“Growing up listening to the radio, the main thing for me was always respecting good music. Once my career got going, I’ve always felt, whether or not I wrote it, a song that touches my heart hopefully will touch other people’s hearts, as well.”
That’s the way
RI-WRITING HISTORY: With “Diamonds” rising 11-8 on the Billboard Hot 100, Rihanna‘s chart history shines even brighter. Now with 23 top 10s, Rihanna ties for ninth place among artists with the most top 10s in the chart’s 54-year history. In addition to Rihanna, Whitney Houston and the Rolling Stones have also gotten top 10 satisfaction 23 times.
Here is an updated look at the acts with the most Hot 100 top 10s:
38, Madonna
34, the Beatles
28, Michael Jackson
28, Stevie Wonder
27, Mariah Carey
27, Janet Jackson
27, Elton John
25, Elvis Presley (notably, the King’s career predates the Hot 100’s 1958 launch)
23, Whitney Houston
23, Rihanna
23, the Rolling Stones
In the Hot 100’s history, Rihanna has been among the surest bets to top the tally once reaching the top 10, as 11 of her first 22 top 10s – exactly 50% – have gone on to reach No. 1. Of the acts above, only Mariah Carey (18 of 27; 67%) and the Beatles (20 of 34; 59%) have inked higher percentages.
“Diamonds” previews Rihanna’s seventh studio album, “Unapologetic,” due Nov. 19.
QUITE A ‘CATCH’: Kelly Clarkson previews “Greatest Hits – Chapter 1” (due Nov. 19), as “Catch My Breath” bows at No. 54 on the Hot 100. The cut starts at No. 11 on Digital Songs and No. 32 on the airplay-based Adult Pop Songs chart.
Says Clarkson, “This song represents who I’ve been, what I’ve felt and where I’m headed as not only an artist but as a 30-year-old that is now smart enough to know that it’s time to stop, catch my breath and be proud of not only what has been accomplished but of all the people that have helped me become the woman I am today.”
JUSTIN TIME: Two weeks ago, Justin Bieber notched his first No. 1 on a U.S. Billboard airplay chart, as “As Long as You Love Me,” featuring Big Sean, crowned the Rhythmic ranking (where it leads for a third frame). This week, the track grants Bieber domination over a second domestic radio chart, as it lifts 3-1 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay.
Bieber’s new single, meanwhile, is already making its mark. “Beauty and a Beat,” featuring Nicki Minaj, re-enters the Hot 100 at No. 71. It first spent a week at No. 72 upon the debut of parent album “Believe” atop the Billboard 200 (July 7). Now a pop radio single, “Beauty” benefits from buzz surrounding its video, which has racked 44 million YouTube views since its Oct. 12 posting.
(Be careful not to get splashed when watching it.)
MOON RISE: One of last week’s Bubbling Under spotlight artists, Willy Moon, soars onto Rock Songs at No. 19 with “Yeah Yeah.”
The song, which vaults 34-13 on the Rock Digital Songs chart, is featured in Apple’s latest iPod Shuffle and Nano commercials.
‘TURNING’ INTO A HIT: Adele has moved on to her James Bond soundtrack single “Skyfall,” which surges 15-13 as the Greatest Gainer on Adult Contemporary and 21-16 on Adult Pop Songs (while re-entering Pop Songs at No. 37), but that doesn’t mean that radio is done with tracks from her album “21.” The set’s “Turning Tables” enters Latin Pop Songs at No. 38.
While Columbia Records released four “21” tracks to mainstream formats – the Hot 100 No. 1s “Rolling in the Deep,” “Someone Like You” and “Set Fire to the Rain,” as well as the No. 16 hit “Rumour Has It” – two cuts in addition to “Tables” have dented airplay tallies. Adele’s cover of the Cure’s “Lovesong” reached No. 18 on Jazz Songs, while “I’ll Be Waiting” rose to No. 29 on Triple A.
Pop Songs reporter WBLI Nassau, N.Y. has also championed “Tables,” having played the song 330 times (all since June 1), according to Nielsen BDS. The track has sold 743,000 downloads, according to SoundScan, while the “Glee” cast’s 2011 cover, featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, has sold 116,000.
“If Columbia worked ‘Turning Tables,’ it would be a top-five record,” WBLI PD Jeremy Rice predicts. “It’s a research smash and a great song. Last time I checked, Adele has a pretty good track record. If you see an opportunity for your radio station to win, you go for it.”