way You Lie is not a Rihanna song. Only Girl will have officially made it in a few hours.

[Lozzy]

Mar 27, 2010 19:09:33 GMT -5 HolidayGuy said:

Bringing this back up.

Anyone among today's acts with the potential to threaten the Queen of Pop's hits counts?
(hits counts per Radio & Records; Carey's totals for top 50/top 40/top 20 would increase by 1 if we count "All I Want For Christmas is You," which did appear on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart.)

Number of Top 50 Hits: 55
Janet Jackson looks to have the second-most (40) since R&R formed. Mariah Carey has 39. However, at the rate things are going as of late, 55 may stand for some time.

Number of Top 40 Hits: 53
Janet Jackson again is in second, with 38. Carey has 36. Again, 53 should stand for some time.

Number of Top 20 Hits: 48
Janet has the second-most again, with 29 (Michael Jackson also has 29; he'd have more counting the handful of hits he enjoyed from 1970-1973, before R&R started). Carey is right behind at 29. I'd say 48 also will stand for some time.

Number of Top 10 Hits: 38
Janet and Carey are second and third here again, with 25 and 24, respectively. With the challenge for acts 40+ to score, again, I'd say this number is safe for a while.

Number of Top 5 Hits: 33
Janet has 22, with Michael in third with 20. Carey has 18. Another number that should stand for some time.

Number of #1 Hits: 15
Carey is right behind with 14. However, I'd say that Lady Gaga has the potential to challenge- she's racked up six chart-toppers in less than two years, after all. her hitmaking really would have to continue hot to challenge Madge's totals in the other categories.

for both Madonna & GaGa

[HolidayGuy]

"Featuring" tracks count toward an act's tallies. If "Love the Way You Lie" peaked at No. 1, it counts for Rihanna.

I also modified the one post to reflect that "All I Want..." is included in Mimi's total. And, I modified the top 20 and top 10 totals to include Donna Summer- how could I have forgotten her? Plus, Linda Ronstadt in top 40 and top 20 hits.

Vic, in my initial pot, I had it as 1979. But, Radio & Records started circa 1973, and Olivia's totals include her hits from 1974-on. "Sam," which peaked at #20 on the Hot 100, isn't listed in the R&R archives- maybe it fared better in sales than airplay? I think when "Sam" was out, that the chart was just 30 positions.

[botoxic]

How did Madonna go from having 53 top 40 hits in posts dated August 2009 and March 2010, to having 52 top 40 hits today? I believe 53 is the correct number...

[SPRΞΞ]

that's an awesome list, thanks for posting! Madonna has truly been a force in the pop world. Just look at those numbers!!!

[HolidayGuy]

Yes, botox- it's 53. Thank you. :)

Initially, I had this post labeled "1979-present." But, since R&R has been around since 1973, I'll try to update the posts above the females one, to account for acts successful in that period (i.e. Elton John).

So, this currently is a work in progress in spots. I just realized Barbra Streisand had 5 No. 1s, so i have to add her to the females list.

[Deleted]

Beyonce there representing. Not only a force in pop but also I legened in R&B too(and that doesn't even included her work with DC which isn't credited).

And nice to see Mimi and Rhianna up there <3

[HolidayGuy]

Yes, but why would you combine each individual Beatles' non-Beatles hits? For pre-1973 hits, we have the Hot 100 (and even pre-Hot 100 charts). :) Each all-time survey has some asterisk to it; like, when Billboard celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Hot 100- it made a point to note that Elvis had lots of hits before the Hot 100's August 1958 debut. So his overall success is not represented on the Hot 100.

R&R's info is good because it was very similar to Billboard's airplay chart (up through 1990/1991, that is); when there were differences, it usually was 1-2 positions. I think R&R went spins-based in 1995, so you'll see some larger differences in some cases between a track's Billboard's spins-based Top 40/Mainstream chart and CHR/Pop, from fall 1992 (when Top 40/Mainstream debuted) and 1994 (i.e. Whitney Houston's "Run to You" peaked at 31 on Top 40/Mainstream and No. 13 CHR/Pop; Madonna's "Erotica" hit No. 3 CHR/Pop, yet No. 9 Top 40/Mainstream).

