'Uptown Funk' Is Longest-Leading Hot 100 No. 1 of the 2010s

Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ smash reigns for a 13th week, becoming one of only 10 singles ever to lead for at least that long.

Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk!,” featuring Bruno Mars, is the longest-leading Billboard Hot 100 of the 2010s, ruling the chart for a 13th week. It’s also just the 10th single in the Hot 100’s entire history to spend at least 13 weeks at No. 1.

Plus, newcomer Natalie La Rose reaches the top 10 with her debut hit “Somebody,” featuring Jeremih.

As we do each Wednesday, let’s run down all the songs in the top 10, and a bit beyond, on the sales/airplay/streaming-based Hot 100 (dated April 11).

“Funk,” released on RCA Records, passes Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” featuring T.I. and Pharrell to take sole possession of the Hot 100’s longest command this decade. Here’s an updated look at the hits to lead for the most weeks since the beginning of 2010:

13 (to date), “Uptown Funk!,” Ronson feat. Mars, Jan. 17, 2015
12, “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, June 22, 2013
10, “Happy,” Pharrell Williams, March 8, 2014
10, “We Found Love,” Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris, Nov. 12, 2011

“Funk” also becomes one of an elite 10 singles ever to top the Hot 100 for at least 13 weeks, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958 launch:

16, “One Sweet Day,” Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, Dec. 2, 1995
14, “I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas, July 11, 2009
14, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, June 4, 2005
14, “Candle in the Wind 1997”/“Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” Elton John, Oct. 11, 1997
14, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio, Aug. 3, 1996
14, “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 27, 1994
14, “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston, Nov. 28, 1992
13 (to date), “Uptown Funk!,” Ronson feat. Mars, Jan. 17, 2015
13, “The Boy Is Mine,” Brandy & Monica, June 6, 1998
13, “End of the Road,” Boyz II Men, Aug. 15, 1992

With “Funk” now just three weeks from potentially tying “One Sweet Day” for the record, and four weeks from possibly claiming it all to itself, can it rewrite Hot 100 history? It’s too early to forecast charts a month away, but “Funk” still sports strong leads in all main Hot 100 metrics.

“Funk” logs a 13th week atop the Digital Songs chart with 165,000 downloads sold (down 12 percent) in the week ending March 29, according to Nielsen Music. That’s a record-tying feat: “Funk!” matches Flo Rida’s 2007-08 hit “Low,” featuring T-Pain, for the most weeks a title has spent at No. 1 on Digital Songs.

“Funk” also leads Streaming Songs (16.2 million U.S. streams, down 15 percent) for an 11th week. On Radio Songs, “Funk” reigns for a 10th week with 166 million in all-format audience (down 4 percent). It’s the first song to reach double-digit weeks at No. 1 on Radio Songs since “Blurred Lines” led for 11.

“Funk,” thus, leads the Hot 100 and its three main component charts (Digital Songs, Radio Songs and Streaming Songs) simultaneously for a record-extending ninth week (nonconsecutively).

Perhaps helping the chances that “Funk” can remain at No. 1 on the Hot 100, at least for another week: while it’s down by 11 percent in overall activity, the No. 2 song (for a third week), Maroon 5’s “Sugar,” decreases by 3 percent, while Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud,” at No. 3 (for a third week, after peaking at No. 2 for eight weeks), is off by 2 percent. And, the lead of “Funk” over those songs is still significant: they each boast approximately two-thirds of the Hot 100 points of “Funk” this week.

Could either “Sugar” or “Loud” rebound to challenge “Funk” further on the Hot 100? Could another song in the top 10 topple it? Or, is it a song just building, or not even yet released, that will take over? Again, it’s too soon to tell. We know only that a song will eventually dethrone the uncommonly overarching smash that “Funk” has become. (At least we think one will …)