What Does It Mean To Have A #1 Song?
Having a #1 song means reaching the top position on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart, which ranks the most popular songs in the United States. The Hot 100 combines data from sales, radio airplay, and online streaming to determine the top songs.
To reach #1 on the Hot 100, a song must have high performance in all three of those areas – strong sales of downloads and physical copies, heavy radio airplay, and a large number of streams. Radio airplay tends to be a major factor, so getting good rotation on stations across different formats helps a song climb the charts.
Reaching the #1 position is a major milestone for any artist and song. Having a #1 hit song means joining an elite group of the most popular and successful music in the country at that given time. It shows the artist has resonated widely across the mainstream music landscape.
A #1 song often becomes an iconic moment in an artist’s career. It demonstrates their ability to release music that climbs to the peak of the industry and captures the nation’s attention. #1 hits typically experience a surge of downloads, streaming and even radio play long after their chart run as their status solidifies over time.
Checking The Charts
The biggest music charts in the United States are published weekly by Billboard Magazine. The two main charts are the Billboard Hot 100, which ranks the top songs by all measures, and the Billboard 200, which ranks the top albums.
The Billboard Hot 100 ranks songs based on physical and digital sales data, streaming numbers, and radio airplay. Billboard uses data provided by Nielsen SoundScan for sales and Nielsen BDS for radio airplay. Streaming data comes from on-demand audio and video platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and TikTok.
The Hot 100 formula combines sales (35-45%), streaming (35-45%), and airplay (20-30%) to create a comprehensive songs ranking. The exact percentages shift from week to week based on which platforms contributed the most to each song’s performance. A big factor is radio play, as terrestrial and satellite radio remains influential in making hits. (1)
The Billboard 200 album chart uses a similar methodology, tracking physical and digital album sales as well as sizable numbers of streaming tracks. Both charts are numeric, ranked 1 to 100 or 1 to 200. The Hot 100 currently updates online weekly on Tuesdays, while the Billboard 200 updates on Wednesdays.
So in summary, Billboard ranks songs and albums based on comprehensive data tracking music industry metrics like sales, radio play, and streaming. The more buzz a song generates across platforms, the higher it will chart. A #1 single is one that has outpaced all other songs that week in enough categories to take the top slot.
(1) https://www.billboard.com/p/how-charts-are-calculated
Viewing Your Top Songs on Apple Music
Apple Music offers a personalized playlist called Replay that shows you your top songs each year. Here are the steps to view your top songs in the Apple Music app and web player:
In the Apple Music app:
- Open the Apple Music app.
- Go to the Listen Now tab.
- Scroll down and look for the “Replay” playlist under the heading “Replay: Your Top Songs by Year.”
- Tap on the Replay playlist for the current year to view your top songs.
In the Apple Music web player:
- Go to replay.music.apple.com in your web browser.
- This will open your Replay playlist for the current year, showing your top songs.
- You can also select a previous year’s Replay to view your top songs from that year.
The number of songs shown in your Replay playlist varies, but will include your most played tracks of the year according to your Apple Music listening data. This offers a great way to get a personalized recap of your favorite music from the past year.
Getting On The Charts With Apple Music Plays
With streaming now being the dominant way people consume music, streaming plays have become one of the key factors that determine chart placement on Billboard’s charts like the Hot 100. In 2018, Billboard updated the way it counts streams, giving more weight to paid subscription services like Apple Music versus ad-supported sites like YouTube (Billboard Updates Streams Weighting for Hot 100 & 200).
This means racking up plays of your songs on Apple Music can directly impact chart performance. Apple Music plays are counted each time a subscriber streams your song. Having a popular playlist placement or being featured in Apple Music recommendations and promotions will result in more streams. This is why many artists and labels now promote music releases and aim to drive listens on Apple Music specifically.
Some tips for gaining more Apple Music plays:
- Pitch your music to influential Apple Music playlists like Today’s Hits to get placement
- Run Apple Music ads to increase streams
- Engage fans on social media and encourage them to stream your song
- Offer exclusives like lyric videos or live sessions on Apple Music
While viral streaming hits often feel organic, the truth is that most artists getting significant streams have marketing campaigns or label support driving streams through placements and promotion. With Apple Music’s weighting system, racking up a few million streams can lead to a Hot 100 debut.
Promoting Your Music to Get More Plays
One of the most important ways to get your music discovered and climb the charts on Apple Music is through promotion to drive more plays. There are various strategies you can use to promote your music effectively:
Leverage social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter to share your music, music videos, behind-the-scenes content, and more. Engage your existing fanbase while also reaching new potential listeners. You can also run targeted ads on these platforms.
Get your music added to relevant Spotify and Apple Music playlists to tap into built-in audiences. Reach out to playlist curators or use a pitching service. Target both algorithmic playlists based on your music’s attributes as well as human-curated playlists.
Collaborate with other artists for features, cross-promotions or even joint releases. This allows you to tap into each other’s fanbases.
Encourage your fans to add your songs to their own playlists and share them with friends. Offer incentives like special content or merchandise to top playlisters.
Promote new releases across all platforms consistently leading up to and after the release date. Don’t just limit promotions to release day.
Run giveaways and contests with your music as prizes to increase engagement and listens. Require sharing or streaming your music as part of entry.
Consider taking out ads on music streaming platforms to increase your reach and plays. For example, Apple Music allows audio and banner ads.
Overall, a multi-channel promotional strategy across both social media and streaming services can help drive more plays and increase your chances of hitting #1.
