Year End Cutoffs for Older Years

[jedenpolska]

I know that the current YE chart has strange start and end dates, but my understanding was that before the 2018 YE, the chart began the first week of December and ended the last week in November. I was perusing old YE charts and was surprised to see that Another One Bites the Dust was nowhere on the 1980 YE, despite having its three weeks at #1 from October 4-18, 1980. Instead, it's at #65 for the 1981 chart. Fascinatingly, right before it at #64 on that chart was Arthur's Theme, which hit #1 from October 17-31, 1981, even later in the YE year than AOBTD (but a whole year later). Arthur's Theme also ends up at #98 in the 1982 YE btw (maybe being the first song to be on multiple years; I'm not sure about that though). I think nowadays, a song that peaks at 1 for several weeks in October would probably end up on both years. Another case study from the era is Who Can It Be Now which peaked at 1 for only one week on October 30, 1982 but ended up at #30 on YE 1982, much higher than the other songs (and nowhere on the 1983 YE). 

I guess my questions here are: 
Was my original assumption about the YE cutoffs right?
Why wasn't AOBTD on the 1980 YE in addition to the 1981 one (or maybe even instead of)?
Did the lack of double-counted songs mean that more songs then than now got caught between years?

[85la]

You are right in that before 2018, the chart year always started the first week of December, but it appears that was only the case during the Soundscan era (post 1991). Before that, it seemed to change frequently and did many weird things, sometimes ending as early as October, sometimes in November, and for some years weeks seemed to be cut out entirely, not being included in any year, which is why some songs, such as the ones you mentioned, didn't make it on any year-end chart, or ranked much lower than expected.

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

^To note, in early 2018 the current chart dating was established so that charts are now dated the Saturday right after they are refreshed on the Billboard website, instead of two Saturday afterward as used to be the case before that. To make the transition, they published charts dated January 3rd followed by January 6th which resulted in the 52 week year-end dates we have seen since then.

[jedenpolska]

Thanks for the answers. That makes a lot of sense. That is frustrating that before 1991, the YE chart was so variable though. I always took it as a good measure of a year in music.

[korbel16]

Same issue w/ me when i was trying to figure out how fantasy by Mariah Carey was number 7 on the year end in 95 when it was released mid September

[Soulsista]

Why wasn't AOBTD on the 1980 YE in addition to the 1981 one (or maybe even instead of)?

The chart period Billboard used for the 1980 year-end was pretty early: October 6, 1979 through September 27, 1980. Since "Another One Bites The Dust" peaked after that period, it was deferred to 1981.

[Gary]

I don't remember the precise years but during the time AT40 used the Hot 100 as its data source, there were a number of years where they did their own year end charts for the countdown shows using a modified reporting period from the magazine

[85la]

Nov 13, 2020 6:30:14 GMT -5 korbel16 said:

Same issue w/ me when i was trying to figure out how fantasy by Mariah Carey was number 7 on the year end in 95 when it was released mid September

Well, 1995 was actually a "normal" year when the last chart date was the last week of November. Fantasy just had really gigantic airplay and especially sales numbers during its nine weeks that counted towards 1995, crashing in at #1 and staying there for 8 weeks.

[Groovy]

Nov 13, 2020 6:30:14 GMT -5 korbel16 said:

Same issue w/ me when i was trying to figure out how fantasy by Mariah Carey was number 7 on the year end in 95 when it was released mid September

My same thoughts for Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997, it was released around the same time in 1997 as Fantasy in 1995 but it topped the year end that year and I don't know how. 

[korbel16]

Nov 13, 2020 15:35:46 GMT -5 Groovy said:

Nov 13, 2020 6:30:14 GMT -5 korbel16 said:

Same issue w/ me when i was trying to figure out how fantasy by Mariah Carey was number 7 on the year end in 95 when it was released mid September

My same thoughts for Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997, it was released around the same time in 1997 as Fantasy in 1995 but it topped the year end that year and I don't know how. 

i kinda understand candle in the wind tho because it’s chart points were 3:1 to the number 2 for several weeks. Gigantic honestly

[Deleted]

Nov 13, 2020 11:55:53 GMT -5 Soulsista said:

Why wasn't AOBTD on the 1980 YE in addition to the 1981 one (or maybe even instead of)?

The chart period Billboard used for the 1980 year-end was pretty early: October 6, 1979 through September 27, 1980. Since "Another One Bites The Dust" peaked after that period, it was deferred to 1981.

Where do you find those chart periods? Also, using an October-September format is absolutely absurd. Billboard might as well have gone the NBA or NHL route and called it the 1979-80 Chart Year.

