Chart Beat
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For King & Country, the duo of siblings Joel and Luke Smallbone, notches its 14th leader on Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart (dated Nov. 18) with “What Are We Waiting For?” The song increased by 7% to 6 million audience impressions Nov. 3-9, according to Luminate.
The twosome extends its record streak to 11 consecutive Christian Airplay No. 1 singles (encompassing songs in lead roles promoted as proper, non-holiday radio singles, unless seasonal songs contribute to that run).
The siblings co-authored their latest leader.
“Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve loved music,” Luke Smallbone tells Billboard. “I never thought I’d be a songwriter, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized the true power of music – it can impact someone’s eternal destination. For us to be a part of that journey in someone’s life is an immense privilege and honor.”
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For King & Country’s 14 Christian Airplay No. 1s mark the second-most among all acts since the chart began in 2003, after MercyMe’s 18. Jeremy Camp, Matthew West and TobyMac rank third with 12 each.
“What Are We Waiting For?” follows for King & Country’s “Love Me Like I Am” (with Jordin Sparks), which ruled for two frames starting in February. Before that, the pair led with “Joy to the World” for a week in December 2022 and “For God Is With Us” for three weeks that July.
The other No. 1s in the duo’s active streak: “Relate,” which ruled for three weeks starting in December 2021; “Amen” (one week, July 2021); “O Come O Come Emmanuel” featuring NEEDTOBREATHE (two weeks, starting in December 2020); “Together” with Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly (five, beginning in August 2020); “Burn the Ships” (five, starting in January 2020); “God Only Knows” (10, beginning in April 2019); and “joy.” (four, starting in August 2018).
Amid that stretch, the tandem’s holiday track “Heavenly Hosts” reached No. 2 in January 2022. Plus, the duo featured on older sister Rebecca St. James’ “Kingdom Come,” which hit No. 26 that May.
For King & Country scored its first Christian Airplay No. 1 with its seventh entry, “Fix My Eyes,” for a week in September 2014.
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Grear & Co. Get First Gospel No. 1
James Grear & Company’s “I Wanna Say Thank You” featuring Maurette Brown Clark hits the Gospel Airplay summit. In the Nov. 3-9 tracking week, the song gained by 14% in plays.
James Grear & Company earns its first No. 1 in its second appearance on the chart, after “It’s My Season” peaked at No. 29 in 2015.
Brown Clark leads Gospel Airplay for a second time, after “It Ain’t Over (Until God Says It’s Over)” dominated for five frames in 2009. Her first of eight entries, “One God,” hit No. 2 in 2007, her first of four top 10s.
Brown Clark has an additional song on the Nov. 18 tally: “I See Good” ranks at No. 18, after reaching No. 14.
The Beatles are, well, the Beatles. Perhaps the biggest and most successful act in music history, and, of course, on Billboard’s charts, as confirmed by their standing at No. 1 on Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Artists recap.
The Fab Four were only active for a brief period in the 1960s, but that short span left an indelible mark on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard 200 albums list. The group charted 64 total songs on the Hot 100 between 1964 and 1970, of which 20 hit No. 1 — a record for the most leaders that still stands.
The band also charted 26 albums on the Billboard 200 from 1964 to 1970 (14 of which topped the chart in that time frame), but have charted an additional 18, thanks to compilations, live recordings, special releases/anthologies and more. To date, The Beatles have earned 19 No. 1 albums, also the most in the chart’s history.
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The group returns to the Hot 100 on the Nov. 18, 2023-dated chart thanks to its new single, “Now and Then.” The track, billed as the final Beatles song, was first recorded as a demo in 1977 by John Lennon and initially meant for the band’s three-edition Anthology series in the mid-‘90s before being shelved by the surviving members of the band. It was completed, and released Nov. 2 after new technology helped extract Lennon’s vocals from the original demo while also using guitar recordings from George Harrison from the initial attempt to finish the song.
