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billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267061/chart-beat-wednesday-britney-by-the-numbers
By Gary Trust10/14/2009Click to
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'3' IS THE NEW 1: As previously reported, Britney Spears' "3" rockets onto the Billboard
Hot 100 at No. 1. The song's arrival at the summit marks just the 15th song in the Hot 100's
history to open at No. 1:
"3" concurrently launches at No. 1 on Digital Songs and No. 49 on Radio Songs/Hot 100
Airplay. After its first week of airplay and prior to its digital release, the song debuted last
week at No. 14 on the Hot 100's Bubbling Under chart (viewable at billboard.biz).
Artists Mentioned
SHORT STORY: Two weeks after the Black Eyed Peas completed the longest
uninterrupted stay for an act at the top (26 weeks with "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta
Feeling"), Britney Spears establishes a record somewhat opposite in nature: "3" becomes
the shortest title to reach the pinnacle in the Hot 100's 51-year history.
"3" passes the previous mark of three characters held by seven No. 1 titles, three of which
feature vocals from Michael Jackson:
DIGITAL SONGS: "3" is the 10th Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 whose title features at least one
digit (not including titles that spell out numbers, such as Barenaked Ladies' "One Week,"
Roman numerals, i.e., Don McLean's "American Pie - Parts I & II," or titles with a serial
notation such as Eddie Kendricks' "Keep On Truckin' (Part 1)").
Here are the 10 such songs to associate numbers with the best number of all, No. 1, on the
Hot 100.
"3" becomes the second-highest numeral to appear solely atop the Hot 100. Sinead
O'Connor retains the honor with "Nothing Compares 2 U."
'3'-SOME: "3" is, fittingly, Britney Spears' third No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
She first led with "...Baby One More Time" for two weeks beginning on the Jan. 30, 1999,
chart. She scored her second No. 1, "Womanizer," a year ago this week.
"3" also instantly becomes Spears' 23rd Hot 100 chart entry and eighth top 10. Since her
first appearance on the chart dated Nov. 21, 1998, Spears and Mariah Carey trail only
Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana (30) for most chart appearances among women.
POP MUSIC: Britney Spears continues to dominate at her home radio format.
"3" bounds 38-25 on Pop Songs. Since she first appeared on the mainstream top 40 airplay
tally 11 years ago this week, her 24 chart entries are the most among all artists.
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