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Ahit song, also known as ahit record,hit single or simplyhit, is arecordedsong or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Althoughhit song means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific termhit record usually refers to a single that has appeared in an officialmusic chart through repeatedradio airplay audience impressions, or significant streaming data and commercial sales.[1]
Prior to the dominance of recorded music, commercialsheet music sales of individual songs were similarly promoted and tracked as singles and albums are now. For example, in 1894, Edward B. Marks and Joe Stern releasedThe Little Lost Child, which sold more than a million copies nationwide, based mainly on its success as anillustrated song, analogous to today'smusic videos.
In theUnited States and theUnited Kingdom, a single is usually considered a hit when it reaches the top 40 of theBillboard Hot 100 or the top 75 of theUK Singles Chart. TheGuinness Book of British Hit Singles has used this definition since the 1970s. Some argue that reaching at least the top 100—since theOfficial Charts Company increased the chart size on their website on 23 June 2007—lets a single be considered a hit due to the increasing singles market after chart rules included download singles. In most cases, the amount of weeks spent on either music chart may also play a big part in its relevance as a 'hit,' regardless of its peak chart position.
A hit single is variously called anumber one hit, atop 5 hit, atop 10 hit, atop 20 hit or atop 40 hit, depending on its peak position. In the UK (where radio play is not included in the official charts), this does not completely reflect the song's popularity—as the weekly chart position is based solely on direct comparison with concurrent sales of other singles. It is, therefore, not uncommon that a single fails to chart, but has actually sold more copies than other singles regarded as "hits" based on their higher chart placement in a period of low sales. (This is also possible in the United States, or anywhere, with slow but steady sellers; a number of minor hits, especially those that are popular in specific genre, have earned gold certifications despite relatively poor pop chart performances.)
In the UK, the number of sales required to achieve a hit single steadily declined in line with a general decline in single sales until the early 2000s. The number has, however, recovered strongly with growth in officialdigital downloads. 2011 was a record year for UK singles sales.[2] Actual figures vary considerably depending on the time of year. In 2010 a number one single usually sold around 100,000 copies per week; sales of around 30,000 were often sufficient to reach the top ten, and a single selling over 6,000 copies could make the top forty.[3]
Record companies often release collections of hit singles by various artists ascompilation albums, such as theNow That's What I Call Music! series. Well-known bands and artists also frequently release collections of their most popular singles asGreatest hits albums.