Chart News: Week of 12/26/2015

Santa Baby
Hot Holiday Airplay: #48

Billboard 2015 Year End Charts

Top Pop Artists: #75
Top Billboard 200 Albums: #151 (Rebel Heart)
Top Album Sales: #78 (Rebel Heart)
Top Dance/Electronic Artists: #28
Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: #29 (Bitch I'm Madonna)
Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: #43 (Living For Love)
Dance/Electronic Digital Songs: #48 (Bitch I'm Madonna)
Dance Club Artists: #2
Dance Club Songs: #4 (Living For Love)
Dance Club Songs: #8 (Bitch I'm Madonna)
Top Canadian Albums: #39 (Rebel Heart)
Top 25 Tours: #16 (Total Gross: $45,899,978, Total Attendance: 304,935, No. of Shows: 24)

Thanks to Maurice G. for submitting this info!

More Billboard Boxscores

November 4-5, 2015
Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena - 25,952 / 25,952 - $2,748,071

November 7-8, 2015
Prague, Czech Republic - O2 Arena - 33,408 / 33,408 - $3,001,142

November 10-11, 2015
Berlin, Germany - Mercedes-Benz Arena - 23,588 / 23,588 - $2,638,597

November 14, 2015
Stockholm, Sweden - Tele2 Arena 39,338 / 39,338 - $3,482,634

Thanks to Maurice G. for submitting this info!

Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour: $46 Million Grossed (So Far)

Billboard.com

The diva's tour has played to more than 300,000 fans… and counting.

Madonna heads up Billboard’s weekly ranking of concert touring artists, landing at No. 1 on the Hot Tours recap (see list, below) based on $25.4 million in sales reported from her Rebel Heart world tour. This tally includes the final 12 stops on the first leg of the tour that played 20 cities in North America during September and October.

Since the tour launched on Sept. 9, Madonna has performed for more than 300,000 fans at 24 shows, generating box office sales totaling $46 million. The trek through U.S. and Canadian markets wrapped on Oct. 29 in San Diego, but the tour began its second leg just six days later. A seven-week jaunt through 11 European countries began on Nov. 4 in Köln, Germany and will continue until Dec. 20, wrapping for the year in Glasgow, Scotland.

Top box-office stats from the tour so far include a $5.2 million gross from two shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sept. 16-17, the highest-grossing engagement among all of the venues on the schedule. The Garden’s sold ticket count of 28,371 is also the highest attendance recorded. Among the arenas that hosted the tour for just one performance, the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas produced the top sales total with $3.5 million on Oct. 24. Brooklyn’s Barclays Center logged the largest crowd among the single-show dates with 14,258 present on Sept. 19.

Chart News: Week Of 10/24/2015

Rebel Heart
The Billboard 200: Off (From #149)
Top Current Albums: Off (From #81)
Top Album Sales: Off (From #84)

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance / Electronic Songs: Off (From #25)

Rebel Heart Tour: Boxscores Part 1

The first round of boxscores for the Rebel Heart Tour have been released:

- Madonna, Diplo
Bell Centre Montreal, Quebec Sept. 9-10, 2015
$3,420,984 26,468 / 26,468 2/2

- Madonna
Verizon Center Washington, D.C. Sept. 12, 2015
$2,014,706 13,271 / 13,271 1/1

- Madonna, Amy Schumer
Madison Square Garden New York, N.Y. Sept. 16-17, 2015
$5,230,985 28,371 / 28,371 2/2

- Madonna, Amy Schumer
Barclays Center Brooklyn, N.Y. Sept. 19, 2015
$2,789,910 14,258 / 14,258 1/1

- Madonna
Centre Videotron Quebec City, Quebec Sept. 21, 2015
$1,078,608 13,051 / 13,051 1/1

- Madonna, Michael Diamond
Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, Pa. Sept. 24, 2015
$1,434,010 10,544 / 10,544 1/1

- Madonna, Michael Diamond
TD Garden Boston, Mass. Sept. 26, 2015
$1,941,750 12,780 / 12,780 1/1

- Madonna, Michael Diamond
United Center Chicago, Ill. Sept. 28, 2015
$2,522,365 14,026 /14,026 1/1

Total: 132,769 / 132,769 - $20,433,318

Chart News: Week Of 10/17/2015

Rebel Heart
The Billboard 200: #149 (Re-Entry)
Top Current Albums: #81 (Re-Entry)
Top Album Sales: #84 (Re-Entry)

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance / Electronic Songs: #25 (Down from #23)

Thanks again to Maurice G for this week's chart info

Chart News: Week Of 10/10/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance / Electronic Songs: #23 (Up from #24)

Thanks again to Maurice G for this week's chart info

Chart News: Week Of 10/3/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance / Electronic Songs: #24 (Down from #22)

Thanks again to Maurice G for this week's chart info

Chart News: Week Of 9/26/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: Off (From #44)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #22 (Down from #19)

Thanks again to Maurice G for this week's chart info

Chart News: Week Of 9/19/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #44 (Down from #32)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #19 (Down from #18)

In other news, Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour kicks off tonight in Montreal! Here's to another great tour!

