Perfect -- Ed Sheeran

As a person who has been collecting chart top 40's, in the last few years there have been certain hits where one version is released and a new "remix" or another hit version maintains enough popularity to overtake it.

For example, Ed Sheeran's Perfect, where the solo hit went all the way to #3 on Billboard. Then Beyonce joins the song and it occupies the #1 space and then appears to be the definitive version of the song everyone plays on radio. At some point after its #1 run if I recall last year, it reverted back to the Ed Sheeran only version on its way back down.

Then you have the case of Despacito. Which got into the 40's in chart position and was stalling until the Justin Bieber remix brought it into the top 10 and then #1 for 16 weeks. The remix is clearly the definitive version, but the original version came first.

You also have Mi Gente, which was in the top 20 of Billboard until a remix with Beyonce came out and if I recall got it all the way to #3. The original Mi Gente was out for weeks on its own until the remix brought it into the top 10.

Back in 2011, Rihanna invited Britney onto her single, which was stalled at #2 going solo and it got to #1 the week after. The remix version with Britney then disappeared as fast as it came, but it is the reason why S & M hit #1 rather than #2.

Finally you have the Til The World Ends Femme Fatale Remix which propelled the original by Britney Spears from #9 to #3 and then disappeared shortly thereafter.

The reason I mention the above is the following to the board members:

1) Is it akin to an a/b side situation because both versions of the song charted and got their own airplay and sales?
2) Do you give as much credence in your collection to the remixes considering they are the hit versions, or are the hit versions the songs that started out on the charts?

Currently I collect them and stay true to the view that since the older and newer versions charted, they should both be included as a/b. I am more curious how others who have collected top 40 for a long time view these situations considering they are unique to this decade.

Here at Record Research, we don't really treat them as an
"A/B side" situation. I believe that "Till The World Ends"
was only shown as the remix version for just 1 of 24 weeks
on the Hot 100. When there is a change like that, we
collect both versions, but usually just handle it with a
trivia note underneath the version that charted the highest
and/or longest.

As for the dis-connect between radio and the Hot 100, you
can blame that on download sales and streaming these days.

Regarding "Perfect," I agree with Brian that the hit version is the album version. We have two CHR stations and a Hot AC in the Dallas market, and I have never once heard the Beyoncé duet version on any of them.

Well, there's nothing wrong with two hit versions! :) I have both in my
collection, so I'm covered. The Dallas CHRs must not be big on playing
remixes once the original has become the hit. It was the same story
with "S&M." They played the Rihanna version for weeks and never
switched to the new version with Britney.

+1 Brian.