Adult Contemporary Weekly Charts

[cc333]

I want to study the AC charts, for now 1970-1980, and I found out that Billboard still has all of these on their web site. However, I wouldn't mind having it all in a spreadsheet or something more compact and sortable, because printing to PDF each one is workable, but kind of awkward.

I would do it myself (a long and tedious process, I'm sure), but I thought I'd ask if someone, somewhere has done the arduous work already so I can save myself from reinventing the wheel.

Thank you!

c

 

[Huff]

David Gleason has all the Billboards archived and searchable here:

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE: American music magazine 1894 to today

Billboard: American music magazine begun in 1894 and now covering music, artists, concerts, labels and radio/TV.

www.worldradiohistory.com

 

[davideduardo]

David Gleason has all the Billboards archived and searchable here:

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE: American music magazine 1894 to today

Billboard: American music magazine begun in 1894 and now covering music, artists, concerts, labels and radio/TV.

www.worldradiohistory.com

Don't you have something better to do than promote my website?

 

[michael hagerty]

I want to study the AC charts, for now 1970-1980, and I found out that Billboard still has all of these on their web site. However, I wouldn't mind having it all in a spreadsheet or something more compact and sortable, because printing to PDF each one is workable, but kind of awkward.

I would do it myself (a long and tedious process, I'm sure), but I thought I'd ask if someone, somewhere has done the arduous work already so I can save myself from reinventing the wheel.

Thank you!

c

Used copies of the Adult Contemporary 1961-2001 Billboard/Joel Whitburn book go for less than $40:

9780898201499 - Billboard Top Adult Contemporary 1961-2001 by Whitburn, Joel - AbeBooks

Billboard Top Adult Contemporary 1961-2001 by Whitburn, Joel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com.

www.abebooks.com

Here's what a sample page looks like:

https://www.recordresearch.com/PDF/adult.pdf

 

[K.M. Richards]

Used copies of the Adult Contemporary 1961-2001 Billboard/Joel Whitburn book go for less than $40:

I have a copy of that book, which was gifted to me by a Record Research employee who upon learning that my old edition which only went through the 1980s was literally falling apart at the seam (binding) found that they still had one copy of a since-superceded edition that had been left over from a "out of print" clearance sale.

Of course, part of his motivation is that I have purchased a lot of books from RR over the years.

BTW, I should note that the most recent edition of the AC book, covering all the way to 2006, is now also out-of-print, and I do not have any word from my friend there when (or if) it will be updated, so the link to AbeBooks -- who is a very reliable used bookseller -- is your best bet.

 

[michael hagerty]

I have a copy of that book, which was gifted to me by a Record Research employee who upon learning that my old edition which only went through the 1980s was literally falling apart at the seam (binding) found that they still had one copy of a since-superceded edition that had been left over from a "out of print" clearance sale.

Of course, part of his motivation is that I have purchased a lot of books from RR over the years.

BTW, I should note that the most recent edition of the AC book, covering all the way to 2006, is now also out-of-print, and I do not have any word from my friend there when (or if) it will be updated, so the link to AbeBooks -- who is a very reliable used bookseller -- is your best bet.

And I'd like to publicly thank my friend K.M. for sending me his old editions, which consisted of a 1961-74 book and then annual updates.



They have proven invaluable on a number of occasions, and I would seriously recommend @cc333 get one of the newer all-in-one editions. Even though the cutoff date for the charts in that book is 19 years ago, I don't think his interests go that contemporary.

 

[K.M. Richards]

And I'd like to publicly thank my friend K.M. for sending me his old editions, which consisted of a 1961-74 book and then annual updates.

View attachment 10149

They have proven invaluable on a number of occasions, and I would seriously recommend @cc333 get one of the newer all-in-one editions. Even though the cutoff date for the charts in that book is 19 years ago, I don't think his interests go that contemporary.

I am gratified that they are still of sufficient worth to you, Mike, that you could dig them out and share a pic with us. I knew they were going to a good home.

 

[cc333]

Used copies of the Adult Contemporary 1961-2001 Billboard/Joel Whitburn book go for less than $40:

That's closer! Everything in one place!

A searchable online version would be best, but I like books (even though I don't really read them much anymore), so this will do.

I'll start saving up and get a copy!

Maybe two copies, and use one of them to convert the thing to PDF, if it hasn't already been done (I possibly know of a couple of people who *might* be willing to help me do that cheaply if I ask politely).

Is there a similar series of books for other charts? If I want to be even half serious about my efforts, I might as well cover all my bases and get well informed about the period I'm covering. Studying and imitating station playlists, past and present, is useful, but it only goes so far, because reading through to a day or two's worth of a station's play log or skimming though a few hours' worth of airchecks only provides a tiny sample of the many records that are out there that charted and performed decently, but didn't necessarily gain the "critical mass" needed (they weren't enough of a consensus favorite?) to become permanent fixtures of modern Classic Hits radio.

And I'd like to publicly thank my friend K.M. for sending me his old editions, which consisted of a 1961-74 book and then annual updates.

