Hot AC Turns 15 years old

[Hot AC Archiver]

I posted the following posts on my blog...but I'm not sure how many of you actually read it. ;) Some of it you know, bit I was writing for a general audience...

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 partnered 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

[Hot AC Archiver]

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

[Battle601]

That is very interesting information that I'm really glad you took the time to share with us on this board.

It also answered some questions I had with the format regarding its origins, evolution, and so on forth. It's no wonder why you call yourself "Hot AC Guru". This is absolutely wonderful stuff and I greatly appreciate it.

[musicfanpete]

Great stuff Hot AC Guru! The Hot AC chart has come a long way since the days of Richard Marx, Phil Collins and Celine Dion!

I know some posters here don't like seeing a lot of pop crossover music on the Hot AC chart, but I would consider Ace Of Base the Lady Gaga of 1994. There has always been a lot of variety on the chart, and it has been very interesting to see how the chart has evolved over the years. As I stated on another thread earlier today, a good strong core of Hot AC artists mixed in with some different types of music helps keep the chart fresh. In that regard the chart has evolved nicely since 1994.

I look forward to the next fifteen years and beyond. It should be interesting!

[musicfan20]

Great info regarding Hot AC! Thank you for posting!

[Slinky]

Apr 22, 2009 17:59:49 GMT -5 musicfanpete said:

I know some posters here don't like seeing a lot of pop crossover music on the Hot AC chart, but I would consider Ace Of Base the Lady Gaga of 1994. There has always been a lot of variety on the chart, and it has been very interesting to see how the chart has evolved over the years.

That's true. Pop crossovers were part of the chart at its inception and they're part of the chart today.

It's mainly the posters that started following Hot AC during the "Modern" period (late 90's-early 00's) who are upset with the pop crossovers, but it's really just the format coming full circle.

[Hot AC Archiver]

Thanks for all the kind words!

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 Archiver]

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

[johnm1120]

I think the first recurrent rule implemented on Hot AC was songs below #15 were removed after 3 weeks of spin decrease.

Lots of interesting information. Back in the mid 90's acts like Ace of Base and Hootie & the Blowfish were deemed too hard for AC, but today their songs are practically staples on the format.

[The Party Captain]

Hot AC = Best music around

Thanks for the info.

[Young Money]

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

All Fantastic songs!

[Slinky]

Apr 25, 2009 0:26:10 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

I think the first recurrent rule implemented on Hot AC was songs below #15 were removed after 3 weeks of spin decrease.

Lots of interesting information. Back in the mid 90's acts like Ace of Base and Hootie & the Blowfish were deemed too hard for AC, but today their songs are practically staples on the format.

That's true, but that happens every generation. For instance, disco was too "hard" for AC when it first came out, but it became OK for ACs to play somewhere in the 90's and now it's pretty key to the format.

Sometime in the 2020's, Flo Rida is going to be one of AC's hottest gold tracks. LOL.

[johnm1120]

Apr 27, 2009 15:42:37 GMT -5 Slinky said:

Apr 25, 2009 0:26:10 GMT -5 johnm1120 said:

I think the first recurrent rule implemented on Hot AC was songs below #15 were removed after 3 weeks of spin decrease.

Lots of interesting information. Back in the mid 90's acts like Ace of Base and Hootie & the Blowfish were deemed too hard for AC, but today their songs are practically staples on the format.

That's true, but that happens every generation. For instance, disco was too "hard" for AC when it first came out, but it became OK for ACs to play somewhere in the 90's and now it's pretty key to the format.

Sometime in the 2020's, Flo Rida is going to be one of AC's hottest gold tracks. LOL.

On my AC station, disco is played at least every other song it seems like now.

[Hervard]

Apr 24, 2009 14:27:22 GMT -5 Hot AC Archiver said:

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.

Correction: The Hot AC recurrent rule is now the same as the AC rule. Songs below #5 are removed from the chart after 52 weeks. Downtrending songs below #10 are moved to recurrent after 26 weeks, not 30. And you were right about the last two. Personally, I think this was unnecessary, as the Hot AC chart moves fast enough with the rule they already had. This means that soon there will be more recurrent songs than ever on AT40 and songs won't be debuting on the AT40 chart until they hit the Top Ten on the R&R Hot AC chart.