Thanks again to Maurice G for this week's chart info

Chart News: Week Of 9/12/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #32 (Down from #12)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #18 (Down from #13)

The Immaculate Collection
The Billboard 200: Off (From #187)
Top Pop Catalog: Off (From #38)

Thanks Maurice G for this week's chart info!

Chart News: Week Of 9/5/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #12 (Down from #7)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #13 (Down from #12)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: Off (From #46)

The Immaculate Collection
The Billboard 200: #187 (Re-Entry)
Top Pop Catalog: #38 (Re-Entry)

Chart News: Week Of 8/29/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #7 (Down from #5)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: Off (From #16)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #12 (Down from #10)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #46 (Down from #44)

Thanks to Maurice G. for providing this week's chart positions. 

August 16th

Happy 57th Birthday, Madonna!

Chart News: Week Of 8/22/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #5 (Down from #1)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: #16 (from #12)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #10 (Down from #8)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #44 (Down from #40)
YouTube: Off (from #24)

Chart News: Week of 8/15/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #1 (Up from #2)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: #12 (Down from #8)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #8 (Down from #7)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #40 (Down from #32)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: Off (From #47)
YouTube: #24 (Down from #22)

Madonna Scores 46th No. 1 on Dance Club Songs Chart

Billboard.com

Madonna's back at No. 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart, as her latest single, "B**** I'm Madonna" rises 2-1 on the chart dated Aug. 15.

It's the diva's 46th No. 1 on this chart, and extends her own record for the most No. 1s on a singular Billboard chart. (She broke the record in May, when she surpassed George Strait's 44 leaders on the Hot Country Songs chart.)

The new Aug. 15-dated Dance Club Songs chart -- which measures reports submitted by a national sample of club DJs -- will post to Billboard's websites on Aug. 4.

"B**** I'm Madonna," featuring Nicki Minaj, is the third single from Madonna's Rebel Heart album. The set debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking her 21st top 10 effort.

For Minaj, "Madonna" is her fifth No. 1. She also hit the top with "Turn Me On" (David Guetta featuring Minaj), "Give Me All Your Luvin'" (Madonna featuring Minaj & M.I.A.), "Pound the Alarm" and "Beauty and a Beat" (Justin Bieber featuring Minaj).

"Bitch I'm Madonna" 46th #1 Club Play Hit

"Bitch I'm Madonna" has reportedly become Madonna's record-extending 46th #1 Dance Club hit. Expect an announcement from Billboard soon!

Chart News: Week of 8/8/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #2 (Up from #3)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: #8 (Down from #7)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #7 (Down from #6)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #32 (Down from #29)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #47 (Down from #24)
YouTube: #22 (Down from #19)

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs (Week Of 8/8/2015)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Bitch I'm Madonna" inches up to #2 on next week's Dance Club Songs chart.

Chart News: Week Of 8/1/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #3 (Up from #4)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: #7 (Down from #6)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #6 (Holds)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #29 (Down from #25)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #24 (Up from #39)
YouTube: #19 (Down from #16)

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs (Week Of 8/1/2015)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Bitch I'm Madonna" moves up to #3 on next week's Dance Club Songs chart.

Chart News: Week Of 7/25/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Dance Club Songs: #4 (Up from #7)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: #6 (Holds)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #6 (Holds)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #25 (Down from #21)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #39 (Down from #26)
YouTube: #16 (Down from #10)

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs (Week Of 7/25/2015)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Bitch I'm Madonna" climbs up to #4 on next week's Dance Club Songs Chart and is once again the Greatest Gainer.

Rebel Heart Total Sales Update: Week 26 Of 2015

Rebel Heart's total USA sales stand at approximately 197,000, making it the 33rd best-selling album of the year.

Chart News: Week of 7/18/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Billboard Hot 100: Off (From #95)
Dance Club Songs: #7 (Up from #15)
Hot Singles Sales: Off (From #14)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: #6 (Down from #5)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #6 (Down from #5)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #21 (Down from #14)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #26 (Down from #12)
YouTube: #10 (Up from #11)

Thanks Maurice G. for contributions this week!

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs (Week of 7/18/2015)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Bitch I'm Madonna" moves up to #7 on next week's Dance Club Songs chart. It's also the Greatest Gainer once again!

Chart News: Week Of 7/11/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Billboard Hot 100: #95 (Down from #84)
Dance Club Songs: #15 (Up from #26)
Hot Singles Sales: #14 (Down from #1)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: #5 (Holds)
Pop Digital Songs: Off (From #40)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #5 (Holds)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #14 (Down from #6)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #12 (Down from #1)
YouTube: #11 (Up from #12)

Ghosttown
Dance Club Songs: Off (From #43)

Rebel Heart (Album)
Billboard 200: Off (From #198)

Thanks Maurice G. for contributions this week!

