Ask Billboard: Nicki Minaj Ties Hot 100 Record
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NICKI MINAJ TIES BLACK EYED PEAS' RECORD
Hey Gary,
Just noting that Nicki Minaj's "Starships" is still in the Billboard Hot 100's top 10 after 20 weeks - an uninterrupted top 10 streak dating to its arrival at No. 9. Is that the longest that a song that debuted in the top 10 has remained that high?
Thanks,
Aaron HeinsmanBaltimore, Maryland
Hi Aaron,
Like an actual starship, Minaj's song took off at great heights and has yet to come down.
With its 20th consecutive week in the top 10, all since its debut at No. 9 the week of March 3, "Starships," which has orbited between Nos. 10 and its No. 5 peak to-date, matches the mark for most uninterrupted weeks in the top 10 for a song that bowed in the region. The Black Eyed Peas first set the record with its 14-week No. 1 "I Gotta Feeling" in 2009.
Here are the top such titles:
Weeks in Top 10 from Debut, Title, Artist, Peak, Year(s)
20, "Starships," Nicki Minaj, No. 5, 201220, "I Gotta Feeling," the Black Eyed Peas, No. 1 (14 weeks), 200919, "One Sweet Day," Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, No. 1 (16 weeks), 1995-9618, "Girlfriend," Avril Lavigne, No. 1 (one week), 200717, "California Gurls," Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, (No. 1, six weeks), 201017, "I'l! l Be Mis sing You," Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112, No. 1 (11 weeks), 199716, "Love the Way You Lie," Eminem featuring Rihanna, No. 1 (seven weeks), 201016, "Fantasy," Mariah Carey, No. 1 (eight weeks), 199515, "So What," P!nk, No. 1 (one week), 200815, "Always Be My Baby," Mariah Carey, No. 1 (two weeks), 199615, "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," Whitney Houston, No. 1 (one week), 1995-96
Noticeably, "Starships" is the only title above not to have topped the Hot 100. How has a No. 5-peaking hit joined 10 No. 1s on the list? For one, a bit of bad timing, as "Starships" could've ranked higher if not for other songs clogging the way. Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," featuring Kimbra, has ranked in the top five since March 17, spending eight weeks at No. 1; fun.'s six-week leader "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monae, has lodged itself in the top 10 non-stop since Feb. 25; and, Maroon 5's "Payphone," featuring Wiz Khalifa, has rung up all 11 of its Hot 100 chart weeks between Nos. 2 and 3.
Add in such hits as the Wanted's "Glad You Came" (10 weeks in the top five between March and May), One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" (13 weeks in the top 10, with top five appearances in April and again in June) and Carly Rae Jepsen's current No. 1 "Call Me Maybe" (14 f! rames in the top 10) and it's a bit clearer how, despite a comparatively modest No. 5 peak, "Starships" has nonetheless made history for its consistency.
The addition of new streaming data to the Hot 100 earlier this year also seems to have had a steadying effect on the chart, with the biggest consensus sales, airplay and streaming hits having since remained in the tally's upper reaches for lengthy runs.
Additionally aiding its chart fortunes, "Starships" has won support at multiple radio formats, reaching No. 2 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay, No. 3 on Pop Songs and Rhythmic and No. 24 on Adult Pop Songs (marking Minaj's best rank on the lattermost chart as a lead act).
The track has racked 1.3 billion cumulative audience impressions, according to Nielsen BDS, in reaching No. 3 on the all-format Radio Songs chart, and has sold 3.2 million downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
As Minaj melodically sings, "Starships" truly were (was) meant to fly.