From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks (formerly known as Adult Top 40) is a variation on the United States Billboard charts. It is a format in which the genre is geared more towards an adult audience who are not into hard rock, teen pop, dance music, hip-hop, or slower adult contemporary fare.

Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks's origins can be traced back to the late 1980s, when several Top 40 stations decided to focus on playing artists in an effort to attract the more desired 25-34 demo. In 1994, the Adult Top 40 became an official format after years of growth and support from both stations and artists. Most Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks's feature a playlist that include artists like No Doubt, Matchbox Twenty, Shania Twain , Avril Lavigne, but mainly Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, Dido, Jewel, Vanessa Carlton, and Goo Goo Dolls. Its programming is often compared to the musical playlist of the VH1 Channel (as its programming as seen often as a midway point between Top 40 Mainstream and The Adult Contemporary charts). Many Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks stations today are a crossover of Hot AC and Top 40 formats, though it's officially classified as a Hot AC format.

Billboard first published an Adult Top 40 chart in its March 2, 1996 issue. The first #1 song was "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. The song to spend the longest at #1 was "Smooth", by Santana (featuring Rob Thomas), which was #1 for 25 weeks in 1999 and 2000. The songs which spent extended periods of time atop the chart are the following:

25 weeks: "Smooth," Santana featuring Rob Thomas (1999)

23 weeks: "Wherever You Will Go," the Calling (2001)

18 weeks: "Unwell," matchbox twenty (2003)

18 weeks: "Photograph," Nickelback (2005)

17 weeks: "Iris," Goo Goo Dolls (1998)

16 weeks: "Complicated," Avril Lavigne (2002)

15 weeks: "Don't Speak," No Doubt (1996)

15 weeks: "How to Save a Life," the Fray (2006)

14 weeks: "Torn," Natalie Imbruglia (1998)

14 weeks: "Everything You Want," Vertical Horizon (2000)

14 weeks: "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)," Train (2001)

• Adult Top 40 radio panel