The Digital Songs or Digital Song Sales chart (previously named Hot Digital Songs)[1] ranks the best-selling digital songs in the United States, as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published by Billboard magazine. Although it originally started tracking song sales the week of October 30, 2004,[2] it officially debuted in the issue dated January 22, 2005, and merged all versions of a song sold from digital music distributors.[3] Its data was incorporated in the Hot 100 three weeks later. Since October 2004, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboard's music singles charts.[4] The decision was based on the dramatic increase of the digital market while commercial single sales in a physical format were becoming negligible.[5]

Billboard logo (From 2013)

The first number one song on the Digital Songs chart was "Just Lose It" by Eminem.[2] The chart's current number one as of the issue dated November 16, 2024 is "Hard Fought Hallelujah" by Brandon Lake.[6]

Song records

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Songs with most weeks at number one in sales

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  • 18 weeks
BTS – "Dynamite" (2020–21)[7]
BTS – "Butter" (2021)[8]
  • 17 weeks
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber – "Despacito" (2017)
  • 16 weeks
Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus – "Old Town Road" (2019)
  • 14 weeks
Shaboozey – "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" (2024)[9]
  • 13 weeks
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain – "Low" (2007–2008)
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars – "Uptown Funk" (2015)
The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey – "Closer" (2016)
  • 11 weeks
Pharrell Williams – "Happy" (2014)
  • 10 weeks
The Black Eyed Peas – "Boom Boom Pow" (2009)
The Black Eyed Peas – "I Gotta Feeling" (2009)
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz – "Thrift Shop" (2013)
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell – "Blurred Lines" (2013)
Justin Timberlake – "Can't Stop the Feeling!" (2016)
Ed Sheeran – "Shape of You" (2017)
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – "Shallow" (2018–2019)

Top 10 single-week download sellers

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1. Adele – "Hello" (1,112,000) November 14, 2015[10]
2. Flo Rida – "Right Round" (636,000) February 28, 2009
3. Adele – "Hello" (635,000) November 21, 2015[11]
4. Taylor Swift – "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (623,000) September 1, 2012[12]
5. Kesha – "Tik Tok" (610,000) January 9, 2010
6. Taylor Swift – "I Knew You Were Trouble" (582,000) January 12, 2013[13]
7. Bruno Mars – "Grenade" (559,000) January 8, 2011
8. Katy Perry – "Roar" (557,000) August 31, 2013[14]
9. Taylor Swift – "Shake It Off" (544,000) September 6, 2014[15]
10. Gotye featuring Kimbra – "Somebody That I Used to Know" (542,000) April 28, 2012[16]

Biggest first-week sales

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1. Adele – "Hello" (1,112,000) November 14, 2015
2. Flo Rida – "Right Round" (636,000) February 28, 2009
3. Taylor Swift – "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (623,000) September 1, 2012
4. Katy Perry – "Roar" (557,000) August 31, 2013
5. Taylor Swift – "Shake It Off" (544,000) September 6, 2014
6. Justin Bieber – "Boyfriend" (521,000) April 14, 2012
7. Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa – "Payphone" (493,000) May 5, 2012
8. The Black Eyed Peas – "Boom Boom Pow" (465,000) April 18, 2009
9. Lady Gaga – "Born This Way" (448,000) February 26, 2011
10. Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea – "Problem" (438,000) May 17, 2014

Biggest jump to number one

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Longest climb to number one

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  • 33 weeks
Dua Lipa – "Levitating" (2021)
  • 26 weeks
The All-American Rejects – "Dirty Little Secret" (2005–2006)
  • 25 weeks
The Fray – "How to Save a Life" (2006)
Train – "Hey, Soul Sister" (2009–2010)
  • 24 weeks
Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis – "Just Dance" (2008–2009)
  • 23 weeks
Adele – "Set Fire to the Rain" (2011–2012)
  • 22 weeks
Beyoncé – "Cuff It" (2022-2023)
  • 20 weeks
Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin — "I Like It" (2018)

Source:[17]