View attachment 10149

They have proven invaluable on a number of occasions, and I would seriously recommend @cc333 get one of the newer all-in-one editions. Even though the cutoff date for the charts in that book is 19 years ago, I don't think his interests go that contemporary.

Ooo, I like the look of those! What a generous gift!

You're pretty much correct in that my interests aren't particularly contemporary. Outside of a handful or two of exceptions, such as by older artists I like releasing new material or a couple of newer songs I actually like (for example, I remember that song by, I think, Pharrell Williams (whose name I'm sure I butchered) titled something like "Happy" which I actually liked, and if I remember correctly, it was a top ten mainstream hit being played everywhere – only a decade or so ago), I top out somewhere in the late 80s to early 90s.

c

 

[davideduardo]

I'll start saving up and get a copy!

Don't wait too long. It appears that, once the existing inventory is depleted, there will be no reprints.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Is there a similar series of books for other charts?

Home - Record Research

Joel Whitburn is the world's leading authority on charted music. The reference books published by his company, Record Research, contain the facts and stats of every song and album to appear on the charts of music-trade magazines over their long histories, namely Billboard, and includes Radio &...

www.recordresearch.com

Outside of a handful or two of exceptions, such as by older artists I like releasing new material or a couple of newer songs I actually like (for example, I remember that song by, I think, Pharrell Williams (whose name I'm sure I butchered) titled something like "Happy" which I actually liked, and if I remember correctly, it was a top ten mainstream hit being played everywhere – only a decade or so ago), I top out somewhere in the late 80s to early 90s.

You spelled Pharrell's name correctly, he was the artist on that song, and it was a hit in 2013.

It is also used as the closing theme for Bryon Allen's show "Funny You Should Ask".

 

[cc333]

Since I have some Amazon credits, I thought I'd see if I can find this book there.

Well, they have it, for something like $84!

So I looked around, and there's an older edition (1961-1993) for $36. Still a bit high for me, but comparable to AbeBooks' price and fully covered by my credits.

You spelled Pharrell's name correctly, he was the artist on that song, and it was a hit in 2013.

It is also used as the closing theme for Bryon Allen's show "Funny You Should Ask".

Ah, I was right, then! That rusty memory wasn't as rusty as I thought! It stood out to me becasue it was one of the only times I've paid any meaningful attention to a "new" song on mainstream CHR radio (Contemporary Hits Radio radio?), because I actually liked it.

Is there a similar series of books for other charts?

Home - Record Research

Good! I'll look it up!

c

 

[michael hagerty]

That's closer! Everything in one place!

A searchable online version would be best, but I like books (even though I don't really read them much anymore), so this will do.

Billboard does not want a searchable online archive of this information. At least not for free. Even when he was alive and publishing regularly, Whitburn books were expensive and that was on purpose.

Here's a full page ad that ran in Billboard in March of 1980 from WorldRadioHistory:





Even the least-expensive main volumes (not-counting the pre-rock 1940-55) were $25, which is $100.83 adjusted for inflation. So the paperback Easy Listening '61-'74 and the supplements through 1980 that I pictured above would have cost $85 then or $345.81 in today's money.

That $50 hardcover Pop Annual '55-'77 is something I convinced KOLO in Reno to buy me---but I had to fight for it, because that was the equivalent of $201.65 in today's money---for one book.

They are comparative bargains today---especially used.

 

[K.M. Richards]

Sidebar: I still have my copy of that edition, which is the only one that did not follow the listings format of previous editions (apparently there was pushback, because Whitburn went back to the old format with the next release).

But it did appear to be the first attempt at what "Pop Annual" turned out to be.

 

[cc333]

Billboard does not want a searchable online archive of this information. At least not for free. Even when he was alive and publishing regularly, Whitburn books were expensive and that was on purpose.

I see. Hmm.

I don't really see the point of that kind of gatekeeping anymore. Maybe back then, but nowadays the information, in little bits and pieces, is scattered around on the Internet, and anyone with enough free time to spend and good Google skills can assemble it into something similar to these comprehensive books without paying. Of course nobody would want to do that if they don't have to, for a variety of reasons, especially if they're a busy professional in the field trying to do their job (a PD, say), so I suppose in for them, Billboard could, if it wanted, offer something similar to this book, online and searchable, for a nominal subscription fee. But for me, a hobbyist? This book's more than good enough!

And, to that end, it has been ordered, and I will hopefully receive it by Saturday, just in time to show it off to an acquaintance who happens to be a radio nerd. My next investment will probably be the Top 40 version of this book.

They are comparative bargains today---especially used.

Indeed! Perfect for radio hobbyists with tight budgets, like me!

Were supplements published between 1993 and 2001? Or from 2001 to present, for that matter (not that I'd be terribly interested; I'm just curious).

c

 

[K.M. Richards]

Were supplements published between 1993 and 2001? Or from 2001 to present, for that matter (not that I'd be terribly interested; I'm just curious).

I am fairly certain that the annual supplements were discontinued several years prior to the 1993 revised edition of the parent book.