As “Work,” featuring Drake, leads again, Rihanna matches the Fab Four’s total of 59 cumulative weeks on top. Only Mariah Carey has logged more leading frames. Plus, Desiigner darts into the top five with “Panda” and Justin Bieber ties a record.
Rihanna’s “Work,” featuring Drake, posts an eighth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated April 23). With her latest frame on top, Rihanna has now tied The Beatles for the second-most total weeks spent at No. 1 (59) and trails only Mariah Carey, the leader with 79.
Plus, Desiigner earns his first Hot 100 top 10, as his debut hit “Panda” soars 14-5, and Justin Bieber matches a top 10 longevity mark (yet again).
As we do every Monday, let’s run down the Hot 100’s top 10 and more. Highlights of the airplay, sales and streaming-based Hot 100 post on Billboard.com each Monday, with all charts updated each Tuesday.
Just like on the Hot 100, “Work,” released on Westbury Road/Roc Nation, spends an eighth week at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart with 27 million U.S. streams, down 6 percent, in the week ending April 7, according to Nielsen Music. “Work” also tops the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs chart (12.4 million, down 7 percent) for a ninth frame. It dips from its No. 2 high on Radio Songs to No. 3 (112 million in airplay audience, down 7 percent) and 5-12 on Digital Songs (63,000 downloads sold, down 29 percent), which it led for two weeks.
“Work” also tops Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for a 10th nonconsecutive week and Rhythmic Songs for a sixth week. It additionally rises 2-1 on Dance Club Songs, where it’s Rihanna’s 24th No. 1; only Madonna, with 46, has notched more Dance Club Songs leaders.
As reported when the song reached No. 1, “Work” is Rihanna’s 14th Hot 100 leader, lifting her into a solo share of the third-most No. 1s all-time, ahead of Michael Jackson (13). The Beatles lead with 20 No. 1s, followed by Mariah Carey (18). “Work” is also the record-breaking ninth Hot 100 No. 1 in a row by non-U.S.-born acts (Rihanna is from Barbados and Drake, from Canada), while this week marks the record-extending 40th straight week that non-American talent has led the Hot 100.
More about The Beatles and Carey: As Rihanna has now spent 59 total weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 via her 14 leaders, she has tied The Beatles for the second-most weeks at No. 1. Here is an updated look at the acts that have spent the most time atop the Hot 100 since the chart’s 1958 inception:
79 weeks, Mariah Carey
59 weeks, Rihanna
59 weeks, The Beatles
50 weeks, Boyz II Men
47 weeks, Usher
Meanwhile, “Work” is now Rihanna’s second-longest-leading Hot 100 No. 1 outright, breaking a tie with her seven-week No. 1s “Umbrella” (2007) and Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie,” on which she’s featured (2010). Only her “We Found Love,” featuring Calvin Harris, spent more time on top: 10 weeks in 2011-12.
“Work,” down 11 percent in overall chart points, stays atop the Hot 100 but with a narrower lead than last week over Lukas Graham’s “7 Years,” which holds at its No. 2 peak (up less than 1 percent).