Pop Music Chart Day is celebrated at the very start of the year—on January 4. It’s the perfect occasion for music lovers to dream, get inspired, and make plans with their favorite tunes. If you love listening to the radio or watching music shows, you’ve definitely seen the rankings of top hits—but have you ever wondered where music charts come from?
History
The story begins in 1955, when the American music industry magazine Billboard published its first weekly list of 100 hit songs. The idea quickly caught on, and the Billboard charts became an industry standard. To this day, the magazine maintains two main charts: the best-selling singles and albums.
The first Billboard 200 albums chart was launched in 1991, using sales data gathered by Nielsen, a leading analytics company. Nielsen’s system tracks music sales from venues around the world. While chart data may have been less precise in the past, today’s charts are highly reliable. It’s impressive how the pop music chart format has become such an enduring feature of the music world!
Interesting Facts
Music chart records:
- Elvis Presley held the number one spot on the charts for a total of 79 weeks;
- Whitney Houston had seven consecutive number-one singles;
- Adele’s album 21 stayed on the music charts for seven years after its release;
- Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote a record number of charting songs—32 and 26, respectively.
How to Take Part
On Pop Music Chart Day, check out the current music charts and listen to the top songs. Look back at rankings from previous years and learn more about iconic artists. Share your favorite tracks on social media and celebrate the power of pop music!
When is Pop Music Chart Day in 2026?
Pop Music Chart Day is observed on January 4 each year.
Observations
| Weekday | Month | Day | Year |
| Sunday | January | 4 | 2026 |
| Monday | January | 4 | 2027 |
| Tuesday | January | 4 | 2028 |
| Wednesday | January | 4 | 2029 |
