Pop Sweep: February 14, 2015...

Hey gang, it's time to kick off the first of today's five "chart sweeps", sampling the songs making their way on to the various singles charts in Billboard magazine. As usual, I'll start off on the pop side of things, then later in the day bring out the latest in rock, R&B, country, and dance music...And away we go....

On the "big" chart, Billboard's Hot 100, which combines tallies of radio airplay from all formats, sales (like iTunes, Amazonmp3, and the scarce physical singles market), and internet streaming (like Spotify and YouTube), "Uptown Funk!" from Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars spends a fifth week at #1...

In this rather quiet week the highest debut doesn't show up until #75, as modern rock band Imagine Dragons are in with "Shots", the third charting track from their upcoming second album Smoke + Mirrors.  Their current radio single "I Bet My Life" so far has reached #53 and this week moves back up to #54...

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British indie-rock singer/songwriter George Ezra finally lands on the "big" chart at #81 with "Budapest". The single has already went to #1 on the Triple-A rock format and is in the top-30 of the Adult Top-40 chart.

While Nick Jonas' solo breakthrough hit "Jealous" moves up to #8 on the chart, the song he released prior to that one, "Chains", makes the list at #92...

Swedish alt-rock singer/songwriter Tove Lo follows up her top-3 hit "Habits (Stay High)", which is still in the top-40 at #34, with "Talking Body", which enters at #95...

R&B singer Ciara claims the last debut on the big chart as "I Bet" cashes in at #96. It's the first single from her upcoming sixth album Jackie. She's made the top ten eight times in her career so far, topping the list on her first try in 2004 with "Goodies"...

...and now on to the pop radio format charts...

On the Mainstream Top-40 radio panel "Uptown Funk!" remains on top for a second week...

Jessie J enters at #39 with "Masterpiece", the third single from her Sweet Talker album. The first, "Bang Bang", made it to #2 on this format...

Indie-pop band Priory come in at #40 with their rock crossover "Weekend"...

Meanwhile, on the older-skewing Adult Top-40 format, Hozier climbs to #1 with "Take Me To Church"...

The superstar collaboration of Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney on "Four Five Seconds" arrives on this chart at #34...

Irish pop/rock group the Script write in at #35 with "No Good In Goodbye", my "Pop Pick of the Week". It follows "Superheroes", which peaked at #9 on this format...

The aforementioned "Talking Body" from Tove Lo is the third entry at #39...

Lastly, on the Adult Contemporary, or "easy listening" radio chart, Maroon 5 jump to #1 in their 31st week with "Maps". It's the band's first time atop this list...

Kid Rock lands at #27 with "First Kiss", which also made the Rock Airplay chart as well. It's his fifth time on the AC chart; his first, "Picture", went to #21 in 2002...

British "boyband" One Direction point to #29 with "Night Changes". The quintet climbed to #2 on this format with "Story Of My Life"...

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