| Historical note: Until about 1995, songs could not chart on the Hot 100 until they were released as singles. Some artists and record companies realized they could exploit this by releasing songs to radio weeks before the single came out. Then at the peak of radio airplay the single would also be released, and the combined airplay and sales point jet-propelled the singles to #1. Carey also frequently set artificially low prices on her singles to ensure higher sales. Once songs could chart on airplay alone, it was believed (and for a few years was true) that this situation could never reoccur. Of course, American Idol proved that was untrue, with singles released literally the day after the winner (or in Aiken's case, runner-up) was announced. The third wave of "straight in at #1" songs is the result of iTunes. Now a single can be available to radio and the public on the same day. No shipping, no racking, no storage. Inevitably, the vast majority of these songs have been and will be debut tracks from new albums by established artists. But you never know... |
4 Letter Hit Songs
Superstars' Greatest Hits
Top 10 Hits of 2009