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs (Week Of 7/11/15)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Bitch I'm Madonna" moves up to #15 on next week's Dance Club Songs chart and is the Greatest Gainer for the week. This song is moving up super fast!

Chart Beat: 'New Material'

Billboard.com

Another dance icon, Madonna, scores a re-entry on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs with "Bitch I'm Madonna" at No. 5. The track, featuring Nicki Minaj, is Madonna's first top five hit and second top 10 since the chart's Jan. 26, 2013 launch.

Powered by its star-laden video, "Bitch" boasts sales of 13,000, up 1,703 percent, good for a No. 6 re-entry on Dance/Electronic Digital Songs. It also garnered 2.6 million U.S. streams (up 1,454 percent, with 81 percent stemming from Vevo on YouTube views), granting Madonna her first appearance on Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs (No. 5).

On Dance Club Songs, "Bitch" enters at No. 26, kicking off its bid to become the third No. 1 from her album Rebel Heart, following "Living for Love" and "Ghosttown." Remixes of "Bitch" from Sander Kleinenberg, Fedde Le Grand and Sick Individuals, among others, were released on June 16.

Madonna Returns to Hot 100 With 'Bitch I'm Madonna'

Billboard.com

Her Madgesty is back on the Billboard Hot 100.

Madonna's playfully self-celebratory "Bitch I'm Madonna," featuring Nicki Minaj, debuts on the Hot 100 (dated July 4) at No. 84, powered most heavily by its 1,454 percent gain to 2.6 million U.S. streams in the week ending June 21, according to Nielsen Music. The song's official video premiered June 17 (first exclusively on Tidal for 24 hours) and includes cameos by Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Chris Rock, Kanye West and other stars.

The third single from Madonna's album Rebel Heart becomes the set's first Hot 100 hit, preventing the LP from becoming her first studio album not to generate a Hot 100 entry. Lead single "Living for Love" and follow-up "Ghosttown" both fell shy of the list. Still, both songs crowned the Dance Club Songs chart, with the latter becoming her 45th No. 1 on the survey and rewriting the record for the most leaders an artist has notched on any Billboard ranking. ("Bitch" debuts at No. 26 on Dance Club Songs this week.)

"Bitch" arrives as Madonna's 57th Hot 100 hit and first since "Give Me All Your Luvin' " (also featuring Minaj, as well as M.I.A.) became her record-extending 38th top 10 in 2012. The Beatles follow with 34 Hot 100 top 10s.

Chart News: Week of 7/4/2015

Bitch I'm Madonna

Billboard Hot 100: #84 (Debut)
Dance Club Songs: #26 (Debut)
Hot Singles Sales: #1 (Debut)
Dance / Electronic Streaming Songs: #5 (Debut)
Pop Digital Songs: #40 (Debut)
Dance / Electronic Songs: #5 (Re-Entry)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #6 (Re-Entry)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #1 (Up from #26)
YouTube: #12 (Debut)

Ghosttown
Dance Club Songs: #43 (Down from #24)

Rebel Heart (Album)
Billboard 200: #198 (Re-Entry)

"Bitch I'm Madonna" Debuts On The Hot 100 at #84

Reportedly, "Bitch I'm Madonna" will debut at #84 on tomorrow's (Thursday) Hot 100 chart (Issue dated July 4th, 2015). Its appearance is no doubt mostly because of views of the video on Tidal, YouTube and Vevo. Digital single and remix sales also contributed but most likely to a much lesser extent. This is Madonna's first appearance on the Hot 100 since 2012 when "Give Me All Your Luvin'" charted (that song peaked at #10 in its second week).

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs (Week of 7/4/2015)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Bitch I'm Madonna" appears as the Hot Shot Debut on next week's Dance Club Songs chart at #26! This is a pretty high debut! It's her highest in the 2000's since "Impressive Instant" (2001) and "Hung Up" (2005) debuted at #25 and "Give Me All Your Luvin'" (2012) debuted at #24.  Her all-time highest debut is still "Secret" (1994) at #18. Other high debuts include "Causing A Commotion" (1987) at #24, "Like A Virgin" (1984) and "Keep It Together" (1990) both at #26, and "Nothing Really Matters" (1999) at #21.

Elsewhere on next week's Dance Club Songs chart, "Ghosttown" is at #43, in what is most likely its final week.

Chart News: Week of 6/27/2015

Ghosttown
Adult Contemporary: Off (From #28)
Dance Club Songs: #24 (Down from #13)

Bitch I'm Madonna

Twitter Top Tracks: #26 (Down from #23)
Dance Club Songs Breakouts: #1 (Debut)

Rewinding the Charts: Madonna Scored Her First Top 10 With 'Borderline' in 1984

Billboard.com

On this date 31 years ago, Madonna's "Borderline" became her first Hot 100 top 10 & ignited one of the most impressive streaks in chart history: 17 straight top 10s.