The song debuts at No. 7 on the Hot 100, becoming the band’s 72nd career entry, and first since “Real Love” reached No. 11 in 1996. It’s The Beatles’ 35th top 10, extending their record for the most among groups. Plus, the band has now charted on the Hot 100 in five distinct decades: the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and now, the 2020s.
As the iconic group returns to Billboard’s charts, here’s a look at 10 records the band still holds on the Hot 100 or Billboard 200 (as of the charts dated Nov. 18, 2023).
Most No. 1 Songs on the Hot 100
Taylor Swift spends a record-extending 85th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated Nov. 18), thanks to the continued success of her latest rerecorded LP, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), as well as nine additional albums on the Billboard 200 and 16 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
1989 (Taylor’s Version) spends a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with 245,000 equivalent album units earned in its second frame, according to Luminate. A week earlier, it debuted with 1.653 million equivalent album units — the largest one-week total since the debut of Adele’s 25 (3.482 million; Nov. 15, 2015).
Here’s a recap of Swift’s current Billboard 200-charting albums.
Rank, Title:
No. 1, 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
No. 9, Midnights
No. 11, Lover
No. 15, Folklore
No. 20, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
No. 24, Reputation
No. 25, Red (Taylor’s Version)
No. 27, Evermore
No. 51, Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
No. 53, 1989
On the Hot 100, Swift charts 16 total songs, including 15 from 1989 (Taylor’s Version). Her other charting song, “Cruel Summer” (from from 2019’s Lover), rebounds for a third week at No. 1.
Jung Kook jumps from No. 100 to No. 2 on the Artist 100, the 98-position vault marking the greatest leap in the chart’s nearly decade-long history. He reaches a new high thanks to the opening week of his first solo LP, Golden, which arrives at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 210,000 units. The set’s “Standing Next to You” concurrently debuts at No. 5 on the Hot 100, becoming his sixth solo entry outside BTS, and third top 10, after “Seven,” featuring Latto (No. 1), and “3D,” with Jack Harlow (No. 5).
Plus, the late Jimmy Buffett re-enters the Artist 100 at No. 7, sparked by his new album, Equal Strain on All Parts. The set opens at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 with 53,000 units, marking his 14th top 10.
The Artist 100 measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.
It’s official: Beatlemania is back in the U.K.
After the Beatles landed their first No. 1 in 60 years with “Now And Then” (via Apple Corps), the Fab Four is on the brink of converting a rare chart double.
Based on sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, reissues of the Beatles’ greatest hits compilations, 1967-1970 (also known as The Blue Album) and 1962-1966 (or The Red Album), are respectively leading the midweek albums chart.
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The Blue Album, which is on track to eclipse its No. 2 peak, following its initial release back in May 1973, gathers remastered tracks and rarities, and includes the iconic band’s final single, “Now And Then,” which leads the current U.K. singles chart and is heading for a second week at No. 1.
According to the OCC, just 1,000 chart units separate the two Beatles albums (The Red Album peaked at No. 3 back in 1973). If either of those titles are crowned when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published this Friday, Nov. 17, it would give the Beatles a 16th leader, extending their leadership in the all-time list of acts with No. 1 LPs (Robbie Williams is in second place with 14).
Despite calling it a day in 1970, the Beatles could dominate the top 10 with a third title. To coincide with the release of “Now And Then,” a composite boxed set of the two LPs is predicted to crack the top 10 for the first time, at No. 9.
In non-Beatles activity, drum ‘n’ bass act Chase & Status could snag a fifth UK top 10 with 2 RUFF, Vol. 1 (EMI), new at No. 3 on the Official Albums Chart Update, while a 10th anniversary edition of Passenger’s All the Little Lights (Cooking Vinyl) is set to arrive at No. 5. The British singer and songwriter’s fourth studio album originally peaked at No. 3 back in 2013 and is one of his six U.K. top 10s, including a No. 1 for 2016’s Young As The Morning Old As The Sea.
