Billboard Magazine publishes its first music hit parade

The Billboard Magazine is dedicated to the music industry and is the home of the notorious Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot 200 Charts. These two charts are known for their weekly criticism of mainstream pop music by ranking songs based on radio airplay, sales, and downloads.

On this day, January 4th, in 1936, the Billboard Magazine publishes its first hit parade which is a list designated to rank the most popular music of the week. This list pioneered the way for the Hot 100 chart and later the Hot 200. Musicians worldwide, regardless of their genre, crave to reach the number one spot on these charts because it validates them as an artist.

Today, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men hold the record for the most (16) weeks at number one with their hit record “One Sweet Day.”