"I signed [Madonna] because I believed in Mark Kamins, who I thought was the greatest DJ, and he wanted to be a producer," Seymour Stein -- the man who signed the pop icon to the label he co-founded, Sire Records, in 1982 -- recalled to Billboard in 2012. "So I gave him some money to bring me an artist, and the third or fourth thing he brought me was Madonna. I was very involved in the beginning. Then I realized, 'This woman is smarter than all of us. Just get out of her way.'"

Stein (whose first job was as an assistant at Billboard, aiding in the creation of theBillboard Hot 100 in 1958) foretold Madonna's historic chart run. On this date 31 years ago, on the Hot 100 dated June 16, 1984, "Borderline," the poppy, synth-laced second single from Madonna's self-titled debut album, rose 11-10 to become her first top 10 on the chart. Although it stopped at No. 10, spending a lone week in the top tier, it ignited one of the most impressive streaks in Hot 100 history: a run of 17 straight top 10s for the Material Girl. ("Borderline" is also tied, with 1994-95's "Take a Bow," for her longest-charting Hot 100 hit: 30 weeks on the chart.)

"Bitch I'm Madonna" Remixes Now on iTunes!

Looks like Interscope are trying a different technique with this single. Instead of waiting months after people have lost interest in a song to release the remix package, they are instead releasing the mixes the same week as the video premiere (the video is scheduled to premiere tomorrow, Tuesday). Hopefully the video views and the remix sales will garner enough points to give Madonna an appearance on the Hot 100! Keep your fingers crossed...

Update: Looks like the video has been delayed until Wednesday.

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs (Week of 6/27/2015)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Bitch I'm Madonna" is #1 on next week's Dance Club Songs Breakouts list and is also the most-added track. Also, "Ghosttown" has fallen to #24 in its tenth week on the chart.

More "Bitch I'm Madonna" Mixes Added To YouTube

More new mixes of  "Bitch I'm Madonna" have now been posted to Madonna's YouTube channel.

Check them out!

Chart News: Week Of 6/20/2015

Ghosttown
Hot Singles Sales: Off (From #12)
Adult Contemporary: #28 (Down from #26)
Dance Club Songs: #13 (Down from #11)

Bitch I'm Madonna

Twitter Top Tracks: #23 (Re-Entry)

Thanks Maurice G. for providing this week's chart positions.

Rebel Heart Total Sales Update

According to a leaked year-to-date SoundScan sales list, Rebel Heart is shown as having sold a total of 191,208 units so far. That makes it the 28th best-selling album of the year in the U.S.

"Bitch I'm Madonna" Remixes On YouTube

Several new mixes of Madonna's next single, "Bitch I'm Madonna", have now been posted to Madonna's YouTube channel.

Sidebar, that single cover is HORRENDOUS.

Chart News: Week Of 6/13/2015

Ghosttown
Hot Singles Sales: #12 (from #3)
Adult Contemporary: #26 (Down from #25)
Dance Club Songs: #11 (Down from #7)

"Bitch I'm Madonna" Is Coming Soon

Drowned Madonna is reporting that the video and remixes for Madonna's next Rebel Heart single, "Bitch I'm Madonna", are coming in 2 weeks, with American club promotion starting as early as next week as the first batch of remixes have already been approved by Madonna herself. 2 weeks seems a bit fast because it feels like the "Ghosttown" remixes were just released to iTunes (even though they've been online for some time), but I am glad they're quickly moving on to the next single. It seems that "Bitch I'm Madonna" might be her best shot at an appearance on the Hot 100 as the track has already garnered initial interest before its release and appeared on a couple of Billboard charts when the album was launched. Let's see what happens!

Chart News: Week of 6/6/2015

Ghosttown
Hot Singles Sales: #3 (Debut)
Adult Top 40: Off (From #39)
Adult Contemporary: #25 (Down from #22)
Dance Club Songs: #7 (Down from #1)

I was shocked to see how far "Ghosttown" fell on the Club chart after last week's peak at #1! This is her largest drop from #1 in a very long time, maybe even ever? I only checked back as far as 2000 and I saw nothing that fell beyond #6. With all the hype about it being her 45th #1 I thought for sure it would spend at least one or two more weeks in the Top 5.

Thanks to Maurice G. for contributing this week.

Vogue 25th Anniversary: Billboard Interviews Shep Pettibone

Billboard.com

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Madonna’s “Vogue” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, we reached out to the song’s co-producer and co-writer, dance legend Shep Pettibone, for -- amazingly -- his first interview in 20 years.

We talked to Pettibone, of course, about the genesis and making of “Vogue,” but also his later work with the diva on The Immaculate Collection and Erotica, the sampling lawsuit against him and Madonna over “Vogue,” and why he stepped away from the music business nearly 20 years ago.