New Order’s Substance (Rhino) compilation from 1987 is targeting a No. 6 reentry, following a multi-format reissue, while South Africa-born, London-based alt-pop artist Baby Queen (Quarter Life Crisis at No. 7 via Polydor), and U.S. country star Chris Stapleton (Higher at No. 10 via EMI) are eyeing their first top 10 slots.
The Beatles are set to prove once again why they’re the champions of the U.K., as “Now And Then” (via Apple Corps) takes pole position in the current chart race.
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Based on sales and streaming data published by the Official Charts Company, “Now And Then” is the leader at the halfway point, and is forecast to snag a second week at No. 1.
The Fab Four has some work to do. “Now And Then” has the edge over new releases from Jack Harlow (“Lovin’ On Me” at No. 2 via Atlantic) and Dua Lipa (“Kinetic Houdini” at No. 3 via Warner Records) on the Official Chart Update, with roughly 2,000 chart units splitting the top three.
The Fab Four’s “last” song,” “Now And Then” took the elevator to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, published Friday, Nov. 10, having opened the previous week at No. 42 based on just 10 hours of sales and streams.
On its way to the top, the Beatles busted a string of records. Among them, the track leads the chart some 60 years and six months after the Beatles’ first No. 1, “From Me To You,” marking the longest span between an act’s first and last chart-topping hit, the OCC reports.
Also, “Now and Then” is the Beatles’ 18th U.K. No. 1, extending their record as the British act with the most leaders, and it’s the longest-ever gap between No. 1 singles for any act (54 years).
From tape to the top of the charts, “Now And Then” is the stuff of legend. Originally a demo recorded by the late John Lennon in the 1970s, the project was brought to the studio by the surviving Beatles, then shelved in the mid-1990s due to technical limitations. Led by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the surviving members of the Beatles, the project was recently revived and completed with the help of computer learning software created by Peter Jackson’s team at WingNut Films.
Beatlemania doesn’t end at the singles survey. The legendary band is on track for a U.K. chart double, as the Red and Blue collections dominate the top two spots on the midweek albums tally.
All will be revealed when the Official Charts are published late Friday, Nov. 17.
Though he missed out on top spot, thanks to the juggernauts that are Taylor Swift and Oasis, Jung Kook stakes a claim to U.K. chart history with Golden (via BigHit Entertainment).
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The BTS star’s solo debut album bowed at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart last Friday, Nov. 10, behind Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) and Oasis’ The Masterplan (Big Brother), respectively.
With that solid start, Golden becomes the highest-charting album by a Korean solo artist, including the cuts by his BTS bandmates, the Official Charts Company confirms.
Golden shines with four U.K. top 10 singles – “Seven” featuring Latto (No. 3 peak), “3D” with Jack Harlow (No. 5), “Too Much” with The Kid Laroi and Central Cee (No. 10) and the latest release, “Standing Next to You,” which opens its account at No. 6 on the national singles chart, also published Friday.
That’s four U.K. top tier tracks in just four months, extending Jung Kook’s record as the Korean solo artist with the most U.K. top 10 singles.
As a member of the all-conquering BTS, Jung Kook has five U.K. top 10 albums, including two leaders (2019’s Map of the Soul: Persona and 2020’s Map of the Soul: 7), and four top 10 singles (2020’s “Dynamite” and “Life Goes On”; and 2021’s “Butter” and Coldplay collaboration “My Universe”).
Jung Kook goes one better on Australia’s albums chart, where Golden (via ING/Universal) drops in at No. 2, behind Swift’s latest release. That result matches the record for the highest solo debut LP from a Korean artist in the land Down Under, matching the effort from his BTS bandmate Suga (aka Agust D), who entered at No. 2 on the ARIA Chart with his 2000 D-2 mixtape.
As previously reported, “Standing Next to You” flies in at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. songs charts.
