List of ''Billboard'' number-one alternative singles of the 1990s
Alternative Songs is a record chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks the most-played songs on American modern rock radio stations. Introduced by Billboard in September 1988 and named Modern Rock Tracks until June 2009,[1] it was initially compiled based on weighted reports from several national rock radio stations.[2] On the chart week of June 12, 1993, radio airplay data compiled by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems – which electronically monitors various radio stations on a daily basis – was introduced as a factor in determining chart rankings.[3] Modern Rock Tracks later became solely based on Nielsen data, a change which took effect on the chart issue dated January 22, 1994.[3]
141 singles topped the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the 1990s; the first of these was "Blues from a Gun" by Scottish alternative rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain, which spent three weeks at number one from December 1989 to January 1990.[4] The modern rock radio format experienced a substantial growth in popularity during the decade,[5] with the success of Nirvana's 1991 single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" marking a "return of the crossover rock hit".[6] Speaking to Billboard, chart commentator Max Tolkoff stated: "[In previous years,] people didn't care what was a hit on modern rock. Now everybody wants to be involved."[6] The first formal number one debut on the Modern Rock Tracks chart also occurred during the 1990s, with "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" by R.E.M. entering at number one on the chart for the issue dated September 24, 1994.[7]
Irish rock band U2 scored the most number-one hits during the decade, with six of their singles topping the chart for a total of twenty-three weeks: "The Fly", "Mysterious Ways", "One", "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me", "Discothèque" and "Staring at the Sun".[4][8] "Scar Tissue" by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers topped the chart for sixteen consecutive weeks in 1999, the longest time at number one for any single during the 1990s.[9] The band themselves spent a record twenty-seven weeks at number one on Modern Rock Tracks during the decade, with four number-one singles: "Give It Away", "Soul to Squeeze", "My Friends" and "Scar Tissue".[4][10] "All the Small Things" by American rock band Blink-182 was the final number-one hit of the decade.[4]
Number-one singles
- Key
– Billboard year-end number-one single[lower-alpha 1] - ↑ – Return of a single to number one
Contents |
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← 1980s • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000s → |
Notes
- ↑ The Modern Rock Tracks year-end number-one single of 1994 was "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden,[11] which peaked at number two on the chart for the week ending July 2.[12]
References
- ↑ Molanphy, Chris (April 19, 2012). "100 & Single: Gotye And fun. Help Alternative Rock Go Pop Once Again". The Village Voice. Voice Media Group. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ Cateforis 2011, p. 65.
- 1 2 Whitburn 2008, p. 8.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Whitburn 2008, pp. 342–349.
- ↑ Keith & Sterling 2008, p. 165.
- 1 2 Boehlert, Eric (April 9, 1994). "Modern Rock Comes Into Its Own". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 106 (15): 69. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Powter Stays Hot, Chili Peppers Sizzle On Charts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
- ↑ "U2 – Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (February 11, 2013). "Muse's 'Madness' Rewrites Record For Longest-Reigning Alternative Songs No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ↑ Macdonald, Patrick (December 23, 1994). "Music Notes". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ↑ "Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 106 (27): 102. July 2, 1994. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ↑ "Janet Wins Big At Billboard Awards". Billboard. BPI Communications. 102 (49): 37. December 8, 1990.
- ↑ Harrington, Richard (January 1, 1992). "1991's Chart-Toppers: Garth, Mariah & C C". The Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved June 12, 2013. (Subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Garth Brooks Ropes In Seven Billboard Awards; U2 Wins Five". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. December 10, 1992. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- 1 2 "Billboard Music Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. VNU Publications. December 9, 1993.
- ↑ "Here's A Look At Year's Top Music". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Company. December 29, 1995. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ↑ Campbell, Chuck (January 2, 1997). "Musically, 1996 Was Lackluster". The Cincinnati Post. E. W. Scripps Company. Retrieved June 12, 2013. (Subscription required (help)).
- 1 2 "The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 109 (52): 78. December 27, 1997. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 110 (52): 84. December 26, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "1999 – The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 111 (52): 90. December 25, 1999. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
Bibliography
- Keith, Michael C.; Sterling, Christopher H. (2008). Sounds of Change: A History of FM Broadcasting in America. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-5888-2.
- Whitburn, Joel (2008). Rock Tracks 1981–2008 (3rd ed.). Record Research. ISBN 978-0-8982-0174-1.
- Cateforis, Theo (2011). Are We Not New Wave?: Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-4720-3470-3.