Biggest drop from number one

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Song achievements

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  • "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus and "Gangnam Style" by Psy hold the record of most weeks at number one on Digital Songs without topping the overall Billboard Hot 100, with six weeks each.[18]
  • "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas holds the record for the biggest-selling digital download in the U.S., with sales of over 8 million copies by 2012. The song was the first to surpass 6–8 million downloads.[19]
  • "Low" by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain was the first song to surpass 4–5 million downloads. It was also named the Top Digital Song of the 2000s decade.[20]
  • Soulja Boy's "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" was the first song to surpass 3 million downloads.[21]
  • Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" was the first song to surpass 2 million downloads.[22]
  • "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani was the first song in history to surpass 1 million downloads.[23]
  • "Right Round" by Flo Rida holds the record for the largest debut/overall sales week for a male for a digital song with 636,000 downloads.[24]
  • "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele holds the record for the most digitally downloaded song in a calendar year.[25]
  • "Payphone" by Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa holds the record for the largest debut/overall sales week for a group for a digital song with 493,000 downloads.[26]
  • "We Are Young" by Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe is the first song to log seven weeks of 300,000 or more in digital sales.[27]
  • "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz is the first song to log eight and nine weeks of 300,000 or more in digital sales.[28]
  • "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell is the first song to log 10 weeks of 300,000 or more in digital sales and the first song to log four weeks of 400,000 or more in digital sales.
  • "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra is the first song to log three weeks of 400,000 or more in digital sales.
  • "Hello" by Adele holds the record for the largest debut/overall sales week for a digital song with 1.112 million downloads and the largest non-debut sales week for a digital song with 635,000 downloads. It is additionally the only song in history to debut with or achieve 1 million downloads sold in a week, and to log two weeks of 600,000 in digital sales. It surpassed the 4 million mark in its thirteenth week, faster than any other song in digital history.
  • "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers is the oldest song to reach number one on the Digital Songs chart. The song was released on April 21, 1972, and reached the top, following Withers' death, on the chart dated April 18, 2020.[29]

Album records

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Artist records

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Most number-one hits

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1. Taylor Swift (29)[30]
2. Nicki Minaj (17)[31]
3. Rihanna (14)[32]
4. Justin Bieber (13) (tie)[33]
4. Drake (13) (tie)[34]
6. BTS (12) (tie)[35]
6. Beyoncé (12) (tie)[36]
6. Eminem (12) (tie)[37]
9. Katy Perry (11)[38]
10. Bruno Mars (10)[39]

Most weeks at number one

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1. Taylor Swift (54)[30]
2. BTS (49)[35]
3. Rihanna (40)[32]
4. Katy Perry (37)[38]
5. Justin Bieber (33)[33]

Self-replacement at number one

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Simultaneously occupying the top two positions

