about www.numberoneinhistory.com ...

© 2013 numberoneinhistory.com

What happened to the really slick, user-friendly, old version of this site ... and for that matter, the ads?

Billboard magazine chose to end our contract, so I no longer have the right to publish their copyrighted data. You can now click through to Wikipedia to find the same information ... it's just not as user-friendly, and you can't click through to listen or watch videos. Bummer!

But wasn't your site really successful? Why did they pull the plug?

As a matter of fact, yes ... we got 30 million hits in January 2012. They didn't tell me why they decided to end the contract. Maybe they're developing a snazzy site of their own. I hope so ... they have every right to, and I wish them the best.

The data on Wikipedia goes week by week. How can I determine the #1 song for an exact day?

You're right ... the Hot 100 is a weekly chart, not a daily chart. So, looked at daily, a song remains at #1 for at least seven consecutive days. But which seven? If the issue date is December 3, 1983, one would assume the dates represented were December 3-9.

But no: in the magazine, the chart is actually dated "the week ending December 3," which means that it covers the dates November 27-December 3. Other sources on the Web may have gotten this wrong. But the "week ending" method is the method agreed upon by the most serious chart fanatics. And considering that a given chart represents radio airplay and sales that were happening two to three weeks prior anyway, the point is academic.

I used to be able to look up the #1 song in years prior to 1940. Where can I get that information now?

I don't believe it's available online ... sorry. The data is in a book called Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954, now sadly out of print. But you can get a used copy through Amazon.

If you no longer have a contract with Billboard, why is there still a site? Why do you care?

Since I was 12 years old, the pop charts have filled the role of sports in my life. I miss the days when Casey Kasem was counting down the top 40 songs "straight from the official Billboard chart." I'd like to get people as excited as I am about finding out how my favorite songs stack up against their competitors in the pop music arena.

I'll never forget how upset I was when my little brother's favorite song, Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill," hit #1, while my favorite song, "The Search Is Over" by Survivor, peaked at #4. But later that year, my new favorite song did go all the way to #1: "Take on Me" by a-ha. The thrill of victory ... the agony of defeat!

And why are you maintaining flashback playlists on Spotify?

To make you feel old. That's pretty much the only reason. ;P

Did you really meet Lionel Richie?

Yes, at a former place of employment ... just long enough for a photo and an autograph.

What was the #1 song on the day YOU were born?

Ugh! I was worried this would come up. OK ... brace yourself ... "My Ding-a-Ling" by Chuck Berry. What kills me is that none of his really classic songs ever made it to #1.