The Beatles make a fab return to the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as “Now and Then” debuts at No. 7. The song starts on the chart dated Nov. 18, 2023, as their landmark 35th top 10 – extending their record for the most among groups – and their first since 1996. “Now and Then” […]
Jung Kook’s “Standing Next to You” soars in at No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. songs charts (dated Nov. 18). He achieves the third solo leader for a BTS member on each survey, following his own “3D” with Jack Harlow, and “Seven” featuring Latto.
Plus, The Beatles bound into the top 10 on both charts with “Now and Then,” which surges from No. 152 to No. 10 on the Global 200 and launches at No. 9 on Global Excl. U.S.
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.
Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.
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Jung Kook in Good ‘Standing’ Atop Global 200, Beatles Top 10
Jung Kook’s “Standing Next to You” starts at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, with 81.6 million streams and 121,000 sold worldwide Nov. 3-9, following its Nov. 3 release. (In addition to its original version, seven mixes of the song arrived Nov. 6: its Future Funk, Holiday, Latin Trap, PBR&B and Slow Jam remixes and its Band Version and instrumental version.)
Jung Kook, from South Korea, earns his third Global 200 No. 1, and the third solo leader for a BTS member; it’s the first with no accompanying acts. Here’s a rundown, ranked by peak position, of BTS members’ 10 Global 200 top 10s outside the act, with BTS as a group having tallied 11 top 10s, including seven No. 1s:
“Standing Next to You,” Jung Kook, No. 1 (one week to date), November 2023
“3D,” Jung Kook & Jack Harlow, No. 1 (one week), October 2023
“Seven,” Jung Kook feat. Latto, No. 1 (seven weeks), July 2023
“Like Crazy,” Jimin, No. 2, April 2023
“Slow Dancing,” V, No. 4, September 2023
“Left and Right,” Charlie Puth feat. Jung Kook, No. 5, July 2022
“That That,” PSY feat. SUGA, No. 5, May 2022
“Set Me Free, Pt. 2,” Jimin, No. 8, April 2023
“Dreamers (Music From the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022),” Jung Kook, No. 9, December 2022
“The Astronaut,” Jin, No. 10, November 2022
Jung Kook’s “Seven” rebounds 10-2 on the Global 200; Tate McRae’s “Greedy” returns to its No. 3 high from No. 7; Taylor Swift’s “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” falls to No. 4 a week after it debuted at No. 1; and Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” rises 8-5 after four weeks at the summit.
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The Beatles blast 152-10 on the Global 200 with “Now and Then,” with 37.6 million streams and 42,000 sold worldwide Nov. 3-9, following its Nov. 2 release. The song debuted a week earlier with 6.4 million streams and 30,000 sold in its first day. A 12-minute film chronicling the track premiered Nov. 2, while the song’s official video premiered Nov. 3.
“Now and Then” (the Fab Four’s first entry since the Global 200 began) is billed as the final Beatles song, first recorded as a demo in 1977 by John Lennon and initially intended for the band’s three-edition Anthology series in the mid-‘90s before being shelved. The song was completed at last by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, among others, after new technology helped extract Lennon’s vocals from the original demo, while George Harrison guitar parts from the initial attempt to finish the track were also incorporated into the song.
Jung Kook No. 1 on Global Excl. U.S., The Beatles No. 9
Jung Kook’s “Standing Next to You” concurrently opens at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 71.2 million streams and 44,000 sold outside the U.S. in its first week.
