How does the billboard hot 100 shit work?

[Brandon S]

Ive never understood how they determine the top rap tracks, hot 100 and all of that shit. is it off of radio, sales or what? and is it weekly or monthly or what is it?? whoever understands this clue me in cuz im lost and im just curious

[Slim Zaddy]

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on airplay and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the airplay tracking-week runs from Wednesday to Tuesday. A new chart is compiled and officially released to the public by Billboard on Thursday. Each chart is dated with the "week-ending" date of the Saturday after.

Example:
Monday, January 1 – sales tracking-week begins
Wednesday, January 3 — airplay tracking-week begins
Sunday, January 7 – sales tracking-week ends
Tuesday, January 9 – airplay tracking-week ends
Thursday, January 11 – new chart released, with issue date of Saturday, January 20.
The first number one song of the Hot 100 was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson on August 4, 1958. As of the issue dated February 7, 2009, the Hot 100 has had 969 number-one hits. Its current number one is "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson.


more information here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100

hoped i helpd ya