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  • Mariah Carey: December 31, 2005
  1. "Don't Forget About Us"
  2. "All I Want for Christmas Is You"
  • Beyoncé: December 6, 2008
  1. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
  2. "If I Were a Boy"
  • The Black Eyed Peas: June 27, 2009 through July 4, 2009
  1. "I Gotta Feeling"
  2. "Boom Boom Pow"
  • Kesha: January 23, 2010[40]
  1. "Tik Tok"
  2. "Blah Blah Blah" (featuring 3OH!3)
  • Taylor Swift: September 22, 2012[41]
  1. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
  2. "Ronan"
  • Iggy Azalea: May 17, 2014 through June 21, 2014
  1. "Problem" (Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea)
  2. "Fancy" (Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX) (songs switched positions on June 7, 2014)
  • Taylor Swift: November 1, 2014
  1. "Out of the Woods"
  2. "Shake It Off"
  • Prince: May 14, 2016
  1. "Purple Rain"
  2. "When Doves Cry"
  • Ed Sheeran: January 28, 2017
  1. "Shape of You"
  2. "Castle on the Hill"
  • Justin Bieber: May 20, 2017 through May 27, 2017 and June 17, 2017, through July 1, 2017
  1. "I'm the One" (DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne)
  2. "Despacito" (Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber) (songs switched positions on May 27, 2017)
  • Taylor Swift: September 23, 2017
  1. "...Ready for It?"
  2. "Look What You Made Me Do"
  • Ed Sheeran: January 3, 2018
  1. "Perfect" (Ed Sheeran duet with Beyoncé)
  2. "River" (Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran)
  • Cardi B: June 30, 2018 through July 14, 2018
  1. "Girls Like You" (Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B)
  2. "I Like It" (Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin)
  • Lady Gaga: October 20, 2018
  1. "Shallow" (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper)
  2. "I'll Never Love Again"
  • Lady Gaga: October 27, 2018 through November 3, 2018
  1. "Shallow" (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper)
  2. "Always Remember Us This Way"
  • The Weeknd: December 14, 2019
  1. "Heartless"
  2. "Blinding Lights"
  • BTS: March 7, 2020
  1. "On"
  2. "My Time"
  • Kenny Rogers: April 4, 2020
  1. "The Gambler"
  2. "Islands in the Stream" (Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton)
  • Bill Withers: April 18, 2020
  1. "Lean on Me"
  2. "Ain't No Sunshine"
  • BTS: October 17, 2020
  1. "Dynamite"
  2. "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)" (Jawsh 685 x Jason Derulo x BTS )
  • BTS: December 5, 2020
  1. "Life Goes On"
  2. "Blue & Grey"
  • BTS: December 19, 2020
  1. "Life Goes On"
  2. "Dynamite"
  • BTS: July 24, 2021 through August 21, 2021
  1. "Permission to Dance"
  2. "Butter" (songs switched positions on July 31, 2021)
  • BTS: October 9, 2021
  1. "My Universe" (Coldplay and BTS)
  2. "Butter"
  • Taylor Swift: November 5, 2022
  1. "Question...?"
  2. "Bigger Than the Whole Sky"
  • Taylor Swift: June 5, 2023
  1. "Hits Different"
  2. "Karma" (Taylor Swift featuring Ice Spice)
  • Oliver Anthony Music: August 26, 2023
  1. "Rich Men North of Richmond"
  2. "Aint Gotta Dollar"
  • Oliver Anthony Music: September 2, 2023
  1. "Rich Men North of Richmond"
  2. "I Want To Go Home"
  • Beyoncé: February 20, 2024
  1. "Texas Hold 'Em"
  2. "16 Carriages"

Most single-week entries in the top 50

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1. Prince (21)
2. BTS (18)
3. Michael Jackson (17)
4. Taylor Swift (16)
5. Rihanna (14)
6. Oliver Anthony Music (13)

Source:[42]

