Celebrating leading ladies on Billboard's charts | mcarchives.com

Thursday 8 March 2018

Celebrating leading ladies on Billboard's charts

In celebration of International Women's Day 2018, Billboard looks back at some notable achievements by leading ladies on our charts. Plus, we dive into some stellar stats racked up by women on the music sales front, as tracked by Nielsen Music. From The Supremes and Mariah Carey to Katy Perry and Cardi B, let's take a look at some amazing achievements by women on the charts, and in Nielsen Music history:

The Shirelles bring the ladies to No. 1: The Shirelles were the first all-female group to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow". The song spent two consecutive weeks atop the ranking, which launched in 1958, beginning on the chart dated Jan. 30, 1961. The group, consisting of Shirley Owens, Doris Coley, Addie Harris and Beverly Lee, would go on to earn six top 10 hits, including another No. 1 song "Soldier Boy", which spent three weeks atop the chart in May 1962.

They reigned supreme: From 1964 to 1969, The Supremes landed 12 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100, a record among American groups, and second all-time among all groups, behind The Beatles (with 20). Most No. 1 hits on the Hot 100:
20, The Beatles
18, Mariah Carey
14, Rihanna
13, Michael Jackson
12, Madonna
12, The Supremes

She lit up the Hot 100: Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" spent an unprecedented 10 weeks atop the Hot 100 in 1977, breaking the record for most weeks at No. 1 on the chart. The record stood for 15 years, until Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" shattered it and spent 13 weeks atop the chart.

Like a hitmaker: Madonna scored her first of 12 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 in 1984 with "Like a Virgin", which spent six weeks atop the ranking. To this day, she holds the record for the most top 10 songs in the history of the Hot 100, with 38 hits.

The queen of soul... and charts: In 1985, Aretha Franklin scored her 20th No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with "Freeway of Love". The diva continues to hold the record for the most No. 1s among women in the history of the list.

Janet rules: In 1989, Janet Jackson scored a record seven top five singles from her album Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. She hit No. 1 with the set's lead single "Miss You Much", and followed it with the title track (No. 2), "Escapade" (No. 1), "Alright" (No. 4), "Come Back to Me" (No. 2), "Black Cat" (No. 1)" and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" (No. 1).

Mariah makes a splash: Beginning with her first No. 1 single "Vision of Love" in 1990, Mariah Carey has earned a staggering 18 No. 1 singles on the Hot 100, the most of any solo artist in the 60-year history of the Hot 100. Among all acts, only The Beatles have more No. 1 hits, with 20.

The bounty of "The Bodyguard": Whitney Houston breaks the all-time record for most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 with "I Will Always Love You", from the soundtrack to her film The Bodyguard. The song spent a then-record 14 weeks atop the ranking. To this day, no soloist, unaccompanied by another act - featured or otherwise - has spent more weeks at No. 1 with a given song.

Country queen: In 1997, Shania Twain's Come On Over becomes the top-selling album and the best-selling album by a female artist in any genre since Nielsen Music started tracking sales in 1991.

Dolly's 25th No 1: In 2006, Dolly Parton extended her record for the most No. 1s on the Hot Country Songs chart, as the country queen collected her 25th chart-topper as the featured artist on Brad Paisley's "When I Get Where I'm Going". She nabbed her first No. 1 with "Joshua" in 1971.

A "dream" record: In 2011, Katy Perry's 2010 album Teenage Dream tied Michael Jackson's Bad for the most No. 1 singles from one album, as the singer launched five hits to No. 1 on the Hot 100. She hit No. 1 with "California Gurls", featuring Snoop Dogg, "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T.", featuring Kanye West, and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)".

All hail Adele: In a single week in 2015, Adele's album 25 became the year's best-selling album and shattered the record for most albums sold in a week in Nielsen Music's history, as the set sold 3.38 million copies in the U.S. in its debut week. The previous record, held by *NSYNC's No Strings Attached, sold 2.42 million copies in one week in 2000.

Taylor's many millions: When Taylor Swift's 2017 album Reputation debuted with 1.22 million copies sold in its first week, Swift became the first artist to achieve four million-selling weeks in Nielsen Music's history. Swift earlier earned million-selling weeks with the debut weeks of each of her last three studio albums: 1989 (1.287 million in 2014), Red (1.208 million, 2012) and Speak Now (1.047 million, 2010).

A grande record: In 2016, Ariana Grande was the first artist to debut in the Hot 100's top 10 with the lead single from each of her first three albums, as "Dangerous Woman", the title track of her 2016 album, arrived at No. 10 on the list. It followed the bows of "Problem" (No. 3, from My Everything) and "The Way", featuring Mac Miller (No. 10, from Yours Truly).

Cardi B's first three: In 2017, Cardi B made history among female rappers, becoming the first female MC to send her first three entries on the Hot 100 to the top 10. She hit the top 10 with "Motorsport", alongside Nicki Minaj and Migos, "No Limit" (G-Eazy featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B) and "Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)".

Dance diva: In 2018, Rihanna logged a record eighth No. 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart from her ANTI album with "Consideration", featuring SZA. It followed "Desperado", "Pose", "Sex With Me", "Love on the Brain", "Needed Me", "Kiss It Better" and "Work".

Minaj's endless hits: With 84 entries (so far) on the Hot 100 chart, Nicki Minaj holds the record for the most hits among women on the list. She also holds the record for the most top 10 hits among female rappers, with 15.

(Billboard)



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