Billboard Top 200 2009

Through the end of the year, Chart Beat is looking back at the biggest achievements on Billboards charts in 2009 and throughout the past decade.

Tuesday, Dec. 15: Best of 2009, Part 1
Wednesday, Dec. 16: Best of 2009, Part 2

Tuesday, Dec. 22: Best of the 2000s, Part 1
Wednesday, Dec. 23: Best of the 2000s, Part 2

Tuesday, Dec. 29: Best of 2009 By-The-Numbers
Wednesday, Dec. 30: Best of the 2000s By-The-Numbers

RECORD NUMBERS: 2009 produced a bevy of chart milestones. Here is a look at some of the records established, and extended, during the past year.

The figures reflect some of the years most buzzed-about artists, from veterans such as the Beatles and the late Michael Jackson to newer acts who rose to superstardom, including Lady Gaga and Billboards Top Artist of 2009, Taylor Swift.

3: The title of Britney Spears third, coincidentally, Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. 3 became the shortest title to reach the summit, passing the mark of three characters held by seven prior leaders: Why [Frankie Avalon, 1959], ABC [the Jackson 5, 1970], War [Edwin Starr, 1970], Ben [Michael Jackson, 1972], Bad [Jackson, 1987], SOS [Rihanna, 2006] and Low [Flo Rida, 2008]

4: Total No. 1s and counting for Lady Gaga on the Pop Songs airplay chart, the most by any artist to begin a career in the surveys 17-year history. Following Just Dance, Poker Face, LoveGame and Paparazzi, 2010 could bring Gaga a record-padding fifth topper: Bad Romance rises 4-2 this week with Greatest Gainer honors

5: Career leaders on Adult Pop Songs for Nickelback, the most since the list launched in 1996. The song that set the mark, Gotta Be Somebody, reigned for five weeks beginning in January

9: Or, more specifically, 9-9-09, the date that the Beatles re-released their entire catalog of studio albums and their accompanying Rock Band video game. On the subsequent Top Pop Catalog albums chart, the Fab Four owned nine of the top 10 and 15 of the top 18 spots. Radio station WCBS-FM/New York celebrated the onslaught with non-stop Beatles programming and a countdown, led by Hey Jude, of the groups best-loved songs

10: Number of consecutive singles that Brad Paisley carried to the top of Country Songs, a three-year-plus streak culminating with the coronation of Then in June. Paisleys No. 1 run was the longest since Alabama succeeded 21 times-in-a-row from 1980 to 1987.

11: Weeks totaled atop the Billboard 200 for Taylor Swifts Fearless. The run stands as the charts longest reign in the 2000s and the best showing by a country female artist since the chart began incorporating Nielsen SoundScan data in 1991

14: Frames spent at No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for both Blame It by Jamie Foxx, featuring T-Pain, and Pretty Wings by Maxwell. The songs mark just the fourth and fifth titles to reign for such a length since the charts 1958 introduction. Mary J. Bliges Be Without You is the leader with 15 weeks at No. 1 in 2006

21: Record amount of Michael Jackson titles that flooded the 75-position Digital Songs chart following the King of Pops passing June 25 [along with four tracks by the Jackson 5]. On the first survey after Jacksons death, six of his songs ranked in the top 10, led by Thriller, Man in the Mirror and Billie Jean at Nos. 2-4

25: Number of entries the Glee cast placed on the Hot 100, the most by any artist since the Beatles roared in with 31 titles in 1964. The acts curtain call of 2009, Last Christmas, brought the modern holiday classic to the Hot 100 for the first time since Wham! originally released the song in 1984

26: Total, and consecutive, weeks that the Black Eyed Peas commanded the Hot 100 12 for the years top song, Boom Boom Pow, and 14 for I Gotta Feeling. The streak passed Ushers 19-week stretch at No. 1 in 2004 with Yeah! and Burn and made Usher and BEP the only acts in the Hot 100s 51-year archives to monopolize the top spot for at least half a calendar year

40: Number of toppers on Dance/Club Play Songs for Madonna, a record extended when the aptly-titled Celebration reached No. 1 in September. Could her 41st No. 1 be on the way? Her Revolver, featuring Lil Wayne, is currently bubbling under the survey

44: Like Madonna, George Strait is in the exclusive club of artists to have earned 40 or more No. 1s on a Billboard survey. His River of Love upped his count to 44 leaders on Country Songs in April. Conway Twitty is the only other artist with 40 champions on a Billboard chart, having sent 40 songs to No. 1 on Country Songs from 1968 to 1986

50: A landmark number associated with multiple renowned acts this year. The legendary Chubby Checker celebrated 50 years of charting in Billboard with a debut for The Fly on Hot Singles Sales in September. Checker first appeared on the Hot 100 dated May 23, 1959, with The Class. With the debut of H.A.T.E.U. on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Mariah Carey became one of only five women to reach 50 career entries in the charts history. [And, of course, 50 marked the age of Michael Jackson at the time of his passing ]

57: Number of top 10s on Country Songs for Reba McEntire, the most among all women since the charts 1944 inception. When Cowgirls Dont Cry reached the top 10 in January, McEntire passed the 55 top 10s amassed by Dolly Parton

62: Total appearances Prince has made on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, as Better With Time bowed in September. Since he first arrived with Soft and Wet on the July 29, 1978, chart, only Jay-Z [94] and R. Kelly [81] have totaled more entries than his Purpleness

76: Record-establishing total weeks spent on the Hot 100 for Jason Mrazs Im Yours. The track passed the 69-week stay of LeAnn Rimes How Do I Live in 1997-98

96: Number of spots that Kelly Clarksons My Life Would Suck Without You vaulted [97-1] to the Hot 100 apex on the Feb. 7, chart. The record-breaking ascent bested the 95-position blast [96-1] of Britney Spears Womanizer in October 2008

742: After more than 21 years, Pink Floyds Dark Side of the Moon returned for a record-extending 742nd week on the Billboard 200. The set first appeared on the chart the week of March 17, 1973

2009: Suffix of two former Hot 100 smashes that returned to Billboard charts this year. Michael Damian updated his own 1989 Hot 100 No. 1 with Rock On [2009], a No. 28 Adult Contemporary hit in May. In October, actress/singer Naturi Naughton reached No. 15 on Dance/Club Play Songs with Fame 2009, a cover of Irene Caras No. 4 Hot 100 hit from 1980

10,000,000: Number of Fireflies that lit up the world as Owl Citys Adam Young attempted to fall asleep. The song became one of just 11 Hot 100 leaders since 2000 of 129 total that also charted on Alternative Songs.