As on the Global 200, Jung Kook claims his third No. 1 and the third solo Global Excl. U.S. leader for a BTS member (and the first with no accompanying artists). Here’s a recap, ranked by peak position, of BTS members’ 14 Global Excl. U.S. top 10s outside the group, while BTS totals 11 top 10s, including seven No. 1s:
“Standing Next to You,” Jung Kook, No. 1 (one week to date), November 2023
“3D,” Jung Kook & Jack Harlow, No. 1 (one week), October 2023
“Seven,” Jung Kook feat. Latto, No. 1 (nine weeks), July 2023
“Like Crazy,” Jimin, No. 2, April 2023
“Left and Right,” Charlie Puth feat. Jung Kook, No. 2, July 2022
“That That,” PSY feat. SUGA, No. 2, May 2022
“Slow Dancing,” V, No. 4, September 2023
“Dreamers (Music From the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022),” Jung Kook, No. 4, December 2022
“Love Me Again,” V, No. 6, August 2023
“The Astronaut,” Jin, No. 6, November 2022
“Rainy Days,” V, No. 8, August 2023
“Set Me Free, Pt. 2,” Jimin, No. 8, April 2023
“Stay Alive,” Jung Kook, No. 8, February 2022
“Vibe,” TAEYANG feat. Jimin, No. 9, January 2023
Jung Kook’s “Seven” holds at No. 2 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart; Iñigo Quintero’s “Si No Estás” dips to No. 3 after two weeks in the lead; Tate McRae’s “Greedy” retreats to No. 4 from its No. 3 high; and Jung Kook and Jack Harlow’s “3D” rebounds 11-5.
Plus, The Beatles debut at No. 9 with their first Global Excl. U.S. hit as “Now and Then” begins with 27.1 million streams and 26,000 sold outside the U.S. Nov. 3-9.
The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Nov. 18, 2023) will update on Billboard.com Tuesday (Nov. 14). For both charts, the top 100 titles are available to all readers on Billboard.com, while the complete 200-title rankings are visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s subscription-based service. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
Jung Kook gets his second top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 this year. The Beatles notched their first top 10 since 1996. Can Taylor Swift keep her current hot streak on the Hot 100 going? Watch the full video to find out. Tetris Kelly:This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week […]
Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” rebounds for a third week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Three weeks earlier, it became her 10th career leader. It takes over for her 11th, “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault],” which interrupted the reign of “Cruel Summer” with its No. 1 debut a week ago.
Elsewhere in the Hot 100’s top 10, Jung Kook’s “Standing Next to You” debuts at No. 5, marking the BTS member’s third solo top 10, and The Beatles return with “Now and Then,” their landmark 35th top 10 – extending their record for the most among groups – and their first since 1996.
The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations. All charts (dated Nov. 18, 2023) will update on Billboard.com Tuesday (Nov. 14). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
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In the Nov. 3-9 tracking week, “Cruel Summer” drew 77.8 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 3%) and 13.8 million streams (down 9%) and sold 4,000 downloads (up 17%), according to Luminate.
The single scores a fourth week at No. 1 on the Radio Songs chart; rebounds 21-8 on Streaming Songs, following a week at on top; and falls 12-19 on Digital Song Sales, also after a week in charge.
A week ago, Swift’s “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” soared in at No. 1 on the Hot 100, supplanting “Cruel Summer,” which dropped to No. 6, as parent album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) launched atop the Billboard 200 chart and all 21 songs from the set infused the Hot 100.
As “Cruel Summer” reclaims the baton atop the Hot 100, Swift becomes the second artist in the chart’s archives to reign with a song, take over at No. 1 with a different track, and directly return to the summit with that first leader. In 2021, BTS led for seven weeks with “Butter,” halted the song’s command with a No. 1 debut for “Permission to Dance” and then returned to the top the following week with “Butter” (which ran up its rule to 10 total nonconsecutive weeks).
As previously noted, “Cruel Summer” was originally released on Swift’s 2019 Republic Records album Lover before being promoted as a single and gaining new prominence as the superstar has performed it on her The Eras Tour this year.
