SWIFT STARTS: Taylor Swift pads her lead for the most top 10 debuts in the Hot 100’s 54-year history, as “Begin Again” launches at No. 7. The song, which starts atop Digital Songs with 299,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan, is her record-extending ninth to arrive in the Hot 100’s top tier. (The James Taylor-referencing “Begin” also bows at No. 37 on Country Songs.)
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Here’s a look at the artists with the most Billboard Hot 100 top 10 debuts:
9, Taylor Swift
6, Lil Wayne
5, Mariah Carey
5, Eminem
4, the Beatles
4, Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana
4, Drake
4, Janet Jackson
4, Lady Gaga
4, Kanye West
Swift has earned the mark in part from releasing well-received preview singles in the weeks leading up to the releases of her last two studio albums. “Begin” is the second preview track from her fourth studio set, “Red,” due Oct. 22. First single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” became her first Hot 100 No. 1, blasting 72-1 the week of Sept. 1 and reigning for three non-consecutive frames. Next week, Swift should log another lofty Hot 100 debut with the title track from “Red.”
Swift made her highest-ranking Hot 100 start with “Today Was a Fairytale,” which opened at No. 2 the week of Feb. 6, 2010. “Mine” marked her next-best positional bow, soaring in at No. 3 the week of Aug. 21, 2010. The latter song served as the lead single from her last studio album, “Speak Now.”
‘ONE MORE’ No. 1: As the group leads the Hot 100 for a third week, Maroon 5 rewrites the mark for the most Pop Songs No. 1s among groups, as “One More Night” lifts 2-1. The song is the band’s fifth leader, breaking a tie with Boyz II Men in the category, dating to the chart’s 1992 inception. ( Katy Perry and Rihanna lead all artists with nine No. 1s apiece.)
Maroon 5 notched its first two Pop Songs No. 1s – “This Love” (three weeks) and “She Will Be Loved” (four) – in 2004. After charting eight more titles, rising as high as No. 4 with “Makes Me Wonder” in 2007, the group has now reigned on its last three tries. Prior to “Night,” “Moves Like Jagger,” featuring Christina Aguilera, led for six weeks and “Payphone,” featuring Wiz Khalifa, ruled for four.
MUSE NEWS: Muse scores its third Alternative Songs No. 1, as “Madness” rises 3-1. The band, the musical guest on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” last night, previously led in 2009-10 with “Uprising” for 17 weeks – the second-longest command in the chart’s 24-year history – and “Resistance” (four).
“Madness” introduces “The 2nd Law,” which, as previously reported, should debut in the top five on next week’s Billboard 200.
MINAJ VS. MARIAH, ROUND 2: Never mind their supposed spat on the set of Fox’s “American Idol.” Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey are battling on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs chart, too.
“Pound the Alarm” rises 2-1 to become Minaj’s first No. 1 on the survey as a lead artist. She had previously assisted on two toppers this year: David Guetta‘s “Turn Me On” and Madonna‘s “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” also featuring M.I.A.
As “Alarm” ascends, the song holds off Carey’s “Triumphant (Get ‘Em),” which pushes 5-3. For this week, chart-wise at least, Minaj is the triumphant one.
The new “Idol” judges’ tiff, however, is widely rumored to be merely a publicity-seeking (and -receiving) stunt. As Billboard charts show, Minaj and Carey have gotten along well before. The divas teamed on the single “Up Out My Face,” which climbed to No. 39 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 2010.
(Then again, the title of that song actually provides evidence that they might be at odds after all …)