Summer’s peak brings debut singles, world tours, and breakout albums. The charts on July 14 have shown which genres and artists were rising and how the music industry keeps shifting. Here’s what happened in Top 40 history on that date.
Breakthrough hits and milestones
1986: Paul McCartney released a synth-driven single from his sixth solo album. It fit the era and reached No. 21 on the Hot 100.
1987: Prince dropped a hit from his double album Sign o’ the Times that climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1992: Megadeth issued Countdown to Extinction, their fifth studio album. It featured several standout tracks and hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 in the U.K.
1998: The Beastie Boys released Hello Nasty, featuring guest spots from Biz Markie and others. The GRAMMY-winning record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 680,000 copies in week one, and spawned a Top 30 single.
1999: Destiny’s Child put out The Writing’s on the Wall. The album reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and delivered multiple chart-topping singles.
2009: Owl City’s Ocean Eyes went double-Platinum and scored a nomination for Dance/Electronic Album of the Year. Its single became a viral hit with an electronica intro and playful lyrics.
Cultural notes
1949: Tommy Mottola was born in the Bronx. As Sony Music’s former CEO, he helped develop careers for artists like Destiny’s Child, Shakira, Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey.
1986: Dan Smith of Bastille was born in London. He started writing at 15 and later fronted hits that reached the Hot 100 Top Five.
1987: Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons was born in Nevada. He’s known for crafting radio-ready Top 30 hits and large arena shows.