Christina Aguilera now is part of the Most Top 40 Hits list, with 19 (I had neglected to include her entries with Nelly and P. Diddy). Added Alanis Morissette to list of Most No. 1 Pop Hits- Female. I also updated Michael Jackson's totals in the inclusive post, reflecting his pre-1979 entries.

[Lozzy]

Michael Jackson had 11 number ones, right? I don't see his name.

[HolidayGuy]

In the all-inclusive post (where I speculate on anyone catching "the most amount" in each category, I added MJ and Whitney Houston (as they both had 11).

[Lozzy]

Sorry, I was looking at the Nov 22, 2010, 9:43am post.

[Cory | Alan]

Paula Abdul!!! Get it girl. She was the Lady GaGa of 1988-1992

[HolidayGuy]

^In terms of popularity only, I guess you can say that. :)

[atlantaboy]

Nov 23, 2010 10:15:28 GMT -5 Cory | Alan said:

Paula Abdul!!! Get it girl. She was the Lady GaGa of 1988-1992

I hope GaGa's songs don't go the same route that Paula's did

[Lozzy]

Nov 23, 2010 10:15:28 GMT -5 Cory | Alan said:

Paula Abdul

[HolidayGuy]

So, we're a year on since the last updated info. Some updates for the ladies:

As of the 4/21/12 Pop Songs chart

Notes:
* "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)

I think I've got the numbers straight.

Most Top 40 Pop Hits- Females
Madonna: 54 (includes "Give Me All Your Luvin' ")
Janet Jackson: 38
Mariah Carey: 37
Rihanna: 32 (includes "Talk That Talk")
Whitney Houston: 29
Britney Spears: 29
Olivia Newton-John: 22
Gloria Estefan/Miami Sound Machine: 21
Pink: 21
Christina Aguilera: 20
Jennifer Lopez: 20 (includes "Dance Again")
Celine Dion: 18
Linda Ronstadt: 18
Beyonce: 18

Most Top 20 Pop Hits- Female
Madonna: 48
Mariah Carey: 30
Janet Jackson: 29
Rihanna: 26 (includes "Take Care")
Whitney Houston: 22
Britney Spears: 20
Olivia Newton-John: 18
Pink: 18
Linda Ronstadt: 16
Christina Aguilera: 16
Donna Summer: 15
Beyonce: 15

Most Top 10 Pop Hits- Females
Madonna: 38
Janet Jackson: 25
Mariah Carey: 25
Rihanna: 21 (includes "Take Care")
Whitney Houston: 18
Olivia Newton-John: 15
Pink: 14
Britney Spears: 14
Donna Summer: 13
Christina Aguilera: 12
Beyonce: 11
Lady Gaga: 10
Celine Dion: 10
Gloria Estefan: 10
Jennifer Lopez: 10
Kelly Clarkson: 10
Paula Abdul: 10

Most Top 5 Pop Hits- Females
Madonna: 33
Janet Jackson: 22
Mariah Carey: 18
Rihanna: 15 (includes latest singles)
Whitney Houston: 13
Pink: 13
Britney Spears: 12
Olivia Newton-John: 11
Donna Summer: 10
Beyonce: 9
Lady Gaga: 9
Katy Perry: 9
Paula Abdul: 9
Christina Aguilera: 8
Jennifer Lopez: 8
Barbra Streisand: 7
Celine Dion: 7

Most No. 1 Pop Hits- Females
Madonna: 15
Mariah Carey: 14
Whitney Houston: 11
Janet Jackson: 9
Rihanna: 9 (includes "We Found Love")
Katy Perry: 8
Pink: 7
Lady Gaga: 7
Beyonce: 6
Britney Spears: 6
Paula Abdul: 6
Alanis Morissette: 5
Barbra Streisand: 5
Christina Aguilera: 5