30 Years of Hit Songs
Two weeks ago, Beyoncé surprised her fans by releasing a new single without warning and two weeks later, “Black Parade,” has reached No. 1 on Digital Song Sales registering 7.8 million U.S. clicks in the week ending June 25 and recording 4.4 million in the all-format audience in the week ending June 28. “Black Parade” also debuted at No. 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It marks her 60th Top 40 hit on the list, which began as an all-encompassing genre songs chart in 1958. The tune also bows at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and R&B Digital Song Sales rankings. It additionally starts at No. 38 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, with 3.2 million in format audience, and at No. 5 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart.
I realize this is all confusing but the reason these numbers are significant is that Beyoncé just landed a new milestone.
The last thing anyone expected from Queen B was to debut a new song during the pandemic, but her legion of fans sure do love the new track as it marks her 40th Top 40 hit on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart this week.
THE 40/40 CLUB
With her new track, Beyoncé ties Michael Jackson with the number of times her songs have appeared on the top 40 in the Hot 100 archives. She secured her first top 40 with the help of Jay-Z back in 2002 when they released “’03 Bonnie and Clyde," which shot to No. 6 on the charts. Ever since, 8 of her singles have gone all the way to No. 1, including this year’s guest turn on Megan Thee Stallion's “Savage,” extending her No. 1 Hot 100 count to three decades – 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.
That’s impressive, especially considering it doesn’t include her time spent as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child, who clocked 13 Top 40 hits (including four No. 1s) from 1997-2005.