Hot 100 Singles Sales #1's 1991-2017

[Gary]

Dec 30, 2020 15:44:57 GMT -5 renaboss said:

Dec 30, 2020 12:20:19 GMT -5 WolfSpear said:

By collecting a list of retailer reports from across the country. Either FAX or phone it in. I’m not sure if retailers had weighted values like the disc jockeys did, but often times they would complete ignore an older catalog title since it was yesterday’s news... even if that title may legitimately be selling. Also, an album like the soundtrack to Sgt. Pepper, starring the Bee Gees, that bombed, ranked high due to the massive volume of shipments it received. The actual POS would have shown that it bombed... retailers obviously ranked it high because of the anticipation.

When they surveyed disc jockeys, they ranked everything on a weighted system. So if you lived in the middle of Kalamazoo, you would get a bronze weight, which is like 5 points for every time you ranked #1 on a play list there. If you were in San Francisco, then likely the same #1 would be 15 points since you’re serving a major district... See, these old methods have tons of loopholes...

Thank you for that, but I meant where did Gary get his info, since what it says here is different from what I see in the magazines.

Billboard.biz BUT the data is no longer available since they removed the chart.

I grabbed the number ones anyway, looks like about 18 months ago

[Gary]

Dec 29, 2020 16:28:21 GMT -5 renaboss said:

How was the data acquired for those first 1991 sales? I'm looking at the magazine from May 18, 1991, and it says the best-selling song is "More Than Words", not "I Wanna Sex You Up".

The 6/8 chart in the magazine has I Wanna Sex You Up as the number one with a note that the POS charts and the retail charts were ran in parallel for a bit

The POS #1 on 5/18 probably is correct as these would be the unpublished test charts

Note: I did not have an interest in tracking this database until it was too late and the database was removed. (So I can't recreate)

I did however grab the #1's which I posted in this thread

[WolfSpear]

Oh! Billboard uses test charts that they did not publish. Those are considered revisionist history... to me, but to each his own. They were published in the internet age.

[WolfSpear]

Is there any way you can confirm the number one for June 6, 2009 as it appears to be missing? Gary

Oh, and how about a trivia question for you too (I researched the Hot 100 positions for each week). Can you name the song to lead #1 in sales but also be forced out of the Hot 100 due to the 20/50 rule... or any recurrent rule, for that matter?

[alura117]

Hey everyone, just wanted to say that I went through the magazine and found all the #1's from 1984-1991. I know that this data isn't as reliable due to SoundScan not being available yet, but I thought it'd be interesting to share anyways. The SoundScan data in the magazine starts on June 8, 1991, so I went up to there, although a few earlier weeks seem to have data available based on this first post. 


1984
October 20: I Just Called to Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder (3 weeks) (Re: November 17)
November 3: Caribbean Quean (No More Love On the Run) - Billy Ocean (2 weeks)
November 24: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham! (4 weeks)
December 22: The Wild Boys - Duran Duran (2 weeks)

1985
January 5: Like a Virgin - Madonna (4 weeks)
February 2: Easy Lover - Phillip Bailey & Phil Collins
February 9: I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
February 16: Careless Whisper - Wham! feat. George Michael (3 weeks)
March 9: Can’t Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon (2 weeks)
March 23: The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey
March 30: One More Night - Phil Collins
April 6: We Are the World - USA For Africa (5 weeks)
May 11: Don’t You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (2 weeks)
May 25: Everything She Wants - Wham! (2 weeks)
June 8: Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears For Fears (2 weeks)
June 22: Heaven - Bryan Adams (2 weeks)
July 6: A View to a Kill - Duran Duran (3 weeks)
July 27: Everytime You Go Away - Paul Young (2 weeks)
August 10: Shout - Tears For Fears (2 weeks)
August 24: Never Surrender - Corey Hart
August 31: The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and The News
September 7: St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion) - John Parr (2 weeks)
September 21: Money For Nothing - Dire Straits (2 weeks)
October 5: Cherish - Kool & the Gang
October 12: Oh Sheila - Ready For the World
October 19: Saving All My Love For You - Whitney Houston
November 2: Part-Time Lover - Stevie Wonder
November 9: Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer (2 weeks)
November 23: You Belong to the City - Glenn Frey (2 weeks)
December 7: Broken Wings - Mr. Mister (2 weeks)
December 21: Say You, Say Me - Lionel Richie (3 weeks)

