Year-End Chart Cutoffs Questions

[inverse]

Quick question I had. I think we all know that the 2018 & 2019 charts deviated from the December-November cutoff that had been running for a long time. But going back into oldies charts I'm kind of confused by what some of the chart cutoffs were at the time. 1963 for example appears to use January-December which if true means there was like a 48 week year at one point that would have been January-November to get it reset. Does anyone know when that was?

Also does the 1992 chart year include November 30, 1991? I think that week was the first Nielsen week so it might make sense

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

^"CHART EXPLANATION The 1991 Year -End Charts were compiled by computer from Billboard's weekly and biweekly charts during the eligibility period, which is November 24, 1990 through November 23, 1991 for all the charts."

[inverse]

Jul 2, 2020 19:43:50 GMT -5 Baby Yoda Hot100Fan said:

^"CHART EXPLANATION The 1991 Year -End Charts were compiled by computer from Billboard's weekly and biweekly charts during the eligibility period, which is November 24, 1990 through November 23, 1991 for all the charts."

Thanks I could swear that the early hits were all very high for their runs, like That's What Love Is For made it going 9-9-11-11-16-21-20-21-28-36-X

Now there's another week at 11 which makes a lot more sense. Also, where did you find this

[narp]

Jul 3, 2020 0:20:02 GMT -5 inverse said:

Jul 2, 2020 19:43:50 GMT -5 Baby Yoda Hot100Fan said:

^"CHART EXPLANATION The 1991 Year -End Charts were compiled by computer from Billboard's weekly and biweekly charts during the eligibility period, which is November 24, 1990 through November 23, 1991 for all the charts."

Thanks I could swear that the early hits were all very high for their runs, like That's What Love Is For made it going 9-9-11-11-16-21-20-21-28-36-X

Now there's another week at 11 which makes a lot more sense. Also, where did you find this

I sent Baby Yoda Hot100Fan a PM because I was wondering basically the same thing. The info can be found in Billboard Magazine issues. They’re in the final issue produced in a year, usually around 50-85 or so pages in. You’ll know you’re near what you’re looking for when you see the cover photo pop up for a second time. It’ll usually be labeled as something like “Chart Explanation” or “How We Chart The Year”. They also provided me this website so I could find the issues I was looking for: worldradiohistory.com/Billboard-Magazine.htm

Again, big thanks hot100fan!

[Abbaschand]

My cutoff scenarios this year.

Scenario 1: 11/23-11/14 (52)
Scenario 2: 11/23-11/21 (53)
Scenario 3: 11/30-11/21 (52)
Scenario 4: 11/23-11/28 (54)
Scenario 5: 11/30-11/28 (53)
Scenario 6: 12/07-11/28 (52)

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

^I would think Scenario 1 would be most likely, with #2 the second most. I don't think they'll skip a full chart week. A 52 or 53 week chart week would make most sense, but then again, you're talking about Billboard, so common sense doesn't always apply.