When compared to previous “PRISM” blockbusters “Roar” and “Dark Horse (featuring Juicy J),” the modestly-performing “Birthday” might seem unremarkable.
That lack of comparative wonder cannot, however, erase the meaningful mark the song has made on music history.
By advancing to #10 on this week’s Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart, which measures pop radio airplay based on Nielsen data, “Birthday” becomes Perry’s record-setting twelfth consecutive Top 10 on the listing.
Since Billboard launched the chart in 1993, no artist had previously scored more than eleven consecutive Top 10 hits.
Mariah Carey and Bruno Mars, who had each reached the top ten eleven consecutive times, were tied with Perry prior to the “Birthday” ascent.
With fifteen total top tens, Perry now ties Britney Spears for sixth-place overall on the chart. According to Billboard, Rihanna leads the way with 24 total top tens, while Mariah Carey (17), P!nk (17), Justin Timberlake (17) and Usher (16) all follow.