In music the longevity of an artists is determined not just by popularity over time; but also by the strength of their music on the music charts.
Over the years the Billboard charts are filled with artists who have been labeled a “one hit wonder” or a “flash in the pan”; someone who rocketed up the music charts with a song that people just couldn’t get out of their heads, but later failed to repeat that success.
Young British pop artist Ed Sheeran is far from one of those “one hit wonders”. In fact he has yet another accomplishment to add to his repertoire…that of the first solo artist to have three songs remain on the Billboard hit charts for at least a year.
Sheeran earned the title with his song “Perfect” who obtained the year long feat this week holding down the number 20 spot on the Hot 100. “Perfect” joins “Shape of You” and “Thinking Out Loud” to give the the honour of being the first to have three hits remain on the chart for at least a year.
Of the 27,000 hit songs that have appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, only 61 of them have held on long enough to remain on the chart for at least a year.
Imagine Dragons tops the list of weeks on the chart with “Radioactive” which remained on the chart for 87 weeks. The rockers also hold the lead in the most hits staying on the charts for at least 52 weeks with four.
Songs that remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for at least a year:
“Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons – 87 weeks
“Sail” by AWOLNATION – 79 weeks
“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz – 76 weeks
“How Do I Live” by LeAnn Rimes – 69 weeks
“Counting Stars” by OneRepublic – 68 weeks
“Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO with Lauren Bennett and Goon Rock – 68 weeks
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele – 65 weeks
“Foolish Games/You Were Meant for Me” by Jewel – 65 weeks
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood – 64 weeks
“Ho Hey” by The Lumineers – 62 weeks
“You and Me” by Lifehouse – 62 weeks
“Demons” by Imagine Dragons – 61 weeks
“Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum – 60 weeks
“Macarena” Bayside Boys Mix by Los del Rio – 60 weeks
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran – 59 weeks
“All of Me” by John Legend – 59 weeks
“Somebody that I Used to Know” by Gotye with Kimbra – 59 weeks
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran – 58 weeks
“How to Save a Life” by The Fray – 58 weeks
“Smooth” by Santan with Rob Thomas – 58 weeks
“Dark Horse” by Katy Perry with Juicy J – 57 weeks
“Lights” by Elie Goulding – 57 weeks
“Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon – 57 weeks
“Higher” by Creed – 57 weeks
“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars – 56 weeks
“Some Nights” by fun – 56 weeks
“I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas – 56 weeks
“The Way You Love Me” by Faith Hil – 56 weeks
“I Don’t Want to Wait” by Paula Cole – 56 weeks
“Amazed” by Lonestar” – 55 weeks
“Barely Breathing” by Duncan Sheik – 55 weeks
“Missing” by Everything But the Girl – 55 weeks
“Stay with Me” by Sam Smith – 54 weeks
“Wake Me Up” by Avicii – 54 weeks
“Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line with Nelly – 54 weeks
“Hey, Soul Sister” by Train – 54 weeks
“Unwell” by matchbox twenty – 54 weeks
“Hanging by a Moment” by Lifehouse – 54 weeks
“Shut Up and Dance” by WALK THE MOON – 54 weeks
“Pompeii” by Bastille – 53 weeks
“If I Die Young” by The Band Perry – 53 weeks
“Drops of Jupiter” by Train – 53 weeks
“Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down – 53 weeks
“Breathe” by Faith Hill
“Too Close” by Next – 53 weeks
“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran – 52 weeks (and counting)
“Thunder” by Imagine Dragons – 52 weeks
“Believer” by Imagine Dragons – 52 weeks
“Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arhur – 52 weeks
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee with Justin Bieber – 52 weeks
“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars – 52 weeks
“Clsoer “by The Chainsmokers with Halsey – 52 weeks
“Cheap Thrills” by Sia with Sean Paul – 52 weeks
“Don’t Le Me Down” by The Chainsmokers – 52 weeks
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake – 52 weeks
“Stressed Out’ by twenty one pilots – 52 weeks
“Stiches” by Shawn Mendes – 52 weeks
“Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap – 52 weeks
“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth
“How’s it Going to Be” by Third Eye Blind – 52 weeks
“Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden – 52 weeks
Ed Sheeran photo credit: By Ipswich Borough Council – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24111312