

Presley's run lasted just eight weeks atop the "Most Played by Jockeys" chart, and seven weeks in "The Top 100"'s number one slot, but artists are credited with their most favorable placements on any of the four charts. In a prominent example of the magazine's retroactive methodology, Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" single is credited with an 11-week run atop the Billboard chart in 1956, because the double-sided release topped the "Best Sellers in Stores" and "Most Played in Jukeboxes" lists for that length of time (though the specific weeks differed). " Buddy Holly's debut single in the Top 40 was released posthumously" or "Elvis Presley has seven Hot 100 number-ones"). Though technically not part of the "Hot 100" chart history, their data is included by Billboard for computational purposes, and to avoid unenlightening discrepancies (i.e. These charts, which ranged from 20 to 100 slots, were phased out at different times during 19. Prior to its creation, Billboard published four singles charts: "Best Sellers in Stores", "Most Played by Jockeys", "Most Played in Jukeboxes" and "The Top 100" (an early version of the Hot 100). The Billboard Hot 100 began with the issue dated August 9, 1958, and is currently the standard music popularity chart in the United States.

This list spans from the issue dated Januto the present. This list highlights significant milestones and achievements based upon Billboard magazine's singles charts, most notably the Billboard Hot 100.
