Hot AC 30th Anniversary

[Hot AC Archiver]

30 years ago today, on 22 April 1994, Radio & Records published their first Hot AC chart:


To celebrate, I'll fill this thread with facts/records about the chart throughout the week.

Through the 21 April 2024 chart, there have been 3461 songs that have reached the chart. Of those 304 have reached the top spot.

Through 1994, songs were ranked by a point based system. Starting with the first chart of 1995, songs were ranked by plays (spins).

The chart was comprised of 30 positions until the 17 May 2002 chart, when it expanded to its current 40 positions.

Here are the top songs ranked by peak position and weeks at that position:

Top Songs by Peak Position

1. Smooth - Santana f/ Rob Thomas, 23 weeks at #1 1999-2000
2. Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift, 22 weeks at #1, 2023-24
3. Wherever You Will Go - The Calling, 20 weeks at #1, 2001-02
3. Unwell - Matchbox Twenty, 20 weeks at #1, 2003
3. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd, 20 weeks at #1, 2020
6. Bubbly - Colbie Caillat, 17 weeks at #1, 2007-08
7. Complicated - Avril Lavigne, 16 weeks at #1, 2002
7. Flowers - Miley Cyrus, 16 weeks at #1, 2023
9. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls, 15 weeks at #1, 1998
10. Memories - Maroon 5, 14 weeks at #1, 2019-20
10. High Hopes - Panic! At the Disco, 14 weeks at #1, 2018-19
10. Girls Like You - Maroon 5, 14 weeks at #1, 2018
10. Here without You - 3 Doors Down, 14 weeks at #1, 2003-04
10. Torn - Natalie Imbruglia, 14 weeks at #1, 1998

[Hot AC Archiver]

Longevity Songs

1. Drops of Jupiter - Train, 71 weeks
2. Smooth - Santana f/ Rob Thomas, 68 weeks
2. You and Me - Lifehouse - 68 weeks
2. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd, 68 weeks
5. Wherever You Will Go - The Calling - 67 weeks
***"Flowers" - Miley Cyrus - 67 weeks (as of 4/21/24)
6. Stay - The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber - 66 weeks
6. Levitating - Dua Lipa - 66 weeks
8. Circles - Post Malone, 65 weeks
9. Hanging by a Moment - Lifehouse - 64 weeks
***"Calm Down" - Rema & Selena Gomez - (64 weeks as of 4/21/24)
10. Slide - Goo Goo Dolls - 62 weeks
10. Heat Waves - Glass Animals - 62 weeks (2 chart runs)

The record since the latest recurrent rule change (2012) is 68 weeks: "Blinding Lights" - The Weeknd

Most Number Ones:
1. Maroon 5 - 15
2. Taylor Swift - 13
3. Pink - 10
4. Katy Perry - 8
4. Ed Sheeran - 8
6. Shawn Mendes - 6
6. Adele - 6
8. Nickelback - 5
8. Imagine Dragons - 5
8. Elton John - 5

Most Top 10 Hits:
1. Taylor Swift - 30
2. Maroon 5 - 26
3. Pink - 20
4. Kelly Clarkson - 17
5. Katy Perry - 16
5. Ed Sheeran - 16
7. Matchbox Twenty - 13
7. Train - 13
7. Justin Bieber - 13
7. OneRepublic - 13

[Hot AC Archiver]

Biggest Mover: up 18 notches: "24K Magic" 32->14.

Most Weeks at #2 (for a song that peaked at #2): 17 weeks. "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback spent 17 weeks at number 2 in 2001-2002.

Most Weeks at #3 (for a song that peaked at #3): 13 weeks. "Barely Breathing" by Duncan Sheik in 1997.

Most Weeks at any peak position outside the top 5: 8 weeks. "Breathe (2am)" by Anna Nalick spent 8 weeks at number 6 in 2005, "Issues" by Julia Michaels spent 8 weeks at #8 in 2017, "Cool for the Summer by Demi Lovato spend 8 week at #12 in 2015, "Wordplay" by Jason Mraz spent 8 weeks at #17 in 2005, and "Feel Good Inc" by Gorillaz spent 8 weeks at #19 in 2005.

Most weeks in the top 2: 30 weeks. "Blinding Lights" spent 30 weeks in the top 2 (non-consecutive) in 2020-21

Most weeks in the top 5: 49 weeks. "Blinding Lights" by the Weeknd in 2020/2021.

Most Weeks in the top 10: 63+ weeks. "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus.

Most Consecutive Weeks in the top 10 with different songs: 107 weeks (counting the holiday breaks), Nickelback.

Most Consecutive Weeks on the Chart with Different Songs: 130 weeks by the Weeknd.