The producer/writer/remixer and DJ, now 55 years old, rose to prominence as a go-to remixer in the 1980s for such acts as Janet Jackson, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, Whitney Houston and, most spectacularly, Madonna. His reworkings would often earn official promotion to radio, be used in an artist’s music videos, and be heard on tour. (A search for the phrase “Shep Pettibone” on YouTube turns up a treasure trove of sterling remixes.)

For Madonna, Pettibone reworked such classics as “Into the Groove” (his version is heard during Madonna’s Who’s That Girl Tour and on her You Can Dance album) and “Causing a Commotion,” in addition to crafting the popular single versions of “Like a Prayer” and “Express Yourself.”

His frequent work with Madonna led to her then-label, Warner Bros. Records, asking Pettibone if he would like to collaborate with her on an original song. The label’s then-head of dance music, Craig Kostich, “had this idea to see how we would work together, and he asked me to come up with a track for her,” says Pettibone. Assigned a budget of $5,000, he sent the diva the track’s “Philly Salsoul”-inspired music and within two weeks, she flew to New York to record her vocals to the track in a vocal booth in a “basement on West 56th Street.”

Chart News: Week Of 5/30/2015

Rebel Heart (Album)
The Billboard 200: Off (from #169)
Top Current Albums: Off (from #89)

Ghosttown
Adult Top 40: #39 (Down from #38)
Adult Contemporary: #22 (Down from #20)
Dance Club Songs: #1 (Up from #3)

"Ghosttown" Remixes Available On iTunes

The "Ghosttown" remix EP is now available on iTunes. Make sure to get yours in celebration of Madonna 45th #1 dance hit!

In-Depth: Madonna On The Dance Club Songs Chart

Updated July 31, 2015

Madonna's history on this chart is the most fruitful of her career. Her appearances on it span all the way from her very first single, "Everybody", back in 1982 all the way to the present. In fact, the Club Play chart was the very first Billboard chart that Madonna ever appeared on in November of 1982.

First, some history on the Dance Club Songs chart per Wikipedia:

Hot Dance Club Songs has undergone several incarnations since its inception in 1974. Originally a top-ten list of tracks that garnered the largest audience response in New York City discothèques, the chart began on October 26, 1974 under the title Disco Action. The chart went on to feature playlists from various cities around the country from week to week. Billboard continued to run regional and city-specific charts throughout 1975 and 1976 until the issue dated August 28, 1976, when a thirty-position National Disco Action Top 30 premiered. This quickly expanded to forty positions, then in 1979 the chart expanded to sixty positions, then eighty, and eventually reached 100 positions from 1979 until 1981, when it was reduced to eighty again.

Madonna Makes History With 45th No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs Chart

The Queen of Pop reigns with "Ghosttown," giving her the most No. 1s of any artist on a single Billboard chart. "Thanks to all my fans on & off the dancefloor," she tells Billboard.

Billboard.com

The Queen of Pop is now unequaled chart royalty. Madonna makes momentous Billboard chart history, as she now has the most No. 1s ever, 45, by an act on a singular Billboard chart. She earns her 45th No. 1 on Dance Club Songs, where "Ghosttown" lifts 3-1.

(The chart, dated May 30, will refresh on Billboard.com Thursday, May 21.)

With the coronation, Madonna passes another icon, George Strait, who's logged 44 No. 1s on Hot Country Songs.

"Thanks to all my fans on and off the dancefloor," Madonna said in an exclusive statement to Billboard. "I'll (always) be your partner."

With her 45th leader on Dance Club Songs, which measures reports submitted by a national sample of club DJs, Madonna pulls further ahead of runners-up Beyonce and Rihanna. In fact, Madonna has tallied more No. 1s as they have combined: 22 each. (The chart launched as a national survey in the Billboard issue dated Aug. 28, 1976.)

Madonna bests Strait (still, and always, the King of Country), who's sent 44 singles to No. 1 on Hot Country Songs between 1982 and 2009. He first reigned with "Fool Hearted Memory" (Aug. 28, 1982) and most recently ruled with "River of Love" (April 18, 2009).

"Ghosttown" was released, in its original ballad form, on Madonna's 13th studio album, Rebel Heart, which launched at No. 1 on the March 28 Top Album Saleschart with 116,000 first-week copies sold, according to Nielsen Music. Remixes from Don Diablo, Mindskap and Armand Van Helden, among others, helped the track top Dance Club Songs. (The original version, meanwhile, ranks at No. 20 onAdult Contemporary and debuts at No. 38 on Adult Pop Songs.) First Rebel Heartsingle "Living for Love" became Madonna's 44th Dance Club Songs topper on the March 7 chart.

Madonna wrote "Ghosttown" with Evan Bogart, Sean Douglas and Jason Evigan. "When I write with people, we always try to come up with a theme," she told Billboard's Keith Caulfield in December. "So, this one is about the city after Armageddon. The burnt-out city, the crumbling buildings, the smoke that's still lingering after the fire. There's only a few people left. How do we pick up the pieces and go on from here?

