Sunset 100

   

Logo of Sunset

Logo of the Sunset Top 40, a subset of the Sunset 100

The Sunset 100 is the standard singles record chart used by the music industry in the Kingdom of Sierra. It is published Tuesdays weekly on the Sunset magazine and online. It is the main chart compiled by Sunset. The Sunset 100 and other Sunset charts are sponsored by the Kingdom of Sierra's Ministry of Culture. Contemporary chart rankings are based on sales (both physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming data.

Since its inception in 1956, the weekly tracing cycle for sales for the Sunset charts including Sunset 100 has been Wednesday to Tuesday. Sunset 100 receives its data from a comprehensive research group composed of over 20,000 retailers and digital services daily, covering virtually all of singles consumption in the Kingdom of Sierra weekly. Although Sunset publishes its 100 chart on both its printed publication and online website, most media outlets only list the Sunset Top 40, which derives from the Sunset 100 chart.

According to the Ministry of Culture, 1,186 singles have topped the Sunset 100 chart. Prior to the Sunset 100, a number of other record charts by other companies competed with conflicting lists. The first number one on the Sunset 100 was "Burning Heartaches" by Al Ellis for the week ending on March 13, 1956. As of the week ending on October 5, 2021, the current number one is "Untitled" by Sophia Moore.

History

The first record charts in Sierra were regionally based. The Jukebox Nickle Charts represented an early, popular chart that gathered its data from self-reporting businesses that utilized jukeboxes from their establishments. Various radio stations and networks maintained their own records charts. In 1937, RBS established the Sierran Music Records Chart which sourced airplay data from a number of established radio networks, including from its own radio stations.

Sunset, a Sierran entertainment magazine, had begun to shift its content focus towards music beginning in the late 1920s. The magazine's popularity grew as jukeboxes became prominent throughout Sierra and the rest of capitalist Anglo-America. In 1939, it released its own chart, the Sunset Chart for jukebox records and radio airplay in direct competition with RBS's Sierran Music Records Chart. As the music industry evolved and new genres emerged, Sunset became a leading force in the Sierran music industry. After RBS discontinued its chart in 1956, Sunset charts became the primary music chart in the industry.

As the jukebox waned in popularity in favor of radio stations, Sunset discontinued its jukebox-only charts and introduced a new chart, the Sunset 100 in 1956. Its first chart was published on the week ending on August 17, 1956. The chart combined its three main charts into one, consolidating records from jukeboxes, radio, and sales. It was also the first chart to include all genres of music. Previously, it had separate charts by genre (e.g. jazz, rock and roll, and blues). Since Sunset 100's inception, it has remained the industry standard, and its model has been replicated by other charts worldwide.

Inclusion criteria

Generally, in order to qualify as a chartable single, the single must be available in any of the following formats:

• Digital download audio music track of up to 15 minutes playing time
• Streaming audio music track of up to 15 minutes playing time
• Digital single bundle of up to four tracks with a maximum of 25 minutes playing time
• CD with up to two tracks
• CD, DVD, or other digital memory device with up to four tracks with a maximum of 25 minutes playing time
• One song and any number of remixes up to 40 minutes maximum playing time

It has been standard practice by Sunset to distinguish remixes of songs from the original song as their own distinct singles. In addition, stricter criteria is imposed on certain qualifying recurrent singles that reappear on the Sunset 100.

Chart broadcast

After RBS discontinued its own record charts, Sunset 100 became the industry standard. RBS and Sunset entered into an agreement in 1962, whereby RBS would have the licensing rights to base its radio programming with Sunset 100 branding and data. Although other radio stations had also begun building their business model around trending Sunset 100 songs, RBS Radio gained access to the Sunset editorial team's own commentaries and analysis. Kenny Shanks became the first host and presenter of RBS Radio Presents the Sunset 100 Show in 1962. He was later replaced by Danny Perez in 1973, who also hosted the new segment Top Picks by RBS Radio. Jasmine Banks became the first female hostess and presenter, when she debuted in 1980. RBS Radio Two introduced the RBS Radio Two Presents the Sunset Mix in 1982 which based its playlist on an aggregated chart based on Sunset 100 and three other Sunset charts, and RBS's own methodology.

Year-end charts

Sunset 100 and other Sunset charts are based on a yearly calendar which runs from the first week of December and ends on the final week of November. This calendar was implemented since the introduction of Sunset 100 in 1956 and was chosen in order to allow enough time for year-end charts to appear on the final print issue on the last week of December. Year-end charts are calculated based on the cumulative total of yearlong sales, airplay, streaming, and downloads. Songs at the peak of their popularity between the final weeks of November and beginning weeks of December usually see their numbers split between the two calendar years. The year-end chart results are also used for the Sunset Awards, which occur in February of the following calendar year.

Use in media

The Sunset 100 has been the primary data source for radio stations that brand themselves as "Top 40". Due to the Sunset's contractual partnership with RBS, no other radio broadcaster has been able to play the wide array of genres that compose a typical Sunset 100 chart. Since the 1990s, Top 40 radio stations have shifted towards specific formats, airing modified versions of the Sunset 100, often focusing on one or two particular genres.

The dominance of the Sunset 100 on the Sierran music industry and global music industry has resulted in public recognition and significance for artists and bands who have been able to consistently achieve hits on the Sunset 100 over an extended period of time. Numerous Sunset 100 milestones, records, and achievements have been the subject of attention and competition.

Sponsorship

The Sunset 100 is officially sponsored and used by the Ministry of Culture to promote Sierran music and entertainment. In addition to the chart's publication on the official Sunset magazine and website, the entire Sunset 100 chart is broadcasted on RBS, including its channel, RBS Two. RBS Radio through RBS Music One holds the exclusive right to air the Sunset 100 and mid-week updates with the Sunset editorial team's own format and commentary. As of 2021, the Sunset collaboration with RBS Music One is featured on the RBS Radio Presents the Sunset 100 Show.

Similar charts

In Astoria, the Astoria Sunset 100 uses sales and airplay tracking compiled by SoundTrek, using the same methodologies as the Sunset 100. It was launched in the issue dated May 17, 2005.

In Superior, the Superior Sunset 100 uses sales and airplay tracking compiled by SoundTrek and Penguin Data Systems, using a slightly different methodology from Astoria and Sierra. It was launched in the issue dated December 15, 2009.

In the United Commonwealth, Sunset publishes the Sunrise 100 on its East Coast publication, Sunrise. Unlike other Sunset charts, it only tracks sales and downloads available in Manhattan, rather than the entire United Commonwealth due to the country's legal restrictions and regulations against foreign-based companies. It was launched in the inaugural issue dated November 12, 1968.

See also

• Bestseller
• Chart-topper
• List of artists who reached number one in Sierra
• List of best-selling music artists
• List of Sunset 100 chart achievements and milestones
• List of Sunset 100 number-one singles of the 2020s
• List of Sunset number-one singles
• List of Sunset top 10 singles
• Single certifications
• Sunset charts
• Sunset Music Awards