Top Artists of 2008

Rihanna had seven different songs appear on the THO 100 in 2008, with two of them reaching #1. She therefore is the runaway winner in our chart of the Top Artists of 2008. "Don't Stop The Music" spent five weeks atop the chart while "Disturbia" added four. Only the combination of Madonna and Justin Timberlake spent more weeks at #1 in 2008, with their hit "4 Minutes." Rihanna was #3 on the 2007 artist chart.

Two other artists had seven songs on the THO 100 in '08: Kanye West and Lil Wayne. Britney Spears, Chris Brown, and T-Pain each had six hits. The success of Brown's six hits allowed him to be the #2 artist of the year. His songs spent a combined total of 107 weeks on the chart (about an average of two songs on the chart every week). Leona Lewis also had 107 weeks on the chart (Rihanna had 119).

Coldplay was the #1 group of the year, and they were #4 on the overall artist chart. Coldplay songs spent 34 weeks inside the top 10 in 2008. OneRepublic was the #2 group, coming in at #6 on the artist chart.

- Top Artists of 2008
- Top Songs of 2008
- THO chart archive
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Top Songs of 2008

Madonna & Justin Timberlake's "4 Minutes" might have spent the most weeks at #1 (10) on the THO 100 in 2008, but due to sheer staying power, Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" is THO's #1 Song of 2008. The Top Songs of 2008 chart is based on chart positions for all 2008 THO weekly charts, with an inverse exponential point system. "Viva" barely edges out Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love." If "Bleeding Love" had its full chart life in 2008, it would have been #1 for the year, but it was released in 2007 and even made #50 in the Top Songs of 2007 chart. Lewis was the only artist to have two songs place in the top 10, with "Better In Time" at #10. Rihanna had songs at #5, #12, #14, #48, and #73. She might be a frontrunner for the Top Artist of 2008, which will be published soon... MGMT had three songs on the chart, and two of them back-to-back at #52 and #53.

Alicia Keys' "No One" appeared on the 2007 and 2008 year-end charts, coincidentally in the same position of #37. Other songs to appear on this years' list that also appeared last year are: "Don't Stop The Music" by Rihanna (#12 in 2008, #51 in 2007), Timbaland's "Apologize" (#21 in 2008, #29 in 2007), Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly" (#94 in 2008, #44 in 2007), and Linkin Park's "Shadow Of The Day" (#45 in 2008, #92 in 2007).

- Top Songs of 2008
- THO chart archive
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Top Songs of 2008...So Far

There are still about 15 weeks left in 2008, but the top songs of the year are starting to shape up. Through TopHitsOnline's September 6th chart, Leona Lewis led with "Bleeding Love," which just left the chart after a 48-week run. Rihanna has two songs in the top 10, and that doesn't even include her current #1 hit "Disturbia." Once again this year, it looks like the year-end top songs will be dominated by female artists, which you'll see from the list below:

1. Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
2. OneRepublic - Stop And Stare
3. Sara Bareilles - Love Song
4. Duffy - Mercy
5. Jordin Sparks f/ Chris Brown - No Air
6. Madonna f/ Justin Timberlake - 4 Minutes
7. Rihanna - Don't Stop The Music
8. Rihanna - Take A Bow
9. Britney Spears - Piece Of Me
10. Mariah Carey - Touch My Body

- THO Top Songs of 2007
- Top Songs of 2006
- All Year-End Charts
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Top Songs of 2008... So Far

We are barely past the halfway point of 2008 - a good time to take a look at the year's top songs... so far. This list is compiled by adding each THO chart from 2008. The top 10 is dominated by female solo artists, but it is a male group that has two songs on the list. And two of the most popular artists of the past two decades are topped by a newcomer...

1. Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
2. OneRepublic - Stop And Stare
3. Sara Bareilles - Love Song
4. Duffy - Mercy
5. Rihanna - Don't Stop The Music
6. Madonna f/ Justin Timberlake - 4 Minutes
7. Britney Spears - Piece Of Me
8. Timbaland f/ OneRepublic - Apologize
9. Jordin Sparks f/ Chris Brown - No Air
10. Mariah Carey - Touch My Body

- THO Chart Archive
- Current THO 100

THO 100 Update for the week ending June 21, 2008

This week Madonna adds to her already-impressive list of achievements on the THO 100 chart. Her current #1 smash "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake) spends a 10th week at the top, which pushes it into the top 10 all-time in terms of number of weeks at #1. Of the nine songs ahead of "4 Minutes," four of them are by Madonna herself, led by "You'll See" which spent a record-tying 15 weeks at #1 in 1995-1996. Below is a list of her top THO songs (the chart began in 1993), ranked by number of weeks at #1:
15 weeks - You'll See (1995-1996)
12 weeks - Take A Bow (1995)
12 weeks - Secret (1994)
11 weeks - Hung Up (2005-2006)
10 weeks - 4 Minutes (2008)
10 weeks - Music (2000)
10 weeks - Don't Cry For Me Argentina (1997)
9 weeks - Sorry (2006)

- THO 100 chart
- Most weeks at #1 on THO
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THO 100 Update for week ending May 24, 2008

This week on the THO 100 Rihanna collects her eighth top 10 hit with "Take A Bow." Her string of hits began in 2005 with "Pon de Replay" and includes three number ones: "SOS (Rescue Me)," "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z), and "Don't Stop The Music." She is clearly one of the most successful artists of the past 3 years. Rihanna also has the highest debut on this weeks' chart, "If I Never See Your Face Again," a duet with Maroon 5. The news at the top of the chart is the same: Madonna has a huge lead over all competition with "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake).

- Current Chart
- Rihanna's chart history
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THO 100 Update for the week ending May 17, 2008

No surprise this week at the top of the THO 100 as Madonna's "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake) still has a stranglehold on the competition. Look further down the chart and you'll find newcomer Duffy with the largest point gain and the largest chart move. But she achieves this not with her top 10 hit "Mercy," but with her new UK hit "Warwick Avenue." I'm sure we'll hear more and more about this interesting new artist, but for now all we can tell you is that she is Welsh, her full name is Aimee Duffy, and she has a twin sister. We hope you enjoy the rest of the THO 100 this week.

- Full THO 100
- Chart Archive
- Lyric Archive
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THO 100 Update for week ending May 10, 2008

No big surprise this week as Madonna extends her lead over the THO 100 at #1 with "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake). The song is the largest point gainer and has one of the highest point totals in THO's history, which dates back over 15 years. Another big story is the unusually high number of song debuts this week. We didn't change our chart methodology, so it is just coincidence that there are 14 songs debuting. They are led by Nelly's "Party People" (featuring Fergie) which lands at #57. Given Nelly and Fergie's superstar status, top ten placement is almost guarranteed for this one.

- Current THO 100
- Chart Archive
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THO 100 Update for the week ending May 3, 2008

In the week in which Natasha Bedingfield (pictured) appeared on American Idol (and gushed over David Archuleta), she is the greatest point gainer on the THO 100. The song she performed on Idol was "Pocketful of Sunshine," which rockets from #38 to #18 on this weeks' chart. Although top 10 status seems inevitable for this song, it will be hard to overcome the current hits at the top by Madonna, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and Usher. "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake) continues to widen the gap between #1 and #2, and a new #1 before June, or maybe even July, seems unlikely.
- Current THO 100 chart
- THO 100 Archive
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THO 100 Update for the week ending April 26, 2008

This week on the THO 100, Jordin Sparks' duet with Chris Brown, "No Air," accomplishes something her lead single "Tattoo" could not do: reach the top 10. "No Air" moves from #15 to #8 on the new chart. "Tattoo" peaked at #11 last month. Also on the chart this week, Madonna's "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake) widens its lead at #1 over fellow divas Mariah Carey and Britney Spears. This song's stay at the top could be a long one...
- Current THO 100
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New Dance Songs

New songs recently receiving airplay on dance radio stations and in clubs in the U.S.:

Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (remixes)
Anane f/ Tony Touch & Mr. Vegas - Shake It
The B-52's - Funplex (remixes)
Ferry Corsten & Howard Jones - Into The Dark
Danity Kane - Damaged (remixes)
Fragma - Toca's Miracle 2008
Lady GaGa f/ Colby O'Donis - Just Dance
Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love (remixes)
Jesse McCartney - Leavin' (remixes)
Madonna f/ Justin Timberlake - 4 Minutes (remixes)
George Michael & Mutya - This Is Not Real Love
Kylie Minogue f/ Mims - All I See
Moby - Disco Lies
The Ones - I Feel Upside Down
Mark Picchiotti p/ Basstoy - Turn It Up
Seal [pictured] - The Right Life
Britney Spears - Break The Ice (remixes)
Static Revenger f/ Taj Bell - Everything Is Beautiful
Tracy Young f/ Ceevox - What's Done Is Done

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THO 100 Update for week ending April 19, 2008

In only its fifth week on the chart, Madonna's "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake) takes over the top spot on the THO 100. It is Madonna's 18th chart-topper, by far the most of any artist and double the next-closest artist (Mariah Carey with nine). Although he is a featured artist, it is Justin Timberlake's second #1 hit, following "Cry Me A River" in 2002. He also had two #1 hits as a member of 'N Sync. "4 Minutes" displaces OneRepublic's "Stop And Stare," which spent five weeks at the top.
- See the full THO 100 chart
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THO 100 Update for the week ending April 12, 2008

We are somewhat surprised, but OneRepublic was able to hang on for one more week at #1 on the THO 100 with their smash "Stop And Stare." It barely tops Madonna's "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake), which we expect to be next week's top song. But a darkhorse has emerged in all of this: Chris Brown's "With You." The song has built momentum slowly and is currently the most-played song on U.S. radio stations. It sits at #3 for a third consecutive week but is definitely in contention for #1 next week if the momentum continues. Hope you enjoy the chart this week!
- Current THO 100
- Chart Archive
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THO 100 Update for the week ending April 5, 2008

While OneRepublic spends a fourth week atop the THO 100, there are at least three new songs that will challenge for the top position very soon. The first is Madonna with her latest "4 Minutes" (featuring Justin Timberlake). This week the song is the largest point gainer for the second time. The largest chart move this week belongs to Estelle with "American Boy" (featuring Kanye West), who moves up 40 positions after claiming the #1 position on the U.K. national chart. The third threat is Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body," which remains at #5 this week but is still gaining fast. We think there will be a new #1 next week, but the data will dictate if that is true. Stay tuned.

Current THO 100 chart
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2008 Brit Awards - Part 2

Yesterday we highlighted the 2008 Brit Awards, but only the awards for British artists. The Brit Awards also hand out 4 awards for the best international male solo artist, female solo artist, group, and album. Last year the winners were Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, The Killers, and "Sam's Town" by The Killers. Below are polls we've created for each of the 2008 international awards:
International Male Solo Artist
International Female Solo Artist
International Group
International Album
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All Time Artist List Update

With the addition of all 2007 chart data, our All Time list of Top Artists, by number of songs on the THO 100, has been updated. The top 3 artists - Mariah Carey, Madonna, and LeAnn Rimes - each had one song on the THO 100 in 2007. Artists making significant moves up the list included Justin Timberlake, Sugababes, and Girls Aloud.

Most Songs of THO 100 - All Time

Note: the THO 100 began in 1993 and has been published weekly ever since.

Top Artists of 2007

While Rihanna and Nelly Furtado had the top songs of of 2007 and female artists seemed to continually occupy the upper reaches of the chart, it was Justin Timberlake leading the top artists of 2007. Timberlake had eight songs in the THO 100 in '07, in a tie with T-Pain for the most charted songs. Timberlake's hits were consistently bigger than T-Pain's, and his songs spent a combined 134 weeks on the chart, 89 weeks inside the top 40, and 28 weeks in the top 10.

Top Artists of 2007