Billboard is synonymous with its charts and, above all, the Hot 100. For over 60 years, it’s been the go-to for all the popular music action, with artists from The Beatles to Mariah Carey to Lil Nas X all making their mark on the chart as well as pop culture in general.
But how do songs hit the Hot 100? And what is the chart’s continued impact on the music industry?
The latest episode of Billboard Explains breaks down the history of the Hot 100 and the factors that compose a hit single today, from streaming to sales to radio play. Learn how the biggest superstars have interacted with the Hot 100 over the years, and the records that represents some of the chart’s biggest all-time achievements.
After the video, catch up on more Billboard Explains clips and learn about how R&B/hip-hop became the biggest genre in the U.S., how festivals book their lineups, Billie Eilish’s formula for success, the history of rap battles, nonbinary awareness in music, the Billboard Music Awards, the Free Britney movement, rise of K-pop in the U.S., why Taylor Swift is re-recording her first six albums, the boom of hit all-female collaborations, how Grammy nominees and winners are chosen, why songwriters are selling their publishing catalogs, how the Super Bowl halftime show is booked and why Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” was able to shoot to No. 1 on the Hot 100.
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