1986
January 11: That’s What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick & Friends (5 weeks)
February 15: Burning Heart - Survivor
February 22: How Will I Know - Whitney Houston
March 1: Kyrie - Mr. Mister (2 weeks)
March 15: Sara - Starship
March 22: These Dreams - Heart
March 29: Rock Me Amadeus - Falco (3 weeks)
April 19: Kiss - Prince and The Revolution
April 26: Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer (2 weeks)
May 10: West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys (2 weeks)
May 24: Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston
May 31: On My Own - Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald (5 weeks)
July 5: There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) - Billy Ocean
July 12: Holding Back the Years - Simply Red
July 19: Nasty - Janet Jackson
July 26: Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
August 2: Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
August 9: Papa Don’t Preach - Madonna (3 weeks)
August 30: Venus - Bananarama (2 weeks)
September 13: Take My Breath Away - Berlin
September 20: Stuck With You - Huey Lewis and The News (2 weeks)
October 4: Friends and Lovers - Carl Anderson & Gloria Loring
October 11: Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) - Glass Tiger
October 18: Two of Hearts - Stacey Q
October 25: Typical Male - Tina Turner (2 weeks)
November 8: Amanda - Boston (2 weeks)
November 15: Human - The Human League (2 weeks)
November 29: You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi (2 weeks)
December 13: Hip to Be Square - Huey Lewis and The News
December 20: Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles (4 weeks)

1987
January 17: Notorious - Duran Duran
January 24: C’est La Vie - Robbie Nevil
January 31: At This Moment - Billy Vera & the Beaters (2 weeks)
February 14: Livin’ On a Prayer - Bon Jovi (3 weeks) (Re: March 7)
February 28: Keep Your Hands to Yourself - Georgia Satellites
March 14: Somewhere Out There - Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram (2 weeks)
March 28: Lean on Me - Club Nouveau
April 4: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship (2 weeks)
April 18: I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) - Aretha Franklin & George Michael (2 weeks)
May 2: Looking For a New Love - Jody Waltley (3 weeks)
May 23: With or Without You - U2
May 30: The Lady in Red - Chris de Burgh
June 6: You Keep Me Hangin’ On - Kim Wilde (2 weeks)
June 20: Head to Toe - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
June 27: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston (2 weeks)
July 11: Alone - Heart (2 weeks)
July 25: Shakedown - Bob Seger (2 weeks)
August 8: I Want Your Sex - George Michael (2 weeks)
August 22: Who’s That Girl - Madonna
August 29: La Bamba - Los Lobos (3 weeks)
September 19: I Just Can’t Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson feat. Sideah Garrett
September 26: Didn’t We Almost Have It All - Whitney Houston (2 weeks)
October 10: Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
October 17: Lost in Emotion - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
October 24: Bad - Michael Jackson (2 weeks)
November 7: I Think We’re Alone Now - Tiffany (2 weeks)
November 21: Mony Mony - Billy Idol
November 28: (I've Had) The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
December 5: Heaven Is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle
December 19: Faith - George Michael
December 26: So Emotional - Whitney Houston (3 weeks)

1988
January 16: Got My Mind Set on You - George Harrison (2 weeks)
January 30: Need You Tonight - INXS
February 6: Could’ve Been - Tiffany (2 weeks)
February 20: Seasons Change - Expose
February 27: What Have I Done to Deserve This? - Pet Shop Boys feat. Dusty Springfield
March 5: Father Figure - George Michael
March 12: Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
March 19: I Get Weak - Belinda Carlisle
March 26: Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson (2 weeks)
April 9: Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car - Billy Ocean (2 weeks)
April 23: Where Do Broken Hearts Go - Whitney Houston (2 weeks)
May 7: Wishing Well - Terence Trent D’Arby
May 14: Anything For You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine (2 weeks)
May 28: One More Try - George Michael (3 weeks)
June 18: Together Forever - Rick Astley
June 25: Foolish Beat - Debbie Gibson
July 2: Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
July 9: The Flame - Cheap Trick
July 16: Mercedes Boy - Pebbles
July 23: Hold On to the Nights - Richard Marx
July 30: Roll With It - Steve Winwood
August 6: Hands to Heaven - Breathe (2 weeks)
August 20: Make Me Lose Control - Eric Carmen
August 27: Monkey - George Michael (2 weeks)
September 10: Sweet Child o’Mine - Guns n’ Roses (2 weeks)
September 24: Don’t Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin (3 weeks)
October 15: Red Red Wine - UB40 (2 weeks)
October 29: A Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
November 5: Kokomo - The Beach Boys
November 12: Wild, Wild West - The Escape Club
November 19: The Loco-Motion - Kylie Minogue
November 26: Desire - U2
December 3: Baby, I Love Your Way / Free Bird - Will to Power
December 10: How Can I Fall? - Breathe
December 17: Look Away - Chicago
December 24: Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison (3 weeks)

