From this week's Ask Billboard:
According to Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS), which electronically monitors radio stations in more than 140 U.S. markets and provides the data that powers Billboard's radio airplay charts, "We Belong Together" has been played 743,758 times through Wednesday (March 24).
I asked BDS Director of Data Services Adam Foster how that sum stacks up against other hit songs released five years ago.
Here is what Adam found:
"We Belong Together" began a 10-week run at No. 1 on the Pop Songs chart for the week of July 2, 2005. Here are the to-date detection totals at BDS-monitored U.S. terrestrial radio stations for Carey's smash and the other songs that were in the top 10 (in order) that week:
All-Format To-Date Plays, Artist, Title
743,758, Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together"
399,636, Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"
513,149, Kelly Clarkson, "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
226,340, the Black Eyed Peas, "Don't Phunk With My Heart"
160,319, Will Smith, "Switch"
279,099, Ciara featuring Ludacris, "Oh"
374,941, 3 Doors Down, "Let Me Go"
358,332, Papa Roach, "Scars"
244,448, 50 Cent, "Just a Lil Bit"
356,973, the Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes, "Don't Cha"
The total for "We Belong Together" is more 200,000 plays higher than its closest title ("Behind These Hazel Eyes") and twice the to-date average of the rest of that week's top 10 (323,693).
Not surprisingly, and even though it wasn't released until halfway through the decade, "We Belong Together" earned the honor of top title of the 2000s on the Billboard Hot 100 (a feat Carey proudly touted to the audience when I saw her in concert in January).
Source: Gary Trust - Billboard