1989 (Taylor’s Version), meanwhile, notches a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” descends to No. 3 on the Hot 100, down 34% to 21.1 million streams – as it spends a second week atop Streaming Songs – and down 61% to 2,000 sold. Being promoted as a radio single, it boasts 16.1 million airplay audience impressions, up from 4.7 million the week before, as it debuts at No. 41 on Radio Songs and wins the Hot 100’s top Airplay Gainer award.
In between Swift’s songs in the Hot 100’s top three, Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red” rises 4-2, after it led for three nonconsecutive weeks beginning in September. It posts a 10th and 11th week, respectively, atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, which use the same methodology as the Hot 100.
SZA’s “Snooze” ascends 8-4 on the Hot 100, after reaching No. 2, as it rules the multi-metric Hot R&B Songs chart for a 15th week.
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Jung Kook’s “Standing Next to You” enters the Hot 100 at No. 5 with 10.6 million streams, 400,000 in radio audience and 99,000 physical and digital singles sold combined, following its Nov. 3 release on his debut solo album, Golden – which opens at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. (In addition to its original version, seven mixes of the song arrived Nov. 6: its Future Funk, Holiday, Latin Trap, PBR&B and Slow Jam remixes and its Band Version and instrumental version.)
The track is Jung Kook’s third Hot 100 top 10. Here’s a recap of all four top 10s so far by BTS members apart from the group, ranked by peak position. As a group, BTS boasts 10 top 10s, including six No. 1s.
Peak Pos., Date, Artist, Title:
No. 1, one week, July 29, 2023, Jung Kook feat. Latto, “Seven”
No. 1, one week, April 8, 2023, Jimin, “Like Crazy”
No. 5 (to date), Nov. 18, 2023, Jung Kook, “Standing Next to You”
No. 5, Oct. 14, 2023, Jung Kook & Jack Harlow, “3D”
“Standing Next to You” concurrently debuts at No. 1 on Digital Song Sales, with 84,000 downloads sold, as Jung Kook earns his fourth leader on the list.
Zach Bryan’s “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves climbs 11-6 on the Hot 100, after it led for a week upon its debut in September. It tops the multimetric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts for an 11th week each and Hot Country Songs for a seventh frame.
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The Beatles bound onto the Hot 100 at No. 7 with “Now and Then” with 11 million streams, 2.1 million in radio reach and 73,000 physical and digital singles sold combined Nov. 3-9, following its Nov. 2 release. The song debuted on the Hot 100’s Bubbling Under chart (which ranks the top titles yet to hit the Hot 100), at No. 5, a week earlier, with 2.6 million in airplay audience, 2.3 million streams and 17,000 sold in its first day. A 12-minute film chronicling the cut premiered Nov. 2, while the song’s official video premiered Nov. 3.
“Now and Then” is billed as the final Beatles song, first recorded as a demo in 1977 by John Lennon and initially intended for the band’s three-edition Anthology series in the mid-‘90s before being shelved. The song was completed at last by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, among others, after new technology helped extract Lennon’s vocals from the original demo, while George Harrison guitar parts from the initial attempt to finish the track were also incorporated into the song.
The song was made available for purchase as a download, on cassette and via six vinyl versions: 7” and 12” black vinyl; 7” clear vinyl; 7” blue/white marble vinyl; 7” light blue vinyl; and a Target-exclusive 12” red vinyl (as well as for pre-order on CD).
With the song’s Hot 100 debut (The Beatles’ second-highest, after “Let It Be” launched at a then-record No. 6 in 1970), The Beatles mark multiple new chart milestones.
Most Hot 100 top 10s among groups: “Now and Then” becomes The Beatles’ 35th Hot 100 top 10, extending their record for the most among groups. The Rolling Stones rank second among groups with 23 top 10s, followed by Chicago and The Supremes, each with 20.
Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:
76, Drake
49, Taylor Swift
38, Madonna
35, The Beatles
32, Rihanna
30, Michael Jackson
29, Elton John
28, Mariah Carey
28, Stevie Wonder
27, Janet Jackson
26, Justin Bieber
25, Lil Wayne
25, Elvis Presley (whose career start predated the Hot 100’s inception)
Longest span of Hot 100 top 10s, excluding holiday songs: The Beatles first hit the Hot 100’s top 10 on the chart dated Jan. 25, 1964, with their iconic U.S. breakthrough single “I Want to Hold Your Hand” – which became the first of their record 20 No. 1s. They now claim a span of top 10s of 59 years, nine months and three weeks, the longest excluding holiday fare. They surpass Elton John, who has logged a top 10 span of 51 years, seven months and three weeks, dating to his first frame in the bracket with “Your Song” (Jan. 23, 1971) and running through “Hold Me Closer,” with Britney Spears (Sept. 10, 2022).
(Including holiday songs, the late Andy Williams holds the record for the longest span of an act appearing in the Hot 100’s top 10: 63 years, two months and three weeks, from his first week in the tier with “Lonely Street” in October 1959 through “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” during last year’s holiday season.)
Beatles get back to top 10 after 27 years: The Beatles achieve their first Hot 100 top 10 since “Free as a Bird,” from the Anthology series, hit No. 6 on the Jan. 6, 1996-dated chart. They end a break of 27 years, 10 months and two weeks between top 10s – the longest for an act, excluding holiday music, with sole billing on bookending top 10s. Among all waits between top 10s (again, not including holiday hits), The Beatles end the fifth-longest break; as a soloist, McCartney ranks third.
Longest Breaks Between Hot 100 Top 10s, excluding holiday songs:
Ozzy Osbourne: 30 years and three months, between “Close My Eyes Forever” with Lita Ford in 1989 and Post Malone’s “Take What You Want” featuring Osbourne and Travis Scott in 2019
Dobie Gray: 30 years, two months and one week, between “Drift Away” in 1973 and Uncle Kracker’s cover featuring Gray in 2003
Paul McCartney: 29 years and two weeks, between “Spies Like Us” in 1986 and “FourFiveSeconds” with Rihanna and Kanye West in 2015
Santana: 28 years, seven months and two weeks, between “Black Magic Woman” in 1971 and “Smooth” featuring Rob Thomas in 1999
The Beatles: 27 years, 10 months and two weeks, between “Free as a Bird” in 1996 and “Now and Then” in 2023
Billy Ray Cyrus: 26 years and eight months, between “Achy Breaky Heart” in 1992 and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” featuring Cyrus in 2019
Aqua: 25 years, nine months and three weeks, between “Barbie Girl” in 1997 and “Barbie World” with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice in 2023
Top 10 in a fourth decade: The Beatles become the lucky 13th act with Hot 100 top 10s in four or more decades, having now ranked in the region in the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘90s and 2020s. Michael Jackson and Andy Williams lead with top 10 placements in five decades each. The Beatles join Aerosmith as the only groups in the elite club.
Click here for a look at all 13 acts with Hot 100 top 10s in four or more decades.
Most Hot 100 hits among bands: “Now and Then” also marks The Beatles’ 72nd Hot 100 hit overall (and their first since Anthology single “Real Love,” which reached No. 11 in 1996 as the follow-up to “Free as a Bird”). They extend their mark for the most entries among bands that play their own instruments (and rank second among all multi-member acts only to TV troupe the Glee cast’s 207).
Among all bands, The Beatles lead over The Rolling Stones (57 Hot 100 hits), The Beach Boys (55) and The Temptations (53).
Below The Beatles on the latest Hot 100, three country hits round out the top 10: Luke Combs’ No. 2-peaking “Fast Car” (13-8) and Morgan Wallen’s “Thinkin’ Bout Me” (17-9), after it reached No. 7, and “Last Night” (15-10), following 16 weeks at No. 1 beginning in March – the longest reign ever for a non-collaboration.
Again, for all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated Nov. 18), including the Hot 100 in its entirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (Nov. 14).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.