April 17 is an important date in Top 40 music history. It marks the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Lady Gaga’s Jazz & Piano residency in Las Vegas, and Bad Bunny’s exciting cowboy-themed performance in Boston. On this day, Taylor Swift also announced the cancellation of her 2020 tour due to the pandemic, and a popular song from 1982 made its way onto the Billboard charts.
In 1970, Paul McCartney released his first solo album, McCartney, which spent 33 weeks on the U.K. Official Albums chart, peaking at No. 2. The album featured several well-received tracks. Fast forward to 2007, Nine Inch Nails released Year Zero, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and received praise for its cohesive sound and strong songwriting. It produced two singles, with one reaching No. 14 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart.
In 2012, Neon Trees released their second album, Picture Show, which landed at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and included a Top 10 hit on the Hot 100.
Coachella has seen many memorable performances on April 17. In 2010, headliners included Muse and Kaskade. The following year, Kanye West and The Strokes took the stage. In 2016, Calvin Harris and Sia were among the headliners, while in 2022, Swedish House Mafia and Doja Cat led the lineup.
Culturally, April 17 has its milestones too. Liz Phair was born in 1967 and is known for her Top 40 hit. In 1997, Toby Keith welcomed his son, Stelen, who chose a different path as an entrepreneur. In 2009, Brad Paisley became a father again with the birth of his son, Jasper.