1989
January 14: My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
January 21: Two Hearts - Phil Collins
January 28: Armageddon It - Def Leppard
February 4: When I’m With You - Sheriff
February 11: Straight Up - Paula Abdul
February 18: Wild Thing - Tone-Loc (2 weeks)
March 4: Lost in Your Eyes - Debbie Gibson (2 weeks)
March 18: The Living Years - Mike + the Mechanics (2 weeks)
April 1: Girl You Know It’s True - Milli Vanilli (2 weeks)
April 15: She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
April 22: Like a Prayer - Madonna (3 weeks)
May 13: I’ll Be There For You - Bon Jovi
May 20: Real Love - Jody Waltley (2 weeks)
June 3: Soldier of Love - Donny Osmond
June 10: Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
June 17: I’ll Be Loving You (Forever) - New Kids on the Block
June 24: Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry (2 weeks)
July 8: Baby Don’t Forget My Number - Milli Vanilli
July 15: If You Don’t Know Me By Now - Simply Red
July 22: Batdance - Prince (3 weeks)
August 12: On Our Own - Bobby Brown (2 weeks)
August 26: Right Here Waiting - Richard Marx
September 2: Cold Hearted - Paula Abdul
September 9: Hangin’ Tough - New Kids on the Block
September 16: Don’t Wanna Lose You - Gloria Estefan
September 23: Girl I’m Gonna Miss You - Milli Vanilli
September 30: Heaven - Warrant
October 7: Miss You Much - Janet Jackson (3 weeks)
October 28: Sowing the Seeds of Love - Tears For Fears (2 weeks)
November 11: When I See You Smile - Bad English (2 weeks)
November 25: Blame It on the Rain - Milli Vanilli
December 2: We Didn’t Start the Fire - Billy Joel (3 weeks)
December 23: Don’t Know Much - Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville (2 weeks)

1990
January 6: Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic (4 weeks)
February 3: How Am I Supposed to Live Without You - Michael Bolton
February 10: Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul (3 weeks)
March 3: Escapade - Janet Jackson (2 weeks)
March 17: Black Velvet - Alannah Myles (3 weeks)
April 7: Love Will Lead You Back - Taylor Dayne
April 14: I’ll Be Your Everything - Tommy Page
April 21: All Around the World - Lisa Stanfield
April 28: Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O’Connor (3 weeks)
May 19: Vogue - Madonna (2 weeks)
June 2: Poison - Bell Biv Devoe (3 weeks)
June 23: Step By Step - New Kids on the Block (3 weeks)
July 14: Hold On - En Vogue (2 weeks)
July 28: The Power - Snap! (3 weeks)
August 18: Vision of Love - Mariah Carey (2 weeks)
September 1: Blaze of Glory - Bon Jovi (3 weeks)
September 22: Do Me! - Bell Biv Devoe
September 29: (Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection - Nelson
October 6: Close to You - Maxi Priest
October 13: Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice (4 weeks)
November 10: Love Takes Time - Mariah Carey (2 weeks)
November 24: Groove Is in the Heart - Deee-Lite (2 weeks)
December 8: Because I Love You (The Postman Song) - Stevie B
December 15: From a Distance - Bette Midler
December 22: Justify My Love - Madonna (5 weeks)

