The Adult Top 40 chart is published weekly by Billboard magazine and ranks "the most popular adult top 40 as based on radio airplay detections measured by Nielsen BDS." The chart was first published in the March 16, 1996, issue of Billboard; however, historically, the chart's introduction was in October 1995, when it began as a test chart.
The Adult Top 40 chart was formed following a split of the "Hot Adult Contemporary" chart due to the growing emergence of Adult Top 40 radio stations in the 1990s. These stations played a wider variety of artists and saw a faster turnover of songs compared to traditional adult contemporary radio. Songs by modern rock, dance, and R&B artists were mixed in with acts more closely associated with adult contemporary. According to Billboard, splitting the chart "better reflect[s] the music being played on adult contemporary and adult/top 40 stations."
Chart history – Year-end number-one single
Issue dateSongArtistWeeks atnumber oneRef.1995 October 7 "Kiss from a Rose" Seal 6"Kiss from a Rose" October 7 – November 11, 1995: November 18 "As I Lay Me Down" Sophie B. Hawkins 3"As I Lay Me Down" November 18 – December 2, 1995; December 16, 1995 – January 6, 1996: December 9 "Roll to Me" Del Amitri 1"Roll to Me" December 9, 1995: December 16 "As I Lay Me Down" Sophie B. Hawkins 4 1996 January 13 "One Sweet Day" Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men 10 "One Sweet Day" January 13 – March 16, 1996: March 23 "Time" Hootie & the Blowfish 2"Time" March 23–30, 1996: April 6 "Because You Loved Me" Celine Dion 12"Because You Loved Me" April 6 – June 22, 1996: June 29 "Give Me One Reason" Tracy Chapman 8"Give Me One Reason" June 29 – August 17, 1996: August 24 "Change the World" Eric Clapton 6"Change the World" August 24 – September 28, 1996; October 12, 1996: October 5 "I Love You Always Forever" Donna Lewis 1"I Love You Always Forever" October 5, 1996; October 19 – November 30, 1996: October 12 "Change the World" Eric Clapton 1 October 19 "I Love You Always Forever" Donna Lewis 7 December 7 "Head Over Feet" Alanis Morissette 3"Head Over Feet" December 7–21, 1996: December 28 "Don't Speak" No Doubt 15"Don't Speak" December 28, 1996 – April 5, 1997:1997 April 12 "You Were Meant for Me" Jewel 6"You Were Meant for Me" April 12 – May 17, 1997 May 24 "One Headlight" The Wallflowers 5"One Headlight" May 24 – June 21, 1997 June 28 "Sunny Came Home" Shawn Colvin 7"Sunny Came Home" June 28 – August 9, 1997 August 16 "All for You" Sister Hazel 7"All for You" August 16 – September 27, 1997 October 4 "Foolish Games" Jewel 5"Foolish Games" October 4 – November 1, 1997 November 8 "I Don't Want to Wait" Paula Cole 6"I Don't Want to Wait" November 8 – December 13, 1997 December 20 "Tubthumping" Chumbawamba 5"Tubthumping" December 20, 1997 – January 17, 19981998 January 24 "Walkin' on the Sun" Smash Mouth 3"Walking on the Sun" January 24 – February 7, 1998 February 14 "3 a.m." Matchbox Twenty 10"3 a.m." February 14 – April 18, 1998 April 25 "Torn" Natalie Imbruglia 14"Torn" April 25 – July 25, 1998 August 1 "Iris" Goo Goo Dolls 17"Iris" August 1 – November 21, 1998 November 28 "Thank U" Alanis Morissette 2"Thank U" November 28 – December 5, 1998 December 12 "Lullaby" Shawn Mullins 8"Lullaby" December 12, 1998 – January 30, 19991999 February 6 "Angel" Sarah McLachlan 7"Angel" February 6 – March 20, 1999 March 27 "Slide" Goo Goo Dolls 2"Slide" March 27 – April 3, 1999 April 10 "Every Morning" Sugar Ray 10"Every Morning" April 10 – June 12, 1999 June 19 "Livin' La Vida Loca" Ricky Martin 6"Livin' La Vida Loca" June 19 – July 24, 1999 July 31 "All Star" Smash Mouth 8"All Star" July 31 – September 18, 1999; October 2, 1999 September 25 "She's So High" Tal Bachman 1"She's So High" September 25, 1999; October 9–16, 1999 October 2 "All Star" Smash Mouth 1 October 9 "She's So High" Tal Bachman 2 October 23 "Smooth" Santana featuring Rob Thomas 25"Smooth" October 23 – April, 2000 A "Smooth" spent the last 10 weeks of 1999 and the first 15 weeks of 2000 at number one
See also 1990s in music
References