Other achievements

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Trust, Gary (January 8, 2014). "Pitbull, Ke$ha Take 'Timber' to Top of Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Digital Song Sales Chart - October 30, 2004". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "New Mix for Digital Rankings". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 4. January 22, 2005. p. 6. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Grein, Paul (March 20, 2013). "Week Ending March 17, 2013. Songs: The Great Chart Robbery Of 2013". Yahoo!. Yahoo!. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  5. ^ "Billboard updated album charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
  6. ^ "Digital Song Sales (The week of November 23, 2024)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  7. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (April 5, 2021). "BTS's 'Dynamite' Breaks The All-Time Record For Most Weeks At No. 1 On The Sales Chart". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  8. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (December 13, 2021). "BTS's 'Butter' Ties The All-Time Record For The Most Weeks At No. 1 On The Sales Chart". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  9. ^ Trust, Gary (October 21, 2024). "Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' Tends to 15th Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Trust, Gary (November 2, 2015). "Adele Says 'Hello' to No. 1 Hot 100 Debut; First Song to Sell 1 Million Downloads in a Week". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  11. ^ Trust, Gary (November 9, 2015). "Adele's 'Hello' Tops Hot 100 for Second Week; Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor Hit Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  12. ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 21, 2012). "Official: Taylor Swift's 'Never' Song Sells 623,000; Sets Female Digital Record". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  13. ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 3, 2013). "Taylor Swift's 'Red,' 'Les Mis' Soundtrack Lead Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  14. ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 21, 2013). "Luke Bryan Nets No. 1 Album, Katy Perry's 'Roar' Tops Digital Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  15. ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 27, 2014). "Wiz Khalifa Earns First No. 1 Album On Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  16. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 18, 2012). "Lionel Richie's 'Tuskegee' Hits No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  17. ^ "Drake's 'In My Feelings' Leads Billboard Hot 100 for Seventh Week, Ariana Grande's 'God Is A Woman' Hits Top 10". Billboard. August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  18. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (May 27, 2010). "Usher's 'OMG' Stands Pat Atop Hot 100, Miley Tames Top 10". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 28, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  19. ^ "Week Ending June 24, 2012. Songs: Elton & The Peas". Yahoo Music Chart Watch. June 27, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  20. ^ "Digital Songs of the decade". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  21. ^ Grein, Paul (June 26, 2013). "Week Ending June 23, 2013. Songs: Miley's Comeback Hit | Chart Watch (NEW) - Yahoo Music". Music.yahoo.com. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  22. ^ Chart Watch Extra: Thank You, Daniel Powter | Chart Watch - Yahoo! Music
  23. ^ Mitchell, Gail (December 17, 2005). "Green Day, 50 Cent Come Up Big In Vegas". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 21. ISSN 0006-2510.
  24. ^ "Flo Rida Topples Single-Week Download Mark". Billboard. January 12, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
  25. ^ "Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Adele break World Records with digital music sales". Guinness World Records. September 7, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  26. ^ Caulfield, Keith (April 25, 2012). "Billboard 200: Lionel Richie Holds Off Jason Mraz, Stays At No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  27. ^ Latest Music News, Band, Artist, Musician & Music Video News | Billboard
  28. ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 13, 2013). "Luke Bryan Scores First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  29. ^ Anderson, Trevor (April 14, 2020). "Bill Withers Has Top 2 Best-Selling Songs of the Week". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Taylor Swift - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "Nicki Minaj - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Rihanna - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  33. ^ a b "Justin Bieber - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  34. ^ "Drake - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  35. ^ a b "BTS - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  36. ^ "Beyoncé - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  37. ^ Trust, Gary (June 10, 2024). "Post Malone & Morgan Wallen Lead Billboard Hot 100 for Fourth Week, Eminem Debuts at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Katy Perry - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  39. ^ "Bruno Mars - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  40. ^ "Digital Songs: Jan 23, 2010". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  41. ^ "Digital Songs: Sep 22, 2012". Billboard.com. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  42. ^ Trust, Gary; Caulfield, Keith (August 21, 2023). "Oliver Anthony Music Had 37% of All Country Track Sales Last Week, Led by 'Rich Men North of Richmond'". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  43. ^ "Fans Make Jackson King of Record Sales". July 2009.
  44. ^ Grein, Paul (April 13, 2011). "Week Ending April 10, 2011. Songs: It's Katy's World". Yahoo. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  45. ^ "Digital Songs Artist of the decade". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 14, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  46. ^ Trust, Gary; Caulfield, Keith (November 4, 2015). "Adele's 'Hello' Has Biggest Sales Week for a Single Since Elton John's Princess Diana Tribute in 1997". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  47. ^ Trust, Gary (January 17, 2017). "Ed Sheeran Debuts Atop Hot 100 With 'Shape of You' & in Top 10 With 'Castle on the Hill'". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  48. ^ Asker, Jim (July 25, 2018). "Lauren Daigle's 'You Say' Soars to No. 1 on Hot Christian Songs Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  49. ^ Billboard [@billboardcharts] (December 1, 2020). ".@BTS_twt has the top 6 best-selling songs of the week" (Tweet). Retrieved January 18, 2023 – via Twitter.
  50. ^ Billboard [@billboardcharts] (December 1, 2020). "As "Life Goes On" debuts at No. 1 on the #DigitalSongSales chart, BTS is the first act to rule the chart's entire top six spots simultaneously" (Tweet). Retrieved January 18, 2023 – via Twitter.
  51. ^ Trust, Gary (October 31, 2022). "Taylor Swift Makes History as First Artist With Entire Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100, Led by 'Anti-Hero' at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
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