[Hot AC Archiver]

Most charted songs by solo female:

1. Taylor Swift - 43 [3 featurings*]
2. P!nk - 35 [3 featuring]
3. Kelly Clarkson - 30
4. Katy Perry - 29 [2 featurings]
5. Rihanna - 28 [6 featurings]
5. Ariana Grande - 28 [4 featurings]
7. Madonna - 23
8. Lady GaGa - 21
8. Selena Gomez - 21 [2 w/ the Scene, 4 featurings]
10. Sheryl Crow - 19 [1 featuring]
10. Meghan Trainor - 19 [2 featurings]
10. Miley Cyrus - 19 [3 featurings]

*featurings: Was a featured credit on another artist's song

[MostInterestingManInTheWorld]

Apr 22, 2024 15:38:08 GMT -5 Hot AC Archiver said:

30 years ago today, on 22 April 1994, Radio & Records published their first Hot AC chart:


To celebrate, I'll fill this thread with facts/records about the chart throughout the week.

Through the 21 April 2024 chart, there have been 3461 songs that have reached the chart. Of those 304 have reached the top spot.

Through 1994, songs were ranked by a point based system. Starting with the first chart of 1995, songs were ranked by plays (spins).

The chart was comprised of 30 positions until the 17 May 2002 chart, when it expanded to its current 40 positions.

Here are the top songs ranked by peak position and weeks at that position:

Top Songs by Peak Position

1. Smooth - Santana f/ Rob Thomas, 23 weeks at #1 1999-2000
2. Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift, 22 weeks at #1, 2023-24
3. Wherever You Will Go - The Calling, 20 weeks at #1, 2001-02
3. Unwell - Matchbox Twenty, 20 weeks at #1, 2003
3. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd, 20 weeks at #1, 2020
6. Bubbly - Colbie Caillat, 17 weeks at #1, 2007-08
7. Complicated - Avril Lavigne, 16 weeks at #1, 2002
7. Flowers - Miley Cyrus, 16 weeks at #1, 2023
9. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls, 15 weeks at #1, 1998
10. Memories - Maroon 5, 14 weeks at #1, 2019-20
10. High Hopes - Panic! At the Disco, 14 weeks at #1, 2018-19
10. Girls Like You - Maroon 5, 14 weeks at #1, 2018
10. Here without You - 3 Doors Down, 14 weeks at #1, 2003-04
10. Torn - Natalie Imbruglia, 14 weeks at #1, 1998

That first HAC chart is very interesting - "all genre friendly" CHR hits and a handful of the more interesting AC-but-not-CHR tunes. I don't think any of these failed to chart CHR Top 40 or AC Top 30.

Any sense as to what the first "HAC-only" hit was? That being defined as a song that failed to make the CHR Top 40 or or the AC Top 30, but did make the HAC Top 30 (I do know of a couple of 1990's songs that would qualify, so need to include the HAC 40 era).

[jdanton2]

both Flowers and Cruel Summer which are among the biggest overall are still top 10.

[musiciscool]

Looks like Flowers is going to make it to 68 weeks on the chart.

[Hot AC Archiver]

Apr 26, 2024 10:49:52 GMT -5 MostInterestingManInTheWorld said:

That first HAC chart is very interesting - "all genre friendly" CHR hits and a handful of the more interesting AC-but-not-CHR tunes. I don't think any of these failed to chart CHR Top 40 or AC Top 30.

Any sense as to what the first "HAC-only" hit was? That being defined as a song that failed to make the CHR Top 40 or or the AC Top 30, but did make the HAC Top 30 (I do know of a couple of 1990's songs that would qualify, so need to include the HAC 40 era).

It's hard for me to find out since I don't have the R&R/Mediabase AC charts broken down like I do HAC, but I do have the Whitburn Billboard AC book. A very quick look shows a few songs early in HAC chart history that looked to only have charted there, such as "Lie to Me" by Bon Jovi (peak #27 HAC). However, the first decent sized hit I found was "Possession" by Sarah McLachlan, which peaked at #19 HAC but didn't reach the CHR top 40 or BB AC chart.

[Hot AC Archiver]

Most charted songs by solo male:
1. Justin Bieber - 26 [5 featurings]
2. Ed Sheeran - 24 [5 featurings]
3. Justin Timberlake - 23 [3 featurings]
4. John Mayer - 20
4. Bruno Mars - 20 [3 featurings, 3 appearances with Silk Sonic]
4. The Weeknd - 20 [2 featurings]
7. Sam Smith - 16 [3 featurings]
8. Rob Thomas - 15 [1 featuring]
9. Gavin DeGraw - 14 [1 featuring. 1 re-release not counted]
9. Elton John - 14
9. Calvin Harris - 14 [1 featuring]
9. Jason Derulo - 14 [1 featuring]

[Hot AC Archiver]

Most charted songs by group:
1. Maroon 5 - 32
2. Train - 27
3. Goo Goo Dolls - 25
4. Coldplay - 23 (1 featuring)
5. OneRepublic - 22
6. U2 - 21
7. Matchbox Twenty - 19
7. Bon Jovi - 19
9. Nickeback - 17
10. Daughtry - 15

[MostInterestingManInTheWorld]

Apr 26, 2024 18:05:38 GMT -5 Hot AC Archiver said:

Apr 26, 2024 10:49:52 GMT -5 MostInterestingManInTheWorld said:

That first HAC chart is very interesting - "all genre friendly" CHR hits and a handful of the more interesting AC-but-not-CHR tunes. I don't think any of these failed to chart CHR Top 40 or AC Top 30.

