Billboard hot 100 - Why, since the 90s, have songs stayed at number 1 for longer periods of time than before?

Question

In the 60s, 70s, and 80s songs didn't stay on top for as long as they have since the 1990s

Answer 1

Duh must be in the radio business like myself.  His answer is pretty much right on.

Answer 2

Maybe because people dont care that much and people arent buying music and just downloading it.

Answer 3

Gearbox has a good take.

However, more during the '70s and '80s there was a very active record promotion machine that spent huge amounts of money wining and dining radio Program & Music Directors. The charts were very important in selling music and so, the station people were encouraged to turn the songs over at a faster clip, so more records would be sold.

Now that promotional money has dried up as the traditional record companies are really hurting - and feuding with radio.

There's also a sophisticated computer-monitoring system in place that shows actual airplay for any station of any importance. What this research has shown us is what some suspected all along. Just as the DJs are screaming, "If I have to play that &%$#* song again, I'm throwing it out the window..." the audience is just beginning to become familiar with the song. So the records stay on top longer to better reflect what the audience wants and because the radio people don't have the pressure to flip the songs as often.

There's other reasons (the switch from singles to album sales for instance), but the lack of promotional and advertising dollars to support the songs is one of the more significant explanations.

Good question. A star 4 U!

-a guy named duh

Answer 4

My vote is there is a less number of songs being made available for the Hot 100 so those songs tend to stay a lot longer as something hasn't captured people's imaginations like they did years ago.