Hot 100 Airplay (Radio Songs) - Album Cut Implementation

Album Cut Implementation

After December 5, 1998, songs could chart on the Hot 100 with just airplay points. However, before they were allowed onto the Hot 100, they had to make the Top 75 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. However, starting from the chart issue of 12 February 2005, songs without a retail component will now be allowed to chart on the Hot 100 regardless of their rank on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. Songs that charted on the Hot 100, without being issued with a commercial single release were known as album cuts. These album cuts however, were not very strong initially and did not usually chart very high; the first airplay-only single to hit number one came in June 2000 when Aaliyah's "Try Again" spent one week at the top.

This implementation was solely responsible for the end of number-one debuts. In the mid 90s, many songs were commercially released as singles after airplay was given a chance to grow to its maximum potential. This allowed songs to enter the Hot 100 at the top, a feat unheard of before 1995. Ten songs were able to do this, but after this change to the Hot 100, only ten singles (from four American Idol participants, Britney Spears, Eminem, Kesha, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry) have debuted at number one since.