[Hot AC Archiver]

I took those Mediabase rules straight from Under the Radar's info:

Apr 22, 2009 15:04:17 GMT -5 Adam (UTR) said:

Posted on Mediabase today:

NEW HOT AC RECURRENT RULE: 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.

[musicfanpete]

May 4, 2009 8:42:12 GMT -5 Hervard said:

Correction: The Hot AC recurrent rule is now the same as the AC rule. Songs below #5 are removed from the chart after 52 weeks. Downtrending songs below #10 are moved to recurrent after 26 weeks, not 30. And you were right about the last two. Personally, I think this was unnecessary, as the Hot AC chart moves fast enough with the rule they already had. This means that soon there will be more recurrent songs than ever on AT40 and songs won't be debuting on the AT40 chart until they hit the Top Ten on the R&R Hot AC chart.

No, that's for BDS only. Mediabase uses the 30 week rule for songs below #10, not 26 weeks. Otherwise, "Light On" would have been taken off already, but it is still one for another week or two, if it doesn't fall below #15 before then.

[johnm1120]

May 4, 2009 8:42:12 GMT -5 Hervard said:

This means that soon there will be more recurrent songs than ever on AT40 and songs won't be debuting on the AT40 chart until they hit the Top Ten on the R&R Hot AC chart.

You mean kinda like the pop AT40

[Hervard]

No, because the Pop version of AT40 doesn't contain as many recurrents as the Hot AC version does.

[musicrocks]

This is really cool! Where did u get all this info from?? I wish other formats could have this breakdown of history too...

[Hot AC Archiver]

May 13, 2009 0:37:58 GMT -5 musicrocks said:

This is really cool! Where did u get all this info from?? I wish other formats could have this breakdown of history too...

After someone helped me out with the early chart stats years ago, I've been compiling the data myself each week. It's my hobby I guess. :)

[musicrocks]

May 13, 2009 13:13:32 GMT -5 Hot AC Archiver said:

May 13, 2009 0:37:58 GMT -5 musicrocks said:

This is really cool! Where did u get all this info from?? I wish other formats could have this breakdown of history too...

After someone helped me out with the early chart stats years ago, I've been compiling the data myself each week. It's my hobby I guess. :)

U should put this on Wikipedia, lol! Great job! U got any other stats bout this or other charts?

[Mike Schwartz]

Ditto to the comments from musicrocks above. What Hot AC Guru has provided on this forum and through his blog (which all Hot AC and general music fans should bookmark), is a true service, that is sadly dying. When I first started listening to the original AT 40 back in '73, I was captivated by the chart trivia and questions that Casey would insert between the songs and used to tease the audience just prior to stop sets. Nowadays, the national shows have discontinued this practice and audiences don't appear to be demanding it. Ryan, Rick, Fox All Access etc rather use their shows as a way to provide artist interviews, celebrity news and movie plugs.

As a weekly visitor to the Hot AC blog, I greatly appreciate the hours of research and analysis-all provided selflessly to other music fans. His work should be applauded (and enjoyed)!!

[Hot AC Archiver]

May 14, 2009 9:22:35 GMT -5 Mike Schwartz said:

Ditto to the comments from musicrocks above. What Hot AC Guru has provided on this forum and through his blog (which all Hot AC and general music fans should bookmark), is a true service, that is sadly dying. When I first started listening to the original AT 40 back in '73, I was captivated by the chart trivia and questions that Casey would insert between the songs and used to tease the audience just prior to stop sets. Nowadays, the national shows have discontinued this practice and audiences don't appear to be demanding it. Ryan, Rick, Fox All Access etc rather use their shows as a way to provide artist interviews, celebrity news and movie plugs.

As a weekly visitor to the Hot AC blog, I greatly appreciate the hours of research and analysis-all provided selflessly to other music fans. His work should be applauded (and enjoyed)!!

Thank you for the kind words. :)

To answer musicrocks question, I had stats on the R&R pop chart from 1989-2003, but I abandoned the pop chart after Casey stopped using it. Anyway, chartboy's site is more thorough than anything I had.