Posted May 27, 20169 yr So, I've been thinking about this for a while, but if we discount featured singer Kyla and the presumable female vocalists in the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir's holiday #1 (haven't listened to that song I'll admit, so maybe it's a male choir please don't hate me if I'm wrong :D ), then the last time a female singer reached Number 1 was in Adele's 3rd and final week at No. 1 on November 19th last year. That's 27 weeks without a female singer at the top. That has to be the longest stretch for a while, right? Especially given that it doesn't seem poised to stop any time soon since JT is just about ready to take over for a few weeks. Also, does anyone know what is the longest the chart has gone without a Male number one? Edited May 27, 20169 yr by jafetsigfinns
May 27, 20169 yr Streaming favours males due to the demographics of users of streaming services like Spotify. It's just a fact. It's sad what the music industry has become.
May 27, 20169 yr Most likely because there are more super-popular male artists releasing music right now than there are females (of which we only have Rihanna and Beyoncé at the moment - the former being unlucky to miss #1 on two occasions and the latter not having the slightest of a chance of a #1 single with her release strategy)
May 27, 20169 yr Streaming favours males due to the demographics of users of streaming services like Spotify. It's just a fact. To some extent I know what you mean, though there haven't really been many female singers going to #1 on iTunes recently either... There aren't really many huge female stars in the industry compared to males, and many of those that are big like Beyonce, Rihanna and Taylor Swift have weird release strategies (Tidal exclusive/say no to Spotify etc...). I do feel like it's harder for female artists to get to #1 though, and those that do are generally major established stars (apart from Rachel Platten...still don't know how that got there!) whereas male artists don't have as big a problem in that respect. I guess demographics have a lot to do with that, especially in the streaming era. Still Zara Larsson wasn't that far off with Lush Life and Sia really ought to have got a week in with Cheap Thrills. Edited May 27, 20169 yr by gooddelta
May 28, 20169 yr Author Great points guys, but my question was: is this the longest we've gone without a female number one? If not, does anyone know of longer "droughts"? Same question for guy-vacant number one stretches.
May 28, 20169 yr Great points guys, but my question was: is this the longest we've gone without a female number one? If not, does anyone know of longer "droughts"? Same question for guy-vacant number one stretches. There was 37 weeks between Cher's 'Shoop Shoop Song' & Shakespeare's Sister's 'Stay' in 91-92 & 42 weeks between Sally Sweetland's 'I'm Walking Behind You' & Doris Days' 'Secret Love' in the 50s so yes there's definitely been longer droughts. Really what we're all waiting for now is a new Jess Glynne banger to end this current run.
May 28, 20169 yr Given that this hasn't been a problem since 1991 I dont think it's a major problem. Not that I disagree but reading gooddelta's point about "There aren't really many huge female stars in the industry compared to males" feels somehow very at odds the history of pop music - especially given that from 2009 - 2012 we were in the throws of Gaga/Perry/Rihanna/Beyonce domination.
May 28, 20169 yr But there must be periods where more females were getting #1s, so I'd still be interested to hear of any guy-droughts.
May 28, 20169 yr The best I can think of is 10 weeks in 1988 when Belinda Carlisle, Tiffany and Kylie Minogue spent 2, 3 and 5 weeks at number one with Heaven Is A Place On Earth, I Think We're Alone Now and I Should Be So Lucky respectively. There was 13 weeks (Run by Leona Lewis, Hallelujah by Alexandra Burke, Just Dance by Lady Gaga, The Fear by Lily Allen and My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson) in 2008-2009, but Just Dance features Colby O'Donis. Edited May 28, 20169 yr by Taylor Jago
May 28, 20169 yr Not that I disagree but reading gooddelta's point about "There aren't really many huge female stars in the industry compared to males" feels somehow very at odds the history of pop music - especially given that from 2009 - 2012 we were in the throws of Gaga/Perry/Rihanna/Beyonce domination. True, but how many of those are as big now? Beyonce yes, but she's got a release strategy that will never get her a #1 single, Rihanna's not *quite* as big as she was then but you feel she could easily get a #1 single with the right song and a regular release strategy. Gaga I don't see getting another #1 single and Katy Perry could but Prism was a drop off in success terms from Teenage Dream so that could just as easily happen again this time, it's hard to tell. The only others I hold in the same category are Taylor Swift (not on Spotify so no #1) and Adele, whose 29 won't be out for another few years! Anyway, I'm sure some big female hit will come out soon enough, probably from an unexpected source. If Keisza and Rachel Platten can get #1s then I'm sure others can. I'd say Emeli Sande too but while her album is likely to be huge, I'm not sure the lead single will be a #1 for her.
May 28, 20169 yr Anyway, I'm sure some big female hit will come out soon enough, probably from an unexpected source. If Keisza and Rachel Platten can get #1s then I'm sure others can. I'd say Emeli Sande too but while her album is likely to be huge, I'm not sure the lead single will be a #1 for her. Would those Kiesza and Rachel Platten songs have been #1s in today's climate though? Both relied on the held-back release strategy to get to #1 and in the case of the latter, she didn't even sell 60k to get there.
May 28, 20169 yr Rihanna and Beyonce seem to be in more artistic modes now - probably bored with the traditional pop belter format.
May 28, 20169 yr Mainly female artists dominate my charts doesn't seem to be the case with Uk charts though, in a perfect world Paramore etc would have loads of number ones, bit different with them as they're group, as for solo artists there's Ella Henderson
May 28, 20169 yr Beyonce and Rihanna are more concerned about pushing Tidal than about having a @1 If put on itunes/Spotify after the superbowl Formation would have been @1 for 2 months ;)
May 28, 20169 yr 5 consecutive male #1's seem more dominant, when they're averaging 3.8 weeks at the top, in periods of slower #1 turnover than in sustained periods of 1 week wonders when they'd only cover 6 or 7 weeks (averaging 1.2-1.4 weeks)~
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