1991
January 26: Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C+C Music Factory (4 weeks)
February 23: All the Man That I Need - Whitney Houston
March 2: One More Try - Timmy T (5 weeks)
April 6: Sadeness Part I - Enigma (2 weeks) (Re: April 20)
April 13: I’ve Been Thinking About You - Londonbeat
April 27: Baby Baby - Amy Grant
May 4: Joyride - Roxette
May 11: I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) - Hi-Five (2 weeks)
May 25: More Than Words - Extreme (2 weeks) 

[1^∞]

Interesting to see, Buffalo Stance, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Bitch I'm Madonna all #1's here! Wish this was published as it provides an alternate view, like if you want to compare UK and US music consumption, it might make more sense for these to represent the US than Hot 100 considering we ust use sales

[alura117]

Dec 17, 2023 22:51:34 GMT -5 1^∞ said:

Interesting to see, Buffalo Stance, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Bitch I'm Madonna all #1's here! Wish this was published as it provides an alternate view, like if you want to compare UK and US music consumption, it might make more sense for these to represent the US than Hot 100 considering we ust use sales

It's worth noting that the chart posted here only refers to physical single sales, whereas the UK singles chart has counted digital sales and streams since 2006. There's data on the US digital song number ones online and that's much more reliable than the sales #1s posted here from 2005-present, as the physical singles market was very limited from 2000 onwards. Though they are an interesting curiosity still. You can find them on Wikipedia by looking up the digital song sales #1s of any year from 2005-present or streaming songs from 2013-present. There is also an earlier chart of "Hot Digital Tracks" from mid-2003 to the creation of the digital song sales chart. These were published in the magazine but aren't online. I will post those #1s soon.

I agree that it's a very interesting thing to compare, that was just what I had in mind when looking through all of these. From 1984 to 1991 the magazine had the top 25 songs in sales and top 25 in airplay right next to each other, and that was neat to look through to directly see what songs charted based on either airplay or sales. I think a lot about how during that particular period between the initial heyday of the 45 record and when downloads and streaming revitalized the music industry and made single sales popular again, there was this downtime where accurately reflecting what was really popular became very difficult in the singles chart sense. Maybe if there was more emphasis on singles solely in the chart in the 90s then maybe more hit songs would have singles issued with them. Who knows, but I'm glad this data is available to get a different view. 

[alura117]

And here is the Hot Digital Tracks number ones from 2003 to the start of 2005, when Digital Songs was introduced.

2003
July 19: Crazy in Love - Beyonce feat. Jay-Z (6 weeks) (Re: August 23, September 13-20)
August 9: In Between Days - Ben Folds
August 16: Love of Strings - Moby
August 30: Bigger Than My Body - John Mayer (2 weeks)
September 27: Where Is the Love? - The Black Eyed Peas
October 4: Hurt - Johnny Cash
October 11: Fallen - Sarah McLachlan
October 18: Hey Ya! - OutKast (19 weeks) (Re: February 28-March 6)

2004
February 14: Toxic - Britney Spears
February 21: I Fought the Law - Green Day
March 13: This Love - Maroon 5 (4 weeks)
April 10: My Band - D12 (3 weeks)
May 1: The Reason - Hoobastank (9 weeks)
July 10: Yeah! - Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris (4 weeks)
August 7: Pieces of Me - Ashlee Simpson
August 14: She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5 (5 weeks)
September 18: 1985 - Bowling For Soup (4 weeks)
October 16: Vertigo - U2 (5 weeks) (Re: November 6-20)
October 23: Just Lose It - Eminem (2 weeks)
November 27: Numb/Encore - Jay-Z and Linkin Park (2 weeks)
December 11: Lose My Breath - Destiny’s Child
December 18: Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day (9 weeks) (Re: Jan 1-22/2005)
December 25: Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

[Tea-why]

alura117 thank you so much for this info!! This is really cool.

[bat1990]

I wish Hot Single Sales was still available. It's weird to me that they take down discontinued charts for paid subscribers.

[Tea-why]

Dec 20, 2023 16:29:37 GMT -5 bat1990 said:

I wish Hot Single Sales was still available. It's weird to me that they take down discontinued charts for paid subscribers.

Same here. I was annoyed when subscribing that it was no longer in the archives.