{"id":4259,"date":"2026-07-27T15:38:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T15:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=4259"},"modified":"2026-07-27T15:38:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T15:38:21","slug":"deseret-news-archives-billboard-started-its-music-popularity-chart-in-1940-weve-been-keeping-track-ever-since","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=4259","title":{"rendered":"Deseret News archives: Billboard started its \u2018music popularity chart\u2019 in 1940. We\u2019ve been keeping track ever since"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><i>Editor\u2019s note: this story was originally<\/i><i> published on July 27, 2024.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>A look at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>On July 27, 1940, Billboard magazine published its first \u201cmusic popularity chart,\u201d listing bestselling retail records of the week.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=4257\">Opinion: On stages across China, Utah teenagers built connections<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In first place on that initial list was \u201cI\u2019ll Never Smile Again,\u201d recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, with featured vocalist Frank Sinatra.<\/p>\n<p>Now, if you Google it, there are 200 separate lists of Billboard music charts alone. Everyone now releases their own top lists, using all kinds of criteria.<\/p>\n<p>Billboard wasn\u2019t necessarily the first \u2014 The New York Times Best Seller list debuted in 1931 \u2014 and Billboard had actually shared charts of popular sheet music, song performances and recitals as far back as 1913.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=4255\">High school football: San Juan projected to finish atop 2A South once again<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In its July 27, 1940, magazine issue, the first \u201cBillboard Music Popularity Chart\u201d was published for the week ending July 20, with separate listings covering retail sales, sheet music sales, jukebox song selection and radio play.<\/p>\n<p>Utahns have had a few appearances on Billboard charts through the years, and actually dominate a few of the faith music genres \u2014 think Tabernacle Choir, Hilary Weeks, Gentri and Piano Guys.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=4253\">High school girls soccer: Lone Peak, Bountiful, Green Canyon, Ogden and Waterford open 2026 as preseason No. 1s<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the Billboard charts:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBillboard is retuning its record charts\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTabernacle Choir album tops Billboard chart\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTabernacle Choir successfully taps into new market\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTaylor Swift passes Elvis Presley record\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll the Billboard Music Awards Taylor Swift has won\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDonny Osmond\u2019s back on front lines with `Soldier of Love\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re still the Osmond Brothers after all these years\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow does TikTok affect the Billboard song charts?\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>Related<\/div>\n<div>Deseret News timeline<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today in history: Billboard magazine set the standard, now everyone compiles lists based on sales and popularity. Read more about Billboard&#8217;s charts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-west"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Deseret News archives: Billboard started its \u2018music popularity chart\u2019 in 1940. 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