[Gary]

Due largely to time periods, there were years in the 1980s up through 1991 where AT40 did there own year end charts - in some cases ending with different year end #1's -- some examples


AT40 year end charts compared to Billboard -examples

1980 AT40

10. Paul McCartney – Coming Up (Live At Glasgow)

9. M – Pop Muzik

8. Olivia Newton-John – Magic

7. Billy Joel – It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me

6. Queen – Crazy Little Thing Called Love

5. Diana Ross – Upside Down

4. Michael Jackson – Rock With You

3. Captain and Tennille – Do It To Me One More Time

2. Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall

1. Blondie – Call Me

1980 Billboard


10 "The Rose" Bette Midler

9 "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" Billy Joel

8 "Funkytown" Lipps Inc

7 "Coming Up" Paul McCartney

6 "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Queen

5 "Do That to Me One More Time" Captain & Tennille

4 "Rock with You" Michael Jackson

3 "Magic" Olivia Newton-John

2 "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" Pink Floyd

1 "Call Me" Blondie



1981 AT40 

10. Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme

9. Hall & Oates – Kiss On My Lips

8. Dolly Parton – 9 to 5

7. Eddie Rabbit – I Love A Rainy Night

6. Kool & The Gang – Celebrate

5. Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl

4. John Lennon – Starting Over

3. Kenny Rogers – Lady

2. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross – Endless Love

1. Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes


1981 Billboard

10 "Keep on Loving You" REO Speedwagon

9 "9 to 5" Dolly Parton

8 "I Love a Rainy Night" Eddie Rabbitt

7 "Kiss on My List" Hall & Oates

6 "Celebration" Kool & the Gang

5 "Jessie's Girl" Rick Springfield

4 "(Just Like) Starting Over" John Lennon

3 "Lady" Kenny Rogers

2 "Endless Love" Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

1 "Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes


1982 AT40

10. John Cougar – Jack and Diane

9. Foreigner – Waiting For A Girl Like You

8. The Human League – Don’t You Want Me

7. The Steve Miller Band – Abra Cadabra

6. John Cougar – Hurts So Good

5. Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – Ebony & Ivory

4. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – I Love Rock & Roll

3. The J. Geils Band – Centrefold

2. Survivor – Eye of the Tiger

1. Olivia Newton-John – Physical


1982 Billboard 

10 "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" Chicago

9 "Abracadabra" Steve Miller Band

8 "Hurts So Good" John Cougar

7 "Jack & Diane" John Cougar

6 "Don't You Want Me" The Human League

5 "Centerfold" The J. Geils Band

4 "Ebony and Ivory" Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

3 "I Love Rock 'n Roll" Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

2 "Eye of the Tiger" Survivor

1 "Physical" Olivia Newton-John



1982

10. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – Islands In The Stream

9. Laura Brannigan – Gloria

8. Michael Jackson – Beat It Up

7. Lionel Richie – All Night Long

6. Hall & Oates – Maneater

5. Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart

4. Men At Work – Down Under

3. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

2. Irene Cara – Flashdance…What A Feeling

1. The Police – Every Breath You Take



10 "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" Eurythmics

9 "Maniac" Michael Sembello

8 "Baby, Come to Me" Patti Austin and James Ingram

7 "Maneater" Daryl Hall & John Oates

6 "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Bonnie Tyler

5 "Beat It" Michael Jackson

4 "Down Under" Men at Work

3 "Flashdance... What a Feeling" Irene Cara

2 "Billie Jean" Michael Jackson

1 "Every Breath You Take" The Police



1984 AT40

10. Stevie Wonder – I Just Called To Say I Love You

9. Yes – Owner of a Lonely Heart

8. Lionel Richie – Hello

7. Culture Club – Karma Chameleon

6. Kenny Loggins – Footloose

5. Phil Collins – Against All Odds

4. Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It

3. Van Halen – Jump

2. Prince & The Revolution – When Doves Cry

1. Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson – Say Say Say

1984 Billboard

10 "Karma Chameleon" Culture Club

9 "Ghostbusters" Ray Parker, Jr.

8 "Owner of a Lonely Heart" Yes

7 "Hello" Lionel Richie

6 "Jump" Van Halen

5 "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" Phil Collins

4 "Footloose" Kenny Loggins

3 "Say Say Say" Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

2 "What's Love Got to Do with It" Tina Turner

1 "When Doves Cry" Prince



1990 AT40

10 OPPOSITES ATTRACT PAULA ABDUL (DUET WITH THE WILD PAIR)

9 POISON BELL BIV DEVOE

8 HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU MICHAEL BOLTON

7 LOVE TAKES TIME MARIAH CAREY

6 VOGUE MADONNA

5 HOLD ON WILSON PHILLIPS

4 IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE ROXETTE

3 ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE PHIL COLLINS

2 VISION OF LOVE MARIAH CAREY

1 NOTHING COMPARES 2 U SINEAD O'CONNOR



1990 Billboard

10 BLAZE OF GLORY JON BON JOVI

9 CRADLE OF LOVE BILLY IDOL

8 HOLD ON EN VOGUE

7 ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE PHIL COLLINS

6 VISION OF LOVE MARIAH CAREY

5 VOGUE MADONNA

4 POISON BELL BIV DEVOE

3 NOTHING COMPARE 2 U SINEAD O'CONNOR

2 IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE ROXETTE

1 HOLD ON WILSON PHILLIPS

[Private Dancer]

Nov 13, 2020 15:35:46 GMT -5 Groovy said:

Nov 13, 2020 6:30:14 GMT -5 korbel16 said:

Same issue w/ me when i was trying to figure out how fantasy by Mariah Carey was number 7 on the year end in 95 when it was released mid September

My same thoughts for Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997, it was released around the same time in 1997 as Fantasy in 1995 but it topped the year end that year and I don't know how. 

Candle in the wind debuted at #1 with 3.5 million copies sold and sold 8 million in 1997 which gave it an advantage over any song that year. Its sales points was huge than any other that year.