"Kind of dramatic," she added with a laugh.

Chart News: Week Of 5/23/2015

Rebel Heart (Album)
The Billboard 200: #169 (Down from #155)
Top Album Sales: Off (From #93)
Top Current Albums: #89 (Down from #86)

Ghosttown
Adult Top 40: #38 (Debut)
Adult Contemporary: #20 (Down from #19)
Dance Club Songs: #3 (Up From #6)

Thanks to Maurice G. for his help this week. 

Chart Highlights (Week of 5/23/2015)

Dance Club Songs

*** No. 1 (1 week)*** "Chains" Nick Jonas
Greatest Gainer No. 3 "Ghosttown" Madonna
Debut No. 33 "B**** Better Have My Money" Rihanna
Debut No. 46 "I Really Like You" Carly Rae Jepsen
Debut No. 48 "Nobody Love" Tori Kelly
Debut No. 49 "One Last Time" Ariana Grande
Debut No. 50 "This Feeling" L'Tric

Adult Pop Songs

*** No. 1 (1 week)*** "Shut Up And Dance" WALK THE MOON
Greatest Gainer No. 23 "See You Again" Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth
Debut No. 35 "Ghost Town" Adam Lambert
Debut No. 38 "Ghosttown" Madonna

Unlike certain eventual ghost towns when it came to sparring gunslingers, the Adult Pop Songs chart is big enough for the both of these like-titled songs (word spacing aside). Lambert's (complete with a Wild West-reminiscent whistle for its chorus' hook) is his fifth hit on the chart, while Madonna lands her 19th. The latter single also bounds 6-3 as the Greatest Gainer on Dance Club Songs and ranks at No. 20 on Adult Contemporary.

Billboard.com

More "Ghosttown" Remixes

Several new "Ghottown" remixes have been added to Madonna's YouTube channel over the last few days. Make sure to check them out! The digital remix single is also supposed to be released on Tuesday, May 19th to iTunes and other digital retailers.

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs (Week of 5/23/2015)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Ghosttown" will move up to #3 on next week's Dance Club Songs chart, and is once again the Greatest Gainer. Their article is a bit confusing, in their headline they say it will be #1, but in the body they say it moves up to #3. I think they are just predicting a #1 the following week, but I wouldn't speak so soon. We all saw what happened with "Miles Away"! Just keep your fingers crossed...

Source

Next Single: Bitch I'm Madonna?

Drowned Madonna is reporting that the third single from Rebel Heart will be "Bitch I'm Madonna" (which we've all pretty much suspected) and will be remixed very soon. Will this fare better than the first 2 singles? Apparently, Madonna also considered releasing "Devil Pray". Which song would you release?

Chart News: Week Of 5/16/2015

Rebel Heart (Album)
The Billboard 200: #155 (Down from #130)
Top Album Sales: #93 (Down from #89)
Top Current Albums: #86 (Down from #81)

Ghosttown
Adult Contemporary: #19 (Up from #20)
Dance Club Songs: #6 (Up from #13)

"Ghosttown" also moves up to #1 on the Adult Top 40 'Hot And Active' list.

Corrections / Additions

Thanks to contributor Maurice for providing the following information within the last few days:

-"Like A Prayer": final weekly positions added on both R&B Singles Sales and R&B Airplay charts. (We thought we had the full run before, turns out we were missing the final week on both charts). As such, final 'week on chart' dates have been corrected.
-"Oh Father": Peak date on Hot Singles Sales corrected. Mistake on complete chart run corrected.
-"Bitch I'm Madonna": last week's missing position on the Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart has been added.

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs Chart (Week of 5/16/2015)

Drowned Madonna is reporting that "Ghosttown" moves up to #6 on next week's Dance Club Songs chart and is the Greatest Gainer for the third week in a row! The new batch of remixes will definitely keep the track climbing fast! On a related note, Drowned Madonna is also reporting that the digital remix EP of "Ghosttown" has been delayed a week to May 19th.

Chart News: Week of 5/9/2015

Rebel Heart (Album)
The Billboard 200: #130 (Down from #77)
Top Album Sales: #89 (Down from #49)
Top Current Albums: #81 (Down from #49)

Ghosttown
Adult Contemporary: #20 (Holds)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: Off (From #45)
Dance Club Songs: #13 (Up from #22)

Living For Love

Hot Dance / Electronic Songs: Off (From #39)

Bitch I'm Madonna
Hot Dance / Electronic Songs: Off (From #35)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: Off (From #32)

Big thanks to Maurice G. for his help this week!

Chart Preview: "Ghosttown" on The Adult Contemporary Chart (Week of 5/9/2015)

On this week's Adult Contemporary chart (to be officially announced tomorrow, Thursday, along with the rest of the week's charts), "Ghosttown" holds at #20 from last week (it fell from #18 the week before). The song had 227 spins at AC with 2.656 million audience.

Elsewhere, "Ghosttown" is #2 on the Adult Top 40 'New and Active' list (kind of a bubbling-under tally). This is not an official chart appearance on the Adult Top 40 chart, it just shows that the song is actively gaining at the Adult Top 40 radio format. If "Ghosttown" keeps gaining, it could debut on this chart as well.

"Ghosttown" Remixes On The Way To iTunes (Updated)

Various Madonna fan sites are reporting that the "Ghosttown" remixes will finally be released to iTunes in Mid-day, specifically May 12th. Also, a few of the new remixes have now been uploaded to Madonna's YouTube channel. In related news, the "Ghosttown" 2-track CD single was released in Europe last week (pre-order the import in the USA here). As usual nowadays, no USA physical formats will be released.

'Rebel Heart' Favorite Songs Poll Results

I've been running a little poll for the last 2 months or so asking you all to vote for your favorite songs from Rebel Heart. You were allowed to vote for as many songs from the album as you wanted. A total of 244 people voted.

The clear favorite is "Ghosttown" with a total of 188 votes (77% of voters). Coming in at #2 is "Joan Of Arc" with 131 votes, followed by "Living For Love" with 126, "Rebel Heart" with 112, and "Devil Pray" with 104.

Bringing up the rear as the least-favorite songs are "Queen" with 41 votes (when I started the poll, it was believed that "Queen" would be on the album. The song was dropped from the track list before the album's release), "Graffiti Heart" with 33 votes, "S.E.X." with 25 votes (my personal least-favorite song!),  and German-only bonus track "Auto-Tune Baby" is the #1 least-favorite with only 23 votes.

Here's a look at the complete rankings:

More Updates

Thanks again to Maurice for contributing complete information for "Like A Prayer" on the R&B Singles Sales chart (aka Black Singles Sales) and R&B Airplay chart (aka Black Airplay Chart).

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs Chart (Week of 5/9/2015)

"Ghosttown" makes another big jump to #13 from #22 on next week's Dance Club Songs chart and is once again the Greatest Gainer! She's coming for it!

Source: Drowned Madonna

Chart News: Week Of 5/2/2015

Rebel Heart (Album)
The Billboard 200: #77 (Down from #41)
Top Album Sales: #49 (Down from #34)
Top Current Albums: #49 (Down from #34)

Ghosttown
Adult Contemporary: #20 (Down from #18)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #45 (Down from #12)
Dance Club Songs: #22 (Up from #41)

Living For Love

Dance Club Songs: Off (From #49) 
Hot Dance / Electronic Songs: #39 (Down from #27)

Bitch I'm Madonna
Hot Dance / Electronic Songs: #35 (Down from #21)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #32 (from #11)

Truth Or Dare (1991)

Ciao, Italia! - Live From Italy (1988)

Live - The Virgin Tour (1985)

Corrections / Additions (Updated)

Thanks to contributor Maurice G. for pointing out a couple of mistakes on the site that have now been corrected:
-Holiday/Lucky Star's week-by-week run on the Club chart has been corrected. There were several mistakes on this one.
-Oh Father's peak date and a couple of weekly positions on the Hot 100 have been corrected.

Also, the following missing information has now been added:
-Complete info for the Who's That Girl Soundtrack album on the Top Pop Compact Disks chart.
-Blond Ambition World Tour's complete week-by-week run on the Top Laserdisc Sales chart has been added.
-Truth Or Dare, Ciao Italia, and The Virgin Tour video pages have now been added with complete chart info.

Thanks again Maurice!

Chart Beat: 'Funny Material'

Following her multi-faceted April 9 appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which included performances, an interview, and even a stand-up comedy attempt, Madonna re-enters Hot Dance/Electronic Songs with "Bitch I'm Madonna" (No. 21; it previously reached No. 11). Backed by DJ skills from Diplo, Madonna served up a rousing humor-laden performance of the track, which followed a sit-down rendition of her classic "Holiday" with Fallon. "Bitch" surges by 748 percent to 9,000 sold.

Meanwhile, first Rebel Heart single "Living for Love" holds at No. 27 on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (3,000, up 28 percent) and new radio single "Ghosttown" debuts on Dance Club Songs (No. 41). On the latter chart, Madonna leads all acts with 44 No. 1s, the most leaders an act has notched on any Billboard chart.

Billboard.com

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs Chart (Week of 5/2/2015)

"Ghosttown" makes a huge leap (19 spots) on next week's Dance Club Songs chart to #22 from #41 (it's also the Power Pick and Greatest Gainer). This is an even bigger jump than "Living For Love" had in its second week (14 spots) so this is definitely a good sign! Don't want to jinx anything, so just keep your fingers crossed! Hopefully, Interscope will send out a second batch of remixes to DJ's like they did for "Living For Love" to keep the momentum going.