Radio Play and Other Factors for Hit Songs
A song’s position on the charts is determined by a combination of factors, primarily radio airplay, sales, and streaming. The Billboard Hot 100 chart ranks songs based on data like radio airplay audience impressions, sales figures, and streaming numbers. Airplay and impressions refer to how frequently a song is played on radio stations and the estimated audience size. Sales include purchases of the song as a single or album track. Streaming counts video and audio on-demand plays from services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Radio airplay has historically been a major driver of chart success. Songs need exposure on Top 40 radio stations to reach a mass audience. Stations report their airplay to publications like Billboard to determine the weekly Hot 100 rankings. However, streaming has challenged the importance of radio play in recent years. Massive streaming numbers can push songs to #1 even without significant radio play. But airplay still provides important exposure that boosts streaming.
Other promotional factors like live TV performances, inclusion in popular playlists, and viral moments on social media also influence a song’s popularity. Record labels put marketing muscle behind releases they think have hit potential. All these efforts drive consumer engagement through purchases, streams, downloads, and shares. Sustained audience demand in all these areas is required for a #1 hit on the flagship Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Insights From Top Music Artists
Reaching the coveted #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart is the dream for many pop stars. Here are some words of wisdom from musicians who have managed to hit the top of the charts multiple times in their careers:
“You can’t go into the studio trying to manufacture a #1 hit. The best songs come from a pure place of creativity and authenticity. Focus on writing something meaningful and the rest will follow.” – Taylor Swift, 11 #1 hits (Source: https://blog.sonicbids.com/3-ways-to-get-on-the-billboard-charts)
“I don’t think you can ever aim for #1. You just have to make the best music you can and hope it resonates with people. The charts are unpredictable so stay true to yourself as an artist.” – Bruno Mars, 9 #1 hits (Source: https://www.billboard.com/lists/artists-most-number-one-hits-all-time-hot-100/)
“The music industry is always changing so you have to be willing to evolve your sound. Challenge yourself to try new styles and collaborate with different artists/producers. That keeps your music fresh and gives you the best chance of having a hit.” – Rihanna, 14 #1 hits (Source: https://inside-the-industry.com/2023/04/21/how-do-billboard-charts-work-the-hot-100-explained/)
The key for aspiring chart-toppers seems to be letting your creativity guide you, not chasing trends. Crafting meaningful songs that showcase your unique artistry gives you the best opportunity to resonate widely and land that coveted #1 spot.
Staying Power: Sustaining Chart Success
Having a #1 hit song on the charts is an incredible accomplishment, but remaining relevant and sustaining success after that initial breakout can be challenging. Many artists struggle with being labeled a “one hit wonder” after topping the charts. However, there are strategies successful musicians use to stay popular and land more hits.
One key is having a clear artistic vision and style that connects with fans, while still evolving your sound over time. As this article notes, artists who are trendsetters tend to have more staying power, by being unique enough to stand out yet influential enough to spark new trends. It’s about balancing innovation and consistency.
Additionally, consistently releasing new music is critical for sustaining relevance, even after a #1 song. Fans want to hear more from artists they connected with. Short breaks between releases may work early on, but longer gaps risk losing relevancy. Plan your album cycles and single releases to keep your name out there.
Beyond music itself, maintaining a strong personal brand and connection with fans also matters. Engaging on social media, doing interviews, touring, and finding new platforms to interact with your audience can help sustain interest and visibility between releases. Keep fans excited about what’s next throughout your career.
While nothing guarantees hits, taking a strategic approach and valuing long-term relevance over short-term fame will give artists their best shot at sustaining chart success.
Reflecting on Reaching #1
Having a song reach #1 on the charts is a phenomenal achievement that all musicians dream about. The thrill and satisfaction of seeing your music top the charts is truly special. Many top artists have shared inspiring anecdotes and reflections on what it meant for them to have a #1 hit song.
“The first time one of my songs hit #1, it was the most amazing feeling in the world. I’ll never forget calling my mom and dad to share the news – we were all screaming and crying tears of joy,” revealed pop star Ariana Grande (Source).
“Reaching the #1 spot feels like the ultimate validation as an artist. To know your music has connected with millions of listeners enough to propel it to the top is the greatest accomplishment,” rapper Drake shared in an interview (Source).
“The first time I had a #1 song, I called my dad crying – it was the realization of a lifelong dream,” said country singer Carrie Underwood. “All the hard work, long nights, and sacrifices over the years finally paid off in that amazing moment” (Source).
Clearly, reaching the pinnacle of the music charts is a emotional and unforgettable milestone for any musician. The joy and pride of seeing your music connect with millions is an experience these artists will cherish forever.
Conclusion
Reaching number one on the Apple Music charts is an incredible accomplishment for any music artist. It signifies that your song has resonated widely with listeners and achieved a enviable level of popularity and success. Having a number one hit takes a magical combination of great songwriting, production, promotion and yes, sometimes luck. But the ability to create music that so many people love enough to play on repeat and share with others is an amazing creative achievement.
Getting a number one song involves mastering your craft, finding your distinctive sound and style, releasing the right songs at the right time, and having the perseverance to keep going even when the road is tough. For any musician who dreams of topping the charts, remember that a number one song simply means your music connected deeply with an audience. Keep perfecting your skills, stay true to your artistic vision, value your fans, and with dedication and persistence, you can reach the pinnacle of success.
Enjoying a number one hit, even for a fleeting moment, puts you in rarefied company. But beyond accolades and achievements, creating music that resonates both today and for decades to come is perhaps the greatest accomplishment. By touching people’s lives with your songs, you’ve created a lasting legacy as an artist. That is worth celebrating, whether you have a chart topper or not.