“I think people were looking for simpler times and a nostalgic escape,” says one radio programmer.
The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” breaks the record for most of the weeks spent above Billboard‘s All-format Radio Songs airplay card, logs in 19th frame at no. 1 on the August 22 survey.
The song overshadows ‘Iris’ by Goo Goo Dolls, who led 18 weeks in 1998 and held the record only for himself for almost 22 years.
Contribution to her reign of Radio Songs, “Blinding Lights”, released on XO / Republic Records, adds a 13th week to no. 1 to the airplay card for adult pop songs, the longest-running command for a lead solo man in the list’s nearly 25-year history, continuing with the 12-week dominations of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” in 2017 and Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” in 2006.
“Blinding Lights” topped Pop Songs’ airplay chart for six weeks and reached no. 2 on Rhythmic Songs. This week it hits a new height at no. 6 on Adult Contemporary.
The song led the all-genre, airplay, streaming and sales-based Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, this week posting at no. 3. It adds its 26th week in the top 10, and becomes one of 23 singles who have ever been in the lodge even in the tiger for at least half a year. (DaBaby’s “Rockstar,” starring Roddy Ricch, also tells her 26th week in the top 10 on the latest Hot 100.)
The Weeknd smash also adds a record-breaking 22nd week to no. 1 to the multi-metric Hot R&B Songs chart.
What’s behind the extended brilliance of “Blinding Lights”?
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, “I think people were looking for simpler times and a nostalgic escape,” Will Calder, director of branding and programming for reporters at Cox Media Group Pop Songs WPOI Tampa and WPYO Orlando, recently practice around Billboard. “‘Blinding Lights’ is the 2020 answer [a-ha’s 1985 Hot 100 No. 1] “Accept me.” It stands out because it is different but also familiar. And, most importantly, it just makes you feel good. “
Along with the sound of the song, Republican executive vp promoter Gary Spangler recently noted, “Every quantifiable metric is through the roof, not just domestically but globally.”
Also potentially helping “Blinding Lights” and other established hits, according to sources in the sector, is that budgets for public research of radio stations have been challenged amid the coronavirus. Confronted with less measurable data, programmers may choose to stay with what has worked instead of taking chances on newer, unproven titles.
Beyond The Weeknd’s hit on the latest Radio Songs chart, Post Malone’s “Circles”, at no. 8, spends a record-breaking 44th week in the top 10, having been continuously ranked since the end of October 2019.
That many operators balance working from home with partial schedules on-site at stations could also play into a well-known reliance on playlists among more pressing logistical priorities.
Plus, less established acts are currently unable to visit individuals or make station visits, thereby further reducing their path to throwing larger routes and, consequently, challenging emitting stars.
Brian Kelly, VP of operations at Entercom Milwaukee, which includes Pop Songs panelist WXSS, and the national captain of the company’s top 40 format, recently named The Weeknd “one of the format’s biggest core artists . ” From “Blinding Lights,” he said, “This is one song we’re pulling for and thank goodness it finally came and stays for a while.”