Any sense as to what the first "HAC-only" hit was? That being defined as a song that failed to make the CHR Top 40 or or the AC Top 30, but did make the HAC Top 30 (I do know of a couple of 1990's songs that would qualify, so need to include the HAC 40 era).

It's hard for me to find out since I don't have the R&R/Mediabase AC charts broken down like I do HAC, but I do have the Whitburn Billboard AC book. A very quick look shows a few songs early in HAC chart history that looked to only have charted there, such as "Lie to Me" by Bon Jovi (peak #27 HAC). However, the first decent sized hit I found was "Possession" by Sarah McLachlan, which peaked at #19 HAC but didn't reach the CHR top 40 or BB AC chart.

Thanks! HAC seemed to be developed specifically for the likes of 1994-era Sarah McLachlan who was in a weird vortex of being not quite ready for CHR or AC, was starting to lose her ALT vibe, yet was unquestionably relevant.

Now you've got me thinking as to what early 90's, pre-HAC songs would have done well had the format existed.

[70jack90]

Hot AC is certainly an interesting format that has been around for 3 decades. I wonder what it was like for the emergence of Hot AC when it fragmented from AC and Pop stations? 1993 and 1994 was quite a change for those radio stations.

[MostInterestingManInTheWorld]

Apr 26, 2024 18:29:04 GMT -5 MostInterestingManInTheWorld said:

Apr 26, 2024 18:05:38 GMT -5 Hot AC Archiver said:

It's hard for me to find out since I don't have the R&R/Mediabase AC charts broken down like I do HAC, but I do have the Whitburn Billboard AC book. A very quick look shows a few songs early in HAC chart history that looked to only have charted there, such as "Lie to Me" by Bon Jovi (peak #27 HAC). However, the first decent sized hit I found was "Possession" by Sarah McLachlan, which peaked at #19 HAC but didn't reach the CHR top 40 or BB AC chart.

Thanks! HAC seemed to be developed specifically for the likes of 1994-era Sarah McLachlan who was in a weird vortex of being not quite ready for CHR or AC, was starting to lose her ALT vibe, yet was unquestionably relevant.

Now you've got me thinking as to what early 90's, pre-HAC songs would have done well had the format existed.

Answering my own question, I'm guessing Deep Forest's "Sweet Lullaby" would have gotten to about #25 had the HAC existed in 1993. It certainly lived as a recurrent on my HAC station into the 2000's. I guess that's one way of unearthing 'source HAC' hits - look at what 'oldies' these stations were playing 10 years later that never made CHR.

[MostInterestingManInTheWorld]

I'll add that the 8 weeks peaking at #19 achieved by "Feel Good Inc." is one of the most delightfully weird facts on any chart I've followed. And they were in a row, with generally increasing spins each week.

I would guess that part of the reason for this is that the song might have been a bit too edgy for certain HAC affiliates - while I don't know for sure, I would guess that the number of stations playing it were relatively few for a Top 20 hit in this format.

[Hot AC Archiver]

Finally, a few more random chart feats:

Highest Debut: #10. "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift debuted at #10 in 2014.

Fastest Climb to #1: 5 weeks. "Hello" by Adele in 2015.

Slowest Climb to #1: 45 weeks. "The Bones" by Maren Morris took 45 weeks to reach #1 in 2019-2020

Biggest move to #1: Up 4, 5-1, by "Happy" by Pharrell in 2014

Longest Time on the Chart for Songs Peaking Below #30: "Snooze" by SZA spent 22 weeks on the chart peaking at #35

I make videos showing all the #1 songs at HAC (through 2023), but YouTube strikes them due to copyright. For some reason though, they kept my first video. However, it does not have the weeks at #1 listed, and it may have a song out of order.

Billboard's first official HAC (Adult Top 40) chart didn't arrive until 1996, but there were test charts in 1995.

Thank you for joining me on this 30 year review! I plan on continuing my weekly chart reviews for now. I'll get this past week's chart review up as soon as I can.

[musiciscool]

Hot AC Archiver , thank you so much for sharing all of these fun HAC stats with all of us fans. Just want to say I appreciate it when you do this kind of thing and when you share the weekly updates. I hope you continue to do it for many years to come.