Pop Sweep: March 22, 2014...


It's time to kick off the first of today's five "chart sweeps" checking out the songs making the singles charts in Billboard magazine this week. As usual I'll start on the pop side, then later will cover rock, R&B, country, and dance radio...

On the "big" chart, Billboard's Hot 100, which tallies sales, internet streaming, and radio airplay, Pharrell's "Happy" remains on top for a third week...

Leaping on to the chart at #24 are British modern rock titans Coldplay, with the first single from their upcoming Ghost Stories album, "Magic". The band topped the chart in 2008 with "Viva La Vida"...


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The eleventh-season winner of American Idol, Phillip Phillips, previews his upcoming sophomore album with "Raging Fire", my "Pop Pick of the Week", at #58. He previously went to #6 with his "winner's single", "Home"...


Rap collective Young Money, headed by hip-hop king Lil' Wayne, lands at #73 with "Trophies", the second single and first to chart from their third album Young Money: Rise Of An Empire. The song features Drake heading up the pack. The brand had climbed to #2 in 2009 with "Bedrock"...


Another rap champ, Rick Ross, has a two tracks from the top-selling album this week, Mastermind, enter the chart as "Sanctified" featuring Kanye West and Big Sean comes in at #78...


...while "The Devil Is A Lie" with Jay Z drops in at #86. As a lead artist, Ross' best has been "The Boss" which went to #17 in 2008...


Australian hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea scores her first hit on the Hot 100 with "Fancy" at #88. She's already been to the top-20 three times in England. It features singer/songwriter Charli XCX, who was credited on Icona Pop's "I Love It"...


The last entry on the big chart is from reggaeton artist Wisin with "Adrenalina" featuring Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin at #94. As half of the duo Wisin & Yandel, he had nicked the Hot 100 thrice before, with "Rakata" reaching #85 in 2005...


And now, on to the pop radio format charts...

On the Mainstream Top-40 radio panel, Katy Perry commands for a fifth week with "Dark Horse"...

The sole entry here at #37 is from rapper B.o.B with "John Doe" featuring Priscilla...


Meanwhile, on the older-skewing Adult Top-40 format, British "boy-band" One Direction manage to climb to #1 with "The Story Of My Life"...

Entering at #35 is former Disney girl Demi Lovato with "Neon Lights". It follows "Heart Attack", which went to #12 on this chart...


The aforementioned "Raging Fire" comes in at #36 on this list...

And at #40 is Justin Timberlake with "Not A Bad Thing", the third single from his 20/20 Experience Part 2, after "Take Back The Night" (#21) and "TKO" (#36)...



Lastly, on the Adult Contemporary (or "Easy Listening") chart, OneRepublic jumps to #1 with "Counting Stars", while there are no debuting songs on the list...

That's it for the start of today's musical journey...I'll be back in 90 minutes with the latest on rock radio...
















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