Radio Heads Up With Carey!!!

Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, Kelly Clarkson, Ciara and R&B/hip-hop were the biggest winners on radio last year.

The final airplay statistics for 2005, compiled by Nielsen BDS and measuring total listeners hearing songs played by the nation's radio stations, show Carey's We Belong Together as the runaway song of the year. The lead single from The Emancipation of Mimi was No. 1 for 16 weeks during the year and reached 56% more listeners than runner-up Let Me Love You, by Mario, an eight-week chart-topper.

Carey also had the No. 6 song of the year, Shake It Off. 50 Cent notched four songs in the top 20 (including a guest spot on The Game's How We Do), led by Candy Shop. Clarkson and Ciara each had three appearances in the top 20.

Mariah Holds Together

Why You'll Remember 'Forget'

It was already Mariah Carey's most successful year on the charts, but she manages to pull off one final stunning achievement in the very last week of 2005 by moving into pole position on the Billboard Hot 100 with her 17th No. 1 song.

"Don't Forget About Us" becomes the No. 1 song that ties Presley's 17 chart-toppers, putting Carey and Presley into a tie for second place among artists with the most No. 1 hits in the rock era, behind the Beatles' 20.

Presley secured his 17th No. 1 the week of Nov. 1, 1969, when "Suspicious Minds" marched into first place. The Beatles collected their 20th No. 1 the week of June 13, 1970, when "The Long and Winding Road" / "For You Blue" reached the summit. The standings of the top two artists with the most No. 1 songs has not changed since then, so by tying Presley, Carey has altered a record that has stood for 35 years, six months and three weeks.

Presley first topped the Billboard pop singles tally the week of April 21, 1956, with his debut chart entry, "Heartbreak Hotel." It took him 13 years, six months and two weeks to rack up his 17 No. 1s. Carey first led the Hot 100 the week of Aug. 4, 1990, with her initial chart entry, "Vision of Love." It has taken her 15 years, four months and four weeks to amass her 17 No. 1 songs.

"Don't Forget About Us" is Carey's 16th No. 1 as a songwriter. She already held the title of the female songwriter with the most No. 1 hits in the rock era. With her 16th song to achieve pole position, she ties Barry Gibb for third place on the list of the songwriters with the most No. 1 hits. Only Paul McCartney with 32 and John Lennon with 26 have more.

"Don't Forget About Us" is the eighth No. 1 of 2005 on the Hot 100. That's the fewest amount of chart-topping titles in a calendar year since 2002, when seven songs moved to the head of the class. There were 11 No. 1 songs in 2003, and the same number in 2004.

"Don't Forget About Us" is the fourth No. 1 song this year by a solo female artist, following Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl," Carey's "We Belong Together" and Carrie Underwood's "Inside Your Heaven." Three of this year's chart-toppers were by male artists: "Let Me Love You" by Mario, "Gold Digger" by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx and "Run It!" by Chris Brown. There was one co-ed No. 1, "Candy Shop," by 50 Cent featuring Olivia. Carey is the only artist to have two No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 in 2005.