Idols on the radio: The all-time hit list
In lieu of the progress report for current Idols on the radio (next one will appear Monday), I thought I'd compile a handy guide to the biggest Idol hits on the radio. First, these disclaimers (some of them will sound familiar).
Data is from the airplay-only (no sales involved), multi-format, national radio airplay audience chart compiled for USA TODAY by Nielsen BDS, Arbitron and Radio & Records. This isn't quite the same as any Billboard chart -- it's way different from the Hot 100, which includes sales data, but is pretty close to the Hot 100 airplay chart, although it extends to a full 100 positions.
Songs are ranked by peak number of audience impressions in a week, which is basically the total number of plays a song gets during the week multiplied by the number of estimated listeners hearing each play.
And now, the list:
1. Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson (87.5 million audience impressions; peak position on the chart, No. 4)
2. Behind These Hazel Eyes, Kelly Clarkson (83.1 million; No. 4)
3. Because of You, Kelly Clarkson (81.1 million, No. 3)
4. It's Not Over, Daughtry (81.0 million, No. 7)
5. Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson (80.3 million, No. 7)
6. Sorry 2004, Ruben Studdard (80.2 million, No. 8)
7. Miss Independent, Kelly Clarkson (74.0 million, No. 10)
8. Home, Daughtry (71.8 million, No. 6)
9. A Moment Like This, Kelly Clarkson (69.2 million, No. 8)
10. Before He Cheats, Carrie Underwood (68.6 million, No. 7)
Kelly is still radio's Idol sweetheart, the Beatles of the group, with four of the top five. Daughtry is starting his radio career in fine form, and how about Ruben sneaking in there?
Rest of the list follows, as some other Idols join the pack.
11. Truth Is, Fantasia (67.9 million, No. 12)
12. Wait for You, Elliott Yamin (65.8 million, No. 11) (still may beat that figure in coming weeks)
13. When I See U, Fantasia (56.4 million, No. 12)
14. Free Yourself, Fantasia (51.7 million, No. 15)
15. Walk Away, Kelly Clarkson (50.7 million, No. 16)
16. Jesus, Take the Wheel, Carrie Underwood (48.9 million, No. 15)
17. Nothin' to Lose, Josh Gracin (43.2 million, No. 25)
18. Wasted, Carrie Underwood (43.1 million, No. 23)
19. Don't Forget to Remember Me, Carrie Underwood (39.8 million, No. 29)
20. Because of You, Kelly Clarkson & Reba McEntire (35.2 million, No. 32) (may still beat that figure in coming weeks; billing reversed just this one time because we're concentrating on Idols here)
(Fantasia dominates the upper reaches of the second half of the top 20, while Carrie's big in the lower half.)
21. Baby Mama, Fantasia (32.1 million, No. 47)
22. I Want to Live, Josh Gracin (31.9 million, No. 42)
23. A Different World, Bucky Covington (31.5 million, No. 38) (outside chance of beating that figure in coming weeks)
24. Stay With Me, Josh Gracin (30.8 million, No. 43)
25. Invisible, Clay Aiken (30.0 million, No. 41)
26. Never Again, Kelly Clarkson (26.7 million, No. 51)
27. Low, Kelly Clarkson (25.0 million, No. 64)
28. I Wonder, Kellie Pickler (19.8 million, No. 77)
29. 8th World Wonder, Kimberley Locke (19.7 million, No. 71)
30. So Small, Carrie Underwood (19.4 million, No. 81) (will definitely beat that figure in coming weeks)
(Clay's only full-fledged radio hit and songs by Josh, Kellie and Kim Locke join the crowd.)
31. Hood Boy, Fantasia (18.8 million, No. 80)
32. The Real Thing, Bo Bice (18.7 million, No. 79)
33. Change Me, Ruben Studdard (18.3 million, No. 76)
34. The Trouble With Love Is, Kelly Clarkson (18.0 million, No. 94)
35. Red High Heels, Kellie Pickler (17.7 million, No. 77)
36. Favorite State of Mind, Josh Gracin (14.4 million, No. 96)
These last six, and the three above them, are pretty minor hits on a national scale. But at least Bo joined the list.
Finally, number of hits on the chart by artist:
Kelly: 11
Carrie & Fantasia: 5
Josh: 4
Daughtry, Kellie, Ruben: 2
Bo, Bucky, Clay, Elliott, Kimberley: 1
Idols on the radio: The all-time hit list - Idol Chatter - USATODAY.com
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