The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ Breaks No. 1 Record on Hot R&B Songs Chart
The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” posts an unprecedented 21st week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart as the hit single retains the top slot on the list dated Aug. 15. “Lights” overtakes a trio of tracks that shared the previous record of 20 weeks – Drake’s “One Dance,” featuring WizKid and Kyla, The Weeknd’s own “Starboy,” featuring Daft Punk, and Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like” – since the ranking began in 2012.
As “Lights” shines, here’s a look at the tracks with the longest runs at No. 1 on Hot R&B Songs:
Weeks at No. 1, Song Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1
21, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, March 7, 2020
20, “One Dance,” Drake featuring WizKid & Kyla, May 7, 2016
20, “Starboy,” The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, Oct. 15, 2016
20, “That’s What I Like,” Bruno Mars, March 4, 2017
19, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke featuring T.I. + Pharrell, June 1, 2013
18, “Talk,” Khalid, May 4, 2019
17, “Diamonds,” Rihanna, Oct. 20, 2012
15, “Suit & Tie,” Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z, Feb. 2, 2013
15, “Wild Thoughts,” DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller, July 15, 2017
15, “Better,” Khalid, Jan. 19, 2012
The Weeknd’s superstar status, unsurprisingly, has translated into “Lights” enjoying strong success with each of the three tracking metrics that factor into the Hot R&B Songs chart’s calculation: radio airplay, song sales and streaming.
In the airplay realm, “Lights” has another landmark week, as it ties the record for most weeks leading the all-genre Radio Songs chart (all airplay, regardless of format, factors into Hot R&B Songs). The airplay strength has come from multiple genre formats, as “Lights” ruled the Pop Songs airplay chart for six weeks between April and July and climbed to No. 2 on Rhythmic Songs in April.
“Lights” has racked up 19 weeks and counting at No. 1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart, the fourth-longest run since the list began in 2013. The Weeknd owns three of those four spots, including current champ “The Hills,” which clocked 27 weeks in 2015-16.
Digital sales, too, have been consistently reliable, with “Lights” leading the R&B Digital Song Sales ranking for 21 nonconsecutive weeks since its first visit to the summit in late February. This week, it scores its latest frame at No. 1 with 9,000 sales – more than double its nearest competition, Chris Brown and Young Thug’s “Go Crazy” and its 4,000 downloads.
In addition to its record-setting R&B run, “Lights” also enjoyed strong crossover success, topping both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts for four weeks in April – May.
“Lights” appears on The Weeknd’s latest studio album, After Hours. The set, released in March, topped the Billboard 200 for four weeks and the Top R&B Albums chart for 14 weeks to date.