A few weeks before releasing his fifth studio album, *Changes*, Justin Bieber dropped the lead single, “Yummy,” on January 3, 2020. The song peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100, adding to Bieber’s impressive list of Top 40 hits, which includes No. 1 singles like “Sorry” and “What Do You Mean?” January 3 has seen many significant moments in music history.
Cultural Milestones
– 1926: George Martin was born in London. He signed The Beatles to EMI in the early ’60s and produced most of their work, earning the nickname “the fifth Beatle.” After The Beatles split, he worked with stars like Celine Dion.
– 1964: The Beatles made their American TV debut on Jack Paar’s NBC show, sparking Beatlemania. They arrived in the U.S. on February 7 and had five No. 1 hits by the end of the year, including “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”
– 1987: Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, joining legends like Smokey Robinson and B.B. King.
Industry Changes
– 1950: Sam Phillips opened the Memphis Recording Studio, later known as Sun Studio. He helped launch the careers of Elvis Presley and B.B. King, leading to many Top 40 hits.
– 1996: Madonna testified against her stalker, Robert Dewey Hoskins, who was later sentenced to 10 years in prison.
– 2019: Lifetime aired “Surviving R. Kelly,” a docuseries that highlighted serious allegations against the artist. The first episode drew 1.9 million viewers, making it a top-rated program for the channel.
