Pop Annual 1955-2016

Paul Haney wrote: Some very interesting points being discussed here. The difference between the Hot 100 and the whole Country situation is that the Hot 100 has been the Hot 100 since August 1958. That's nearly 60 years! The HCS chart was started in October 2012. Prior to that the Country Airplay chart WAS the HCS chart, and for over 20 years at that. There have always been tweaks to the Hot 100 formula over the years. Granted, the changes made in recent years are much bigger in scope, but the options for people to consume music these days are also much bigger. If this technology had been around in the 1960s, I'm sure that just about every Beatles album cut, for instance, would've charted. Billboard did try the Pop 100 chart, but they discontinued it due to lack of interest. In addition to the Hot 100, I always followed the Radio & Records CHR chart, because that one gave a better picture of what I was actually hearing on the radio. With so many different charts published by Billboard each week, it's pretty easy to follow which ones you feel are the best.

Most interesting, Paul. I could be interested in a Radio & Records chart book from RRI.

I do like what you’ll be doing with the upcoming updated Country Singles book, going/continuing with the country radio airplay charts for the main data.

Now the kicker: I would also be in favor of you and Joel putting together a new book for the Billboard pop radio airplay charts, say 90s and beyond. A brief discussion for our viewers:

I’m assuming the historical Billboard pop charts / Hot 100 have reflected the “pop” radio format over the decades rather than all radio formats lumped together. I.e., based on pop radio airplay plus pop record store sales, from the 50s up until the early 90s, when things started going haywire with some not-for-sale tracks getting airplay but no sales, and some singles that were selling without getting any airplay. AKA, the problem that American Top 40 had to deal with in choosing non-Hot 100 charts to keep their subscribers happy, due to the influx of rap and heavy metal.

Then in the late 90s, the Hot 100 changed from a “pop” chart to an “everything” chart, where airplay of all radio stations and sales of all recordings were thrown into this “everything” mix. Thus the true “pop” format of pop radio got obliterated on the most famous Billboard chart and replaced with something else. Maybe it would have been better to keep the Hot 100 as a “pop” chart and create a new “everything” chart. Or let the Hot 100 evolve as it did but create a new “pop” chart.

Country still has its format and charts, as does RnB, but “pop” no longer has a main chart, its chart the Hot 100 now becoming an everything chart.

Pure “pop” has been relegated to airplay charts, a series of them over the years, Top 40 Radio Monitor, Hot 100 Airplay, Top 40 Mainstream Radio Airplay, Top 40 Tracks Airplay, Pop 100 Airplay. The Pop 100 (sales and airplay) was an interesting experiment for a while, but it fizzled out in 2009 per Billboard because the influence of digital downloads made the Pop 100 and Hot 100 too similar.

Which leads to my main point: how about you and Joel coming up with a new Billboard pop radio airplay book? You two figure out where it would begin, early 90s, late 90s, or whenever. And which Billboard pop radio charts to use. Keeping the RRI Hot 100 books as they are, for those purists, and creating this new pop radio book for pop purists. This would illuminate and focus on pop music relative to itself over these recent decades without being steam-rolled by other music genres and radio formats.

Probably not much chance of this happening, ha, but thought it worthwhile to mention anyway. Thanks much !!

Don't see much chance of any "Pop" book(s) focusing on the 1990s and beyond. The demand for such a book just isn't there and, quite frankly, Joel doesn't have much interest in that period either.

IMO, the Across The Charts - The 1960s book was a terrific idea, but it just didn't sell very well. That, combined with our ever-dwindling staff and resources, doesn't bode well for any future volumes.

We have to devote our resources to the bread-and-butter books (Top Pop Singles, Pop Annual, Pop Albums, Country and R&B Singles) to stay in business. Any "specialty" books will be based on how well the basic ones continue to sell.

I believe a Pop Albums Annual was considered once - I
remember one of the flyers about 20 years or so ago
indicating it was upcoming. Nothing ever came of it,
unfortunately. I'd love to see one.

I'd also still like to see the Cashbox charts series
books continue - I'd buy an '80s book in a second.

I guess were only two years away from the '10s Hot 100
book too!

Paul Haney wrote: Cashbox & Record World chart book series both have a very good chance of continuing. Again, just a matter of time for us to work on it.

Paul, if each continues, what would likely be tne next books for each? I have Cash Box Top 100 Charts - The 60s, and The 70s, so I'm guessing the 80s. But what about Record World?

Paul, Any chance of a Radio & Records book?