Should songs that charted in 1997 and 1998 be penalized?

[phieaglesfan712]

As you all know by now, airplay only songs were ineligible to chart in 1997 and 1998. As a result, songs from this time period like How Do I Live, I'll Be Missing You, and The Boy is Mine benefitted from having some of their biggest competition removed. Should their positions on Billboard's all-time lists have an asterisk next to them and/or be lowered to account for this?

[jenglisbe]

Where is the PROOF those specific songs benefitted?

Additionally, what would even be a good way to lower their position on the all-time chart? As in, how would you determine how to do it?

[phieaglesfan712]

May 14, 2022 9:12:17 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

Where is the PROOF those specific songs benefitted?

Additionally, what would even be a good way to lower their position on the all-time chart? As in, how would you determine how to do it?

Do you think Foolish Games would have lasted 65 weeks or HDIL 69 weeks if airplay only songs counted? Probably not. In fact, take a look at this chart: Attachment Deleted

Isn't it funny how the record changes hands so many times in this few years of no airplay only songs period, and the longest charting song goes from like forty-something weeks to 69? Meanwhile, in the almost 25 years after this period, the record has changed hands less times, despite songs charting longer (so much so that they had to introduce a 2nd recurrent rule).

A good way to lower their position on the all-time chart is to lower the multiplier for this period. The competition was weaker in this time period (due to airplay songs not charting), and as a result, songs like Foolish Games and HDIL were able to chart for much longer than they deserved.

[Gary]

Think about other differences in the market between 1997 and today -- what could they be? Could there be other reasons besides airplay only songs as to why songs are charting longer?



Also there were not that many "airplay only"  songs

Most songs in that period were released as singles

phieaglesfan712

Do you think Foolish Games would have lasted 65 weeks or HDIL 69 weeks if airplay only songs counted?

A little background on Foolish Games, Foolish Games had its extended chart run because of 'airplay only' not in spite of it


This was two separate  chart runs merged together.

You Were Meant For Me peaked at #2 and lasted about 42 weeks
Foolish Games was released and peaked at #7 - ironically originally supposed to be an 'airplay only' release off the Batman & Robin soundtrack - the label had forgot that the LP version of Foolish Games was already out as the B side to You Were Meant For Me

Because they were on the same single, the chart rules at the time merged them together

If 'airplay only' had counted it is likely the label would have released a completely separate single  (The Batman version was a separate mix)

[JukeboxJacob]

The chart's gone thru and still goes thru changes. That's just something we have to live with. I have OCD, it bothers me too but oh well, the only thing we can do is make our own personal charts that fit our personal likings