What Have You Done For Me Lately - Chart Performance

Chart Performance

"What Have You Done for Me Lately" was released on January 13, 1986 and became a breakthrough single. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 95. The song climbed moderatly and peaked at number four on the Billboard issue dated May 17, 1986. It spent twenty-one weeks on the chart and became the first top ten single for Jackson. The song charted well in Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Dance Club Songs where it reached number one and number two respectively. "What Have You Done for Me Lately" became her first number-one single on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It placed at position 43 for the Billboard Year-End chart for 1986. The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the shipments of 500,000 copies.

"What Have You Done for Me Lately" also achieved international success. In Canada, the single entered the RPM Singles Chart on March 29, 1986 at number 92. It peaked at number six on June 14 and became Jackson's first top ten hit and spent twenty-four weeks on the chart. It placed at position 53 on the RPM Year-end chart for 1986. In United Kingdom, "What Have You Done for Me Lately" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 67 and peaked at number three on May 3, 1986. It spent fourteen weeks on the chart and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for the shipments of 200,000 copies. In New Zealand, the song entered and peaked at number 27 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and spent nine weeks on the chart. In Australia, the song peaked at number six on the Kent Music Report. In the Netherlands, the song became her first number-one single, topping the Dutch Top 40 for three weeks. Across Europe, the song reached the top ten in Belgium, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland.