Dance Singles Sales

In the issue dated March 16, 1985, Billboard magazine debuted its first chart devoted exclusively to 12-inch Singles Sales. The 50-position weekly ranking joined Billboard's established Club Songs chart, reduced to the same 50 positions, both under the title Hot Dance/Disco.

A coupling from MCA Records' Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, Patti LaBelle's "New Attitude" and Harold Faltermeyer's "Axel F",[1] held the No. 1 slot for the 12-inch Singes Sales chart's first week and was also No. 1 for the second consecutive week on the most played dance/disco chart.[2]

The word "Disco" was removed from title of the section of both charts on September 19, 1987.[3] After being temporarily named Hot Dance 50, Billboard retitled the section Hot Dance Music on October 24, 1987.[4]

The first Billboard Music Award in this category was in 1990 when Janet Jackson won for #1 Hot Dance 12-inch Singles Sales Artist.[5] The 1991 winner for #1 Hot Dance 12" Singles Sales was C + C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)".[6]

On June 20, 1992, Billboard began to also survey cassette tape and CD maxi-singles along with vinyl twelve-inch singles renaming the chart Maxi-Singles Sales.[7] In 1993, the winner for #1 12" Dance Single was RuPaul's "Supermodel (You Better Work)".[8][9]

On July 28, 2001, the chart size was reduced to 25-30 positions after the addition of Top Electronic Albums to the Hot Dance Music section.[10] Billboard renamed the Maxi-Singles Sales chart to Dance Singles Sales on March 1, 2003,[11] although the survey includes maxi-singles by artists of other genres such as rappers like 2Pac[12] and alternative rock & industrial metal bands such as The Smiths and Ministry. "Every Day Is Exactly the Same" by Nine Inch Nails[13] was number one on the sales chart more than any other single at 36 inconsecutive weeks, yet never appeared on the Hot Dance Club Play survey.[14][15]

Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" spent the second most weeks at #1 on the survey with 22 inconsecutive weeks beginning June 9, 2012.[16] Brandy[17] & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine"[18] and Cher's Believe[19] also peaked at #1 for at least 20 weeks on Billboard's Dance Single Sales chart.[20] Lady Gaga's "Just Dance",[21] The Postal Service's "We Will Become Silhouettes"[22] / "Be Still My Heart",[23] Sting's[24]"Desert Rose" (Victor Calderone Remix),[25] Nine Inch Nails "Every Day Is Exactly The Same", Cher's "Believe" and Mariah Carey's "My All" / "Fly Away (Butterfly Reprise)"[26] all charted over 100 weeks on the survey.[27]

Billboard launched the 40 position the Hot Dance Radio Airplay chart on August 16, 2003.[28] Dance Singles Sales is retitled Hot Dance Single Sales when the top 25 Hot Dance Radio Airplay begins to appear in print on October 25 of that year.[29] The single "Me Against The Music" by Britney Spears and Madonna won the award for "Hot Dance Singles Sales Single of the Year" at the Billboard Music Awards in 2004.[30]

Beginning April 30, 2005, the Billboard Dance Section began to alternate printing Hot Dance Single Sales and Top Electronic Albums every other week in the magazine[31] until Hot Dance Single Sales became only available at billboard.biz after the February 24, 2007 issue.[32] Stevie Nicks' 2007 remix single of "Stand Back" debuted at #3 on the chart on September 15, 2007, peaking at #2 the following week where it stayed for two weeks.[33] On March 30, 2007, the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales chart was reduced to 15 positions[34] and then 10 positions on October 3, 2009.[35]

Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales, a 50 position chart ranking of music download purchases, debuted online January 23, 2010.[36] The Dance/Electronic Songs chart was launched in Billboard magazine's newly retitled Dance/Electronic music section on January 26, 2013.[37]

After almost 29 years, the last Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart was published online November 30, 2013.[38][39] After more than 40 years, Billboard published their last Dance Club Songs chart on March 28, 2020.[40]