Hot Country Songs

The Country Songs charts of Billboard magazine is the most important single charts for the genre country music.

The singles sold in the companies included in the determination of the charts record shops are automatically recorded on Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. The cash registers are connected over the Internet with the central computer. Since 1998 it is no longer necessary that a song will be released as a single. The play on the radio is sufficient for a inclusion in the charts.

The corresponding Billboard charts for country albums called Billboard country album.

History

The term Country as a genre name first appeared in the 1940s. Prior to that terms such as hillbilly, folk music, or simply Old Time Music were common. According to Billboard magazine lists has resulted in varying numbers, with 1913 sales of corresponding sheet music was first recorded, then later the popularity of jukebox singles. From 1942 there was for a short time the " Western and Race Charts ", where with the Race Music of African Americans was meant. This term, however, was perceived as racist and quickly abandoned.

On 8 January 1944, Billboard magazine released a list of the most popular country songs. At this time, only the most frequently selected in the jukeboxes pieces were listed, the list was initially " Most Played Juke Box Folk Records ". In 1947 the Folk was replaced by Billy Hill. In December 1949 for the first time appeared the term Country & Western on in known as " Country & Western Records Most Played By Folk Disk Jockeys ".

With the issue of 20 October 1958 finally started to release a comprehensive singles chart 30 positions through a combination of record sales and radio airplay under the name "Hot C & W Sides". The concept was eventually abandoned in 1962 and replaced by " Hot Country Singles ". As of 1990, the list in " Hot Country Singles & Tracks" and in 2005 was renamed " Hot Country Songs ". Today the hit parade is simply called " Country Songs ".

Determination of the hit parade

The sound of the songs included radio stations are automatically registered via RDS. Since January 2005, playing country songs on the radio is weighted by number of listeners of the radio station and time. A title that is played for example when a small station receives two clock at night, according to fewer points than a title that is broadcast by a local station on the early evening. Before that, financially strong record companies could buy night time slot, thereby pushing their current songs up at smaller stations for little money.

The data obtained are currently 60 positions comprehensive charts runs once a week (as of June 2007).