Source: Drowned Madonna

Chart News: Week Of 4/25/2015

Rebel Heart (Album)
The Billboard 200: #41 (Up from #57)
Top Album Sales: #34 (Up from #43)
Top Current Albums: #34 (Down from #43)

Ghosttown
Adult Contemporary: #18 (Holds)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #12 (Up from #20)
Dance Club Songs: #41 (Debut)

Living For Love

Dance Club Songs: #49* (Down from #38)

Hot Dance / Electronic Songs: #27 (Holds)

* At its 14th week, "Living For Love" is Madonna's longest-running single on Dance Club Songs since "Give It 2 Me" in 2008, which also spent 14 weeks on the chart.

Bitch I'm Madonna
Hot Dance / Electronic Songs: #21 (Re-Entry)
Dance / Electronic Digital Songs: #11 (Re-Entry)

Missing Chart Info Added (Updated)

Special thanks to Davidalic who provided us with previously missing chart info for a lot of Madonna's 80's/early 90's singles on a few different charts, most notably the Adult Contemporary and Hot Crossover Singles charts. So awesome!

Here is a list of the information that has been added to the singles pages:

Hanky Panky: / Complete Crossover Radio Airplay Top 40 / Dance chart information added
Vogue: A few missing AC weekly positions have been added / Complete Crossover Radio Airplay Top 40 / Dance chart information added
Keep It Together: Full AC week-by-week chart run added / Complete Crossover Radio Airplay Top 40 / Dance chart information added
Cherish: Full Crossover Singles chart run and dates added
Express Yourself: Full AC week-by-week chart run added / Full Crossover Singles chart run and dates added
Like A Prayer: A few missing AC weekly positions have been added / Full Crossover Singles chart run and dates added
Spotlight: Full Crossover Singles chart run added
Causing A Commotion: Full AC week-by-week chart run added / Full Crossover Singles chart run and dates added
Who's That Girl: Missing Maxi Singles Sales final week position added / Missing AC final week position added / Full Crossover Singles chart run and dates added
La Isla Bonita: Missing AC final week position added / Full Crossover Singles chart run and dates added
Open Your Heart: Missing AC weekly positions have been added / Full Crossover Singles chart run and dates added
True Blue: A few missing AC weekly positions have been added
Papa Don't Preach: A few missing AC weekly positions have been added
Live To Tell: Missing AC final week position added
Angel: A few missing AC weekly positions have been added
Material Girl: Full AC week-by-week chart run added
Lucky Star: Missing AC weekly positions have been added
Borderline: Missing AC weekly positions have been added
Burning Up/Physical Attraction: Full Club Play week-by-week chart run added

He also provided a great reference link where you can view Billboard's past issues:  www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard

Thanks again!

Billboard.com Chart Highlights (Week of 4/25/2015)

Chart Highlights offers a sneak peek at a select group of Billboard charts every Monday. (All charts below are based on radio airplay except for Dance Club Songs, which is based on reports submitted by a panel of DJs.)

Dance Club Songs
Debut No. 41 "Ghosttown" Madonna
Can "Ghosttown" extends Madonna's historic chart record? It if goes on to hit No. 1, it will become her 45th leader on Dance Club Songs, padding the Queen of Pop's mark for the most No. 1s an artist has placed on any single Billboard chart.

"Ghosttown" also bullets for a second week at its No. 18 high on Adult Contemporary.

Billboard.com

Madonna's 21 Top 10 Albums: From 'Madonna' to 'Rebel Heart'

When Madonna’s Rebel Heart album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 last month, it continued the diva’s hot streak in the top 10, which has been going strong since her self-titled debut hit the region in 1984. In total, Madonna has earned 21 top 10 albums, including all 13 of her studio efforts. Among women, only Barbra Streisand has more top 10s (with 33).

Let’s take a closer look at all 21 of Madonna’s top 10 albums -- from Madonna toRebel Heart -- and dive into their chart histories.

Read the full article at Billboard.com

Chart Preview: Dance Club Songs Chart (Week of 4/25/2015)

Apparently, "Ghosttown" will debut at #41 on next week's Dance Club Songs chart. And so the journey begins again!...

Chart News: Week of 4/18/2015

Rebel Heart (Album)
The Billboard 200: #57 (Down from #34)
Top Album Sales: #43 (Down from #24)
Top Current Albums: #43 (Down from #24)
Top Internet Albums: Off (From #13)

Hits Daily Double reports that Rebel Heart sold 9,893 copies this week.

Ghosttown
Adult Contemporary: #18 (Up from #20)
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: #20 (Debut)

Living For Love

Dance Club Songs: #38 (Down from #28)

Hot Dance / Electronic Songs: #27 (Down from #26)

Rebel Heart
Billboard Twitter Top Tracks: Off (From #49)

Chart Preview: "Ghosttown" On The Adult Contemporary Chart 4/18/2015

For the Billboard issue dated 4/18/2015, "Ghosttown" will move up 2 spots from #20 to #18 on the Adult Contemporary chart with 253 spins. The rest of the issue's chart positions will be announced tomorrow. Also, the "Ghosttown" video is premiering today!