Chart Beat: Madonna, Pussycat Dolls, Beyonce

FREQUENT FLYER ‘MILES’: When Madonna’s “Music” topped the Hot Singles Sales chart for four weeks in September 2000, it was her first release to top the chart since it was introduced in 1991. Prior to “Music” finding its way to pole position, Madonna had 19 titles that missed first place, including “This Used to Be My Playground” (No. 3 in 1992) and “Take a Bow” (No. 4 in 1995).

But since “Music” triumphed, Madonna has collected nine No. 1s, out of the 16 singles that have charted from 2000 to today. Her ninth and latest single to rule this chart is “Miles Away” (Warner Bros.), which takes a 31-1 leap to become this tally’s first No. 1 of 2009.

Here is a chronological list of Madonna’s No. 1s on Hot Singles Sales:

“Music,” four weeks (2000)
“Don’t Tell Me,” one week (2001)
“Die Another Day,” 11 weeks (2002)
“Nothing Fails,” one week (2003)
“Hung Up,” five weeks (2005)
“Sorry,” one week (2006)
“Jump,” two weeks (2006)
“4 Minutes,” two weeks (2008) [Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake)
“Miles Away,” one week to date (2009)

‘PART’ FOUR: There’s also a new No. 1 on Hot Dance Club Play, where “I Hate This Part” (Interscope) becomes the fourth chart-topper for the Pussycat Dolls. It’s also only the fourth entry for the quintet on this list, which gives them a perfect batting average.

Here is a summary of the Pussycat Dolls’ four No. 1s on the Club Play survey:

“Don’t Cha,” three weeks (2005) [The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes]
“Buttons,” one week (2006) [The Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg]
“When I Grow Up,” one week (2008)
“I Hate This Part,” one week (2009)

While four No. 1s out of four chart entries is impressive, it’s not a record on this tally. Between 1994 and 2005, Kristine W’s first nine entries on Club Play all spent time in the penthouse. Her amazing run was interrupted when “I’ll be Your Light” peaked at No. 2 in February 2006 but it was followed by two more No. 1s in 2007 and 2008. Her current hit, “Never” (Fly Again) is up to No. 27 in its second week.

FROM ‘LOW’ TO ‘SINGLE’: Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” (Music World/Columbia) carries over from 2008 to remain the No. 1 song for the first Hot 100 of 2009. It was the 14th song to advance to the lead spot last year, giving us a slightly less grander total than the 17 songs that marched into first place in 2007.

The first new No. 1 of 2008 set the record for the longest stay at the summit. Here, in order of how many weeks a song was No. 1, are the 14 chart-toppers of 2008:

“Low,” Flo Rida featuring T-Pain (10 weeks)
“I Kissed a Gil,” Katy Perry (seven weeks)
“Whatever You Like,” T.I. (seven weeks)
“Live Your Life,” T.I. featuring Rihanna (six weeks)
“Lollipop,” Lil Wayne featuring Static Major (five weeks)
“Bleeding Love,” Leona Lewis (four weeks)
“Love in This Club,” Usher featuring Young Jeezy (three weeks)
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Beyonce (three weeks)
“Touch My Body,” Mariah Carey (two weeks)
“Disturbia” Rihanna (two weeks)
“Take a Bow,” Rihanna (one week)
“Viva La Vida,” Coldplay (one week)
“So What,” Pink (one week)
“Womanizer,” Britney Spears (one week)

The gender race was almost even for 2008, with eight male acts and seven females wearing the crown.