Billboard HOT 100 Methogology 1958

Back in 1958, there wasn't nearly the interest in the "behind the scenes" workings of the charts as there seems to be these days with the internet and social media. Until recently, Billboard was never very forthcoming in the exact ratios used for the different components of the Hot 100 over the years and that was their prerogative. The only sure-fire way I know how to get the correct answers is to ask somebody that actually worked in the chart department during whichever era you're wondering about. Of course, those that were there from the 1950s-1970s are either long-retired or dead, so we are left to speculate. IMO, what really matters are the actual chart positions and not how they were put together, although I do admit that it would be interesting to know for sure.

Edited by Paul Haney

I agree, times have changed and nowadays we know average
ratios of the HOT 100 .. interesting for maybe personal
calculations or not. Nevertheless, does anyone have
Billboard's introduction issue of the HOT 100 from August
04, 1958 to see what was written there?

Paul Haney wrote: Weighted factors in the carefully designed formula include disk jockey plays, juke box activity and sales at the retail level. Again, they never really revealed to the public the exact formula over the years, so we can only speculate.

Probably wasn't one. Until well into the 80s, few stations
outside of the major markets kept airplay logs...certainly
none of the stations I worked at did, and several were
reporting stations. The PD/MD would submit a ranked list
of what we were playing once a week but that was it...there
was no way to tell if a given song got 5 plays or 50. As a
jock I never had to keep track (other during BMI/ASCAP
reporting sweeps).

If I'm not mistaken, it was more or less the same thing at
surveyed retailers.

Only jukebox play had the ability to be accurately tracked.


Edited by Hykker