The number 5 has significant application for this week’s Billboard Hot 100.
It can refer to the fact that the top five songs are occupied exclusively by female acts for a fifth consecutive week.
It can refer to the fact that Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” spends a fifth week in the runner-up position.
It can also refer to the fact that Meghan Trainor’s breakthrough smash “All About That Bass” tops the chart for a fifth consecutive frame.
The leader on the Digital Songs, Streaming Songs and Radio Songs sub-charts, “Bass” keeps its advantage over Swift’s “Shake it Off” despite showing signs of a slowdown.
Iggy Azalea’s “Black Widow (featuring Rita Ora)” follows the aforementioned behemoths at a new peak position of #3. Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj’s “Bang Bang” grabs the #4 slot, while Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” slides to #5.
Other top ten singles include Tove Lo’s “Habits (Stay High)” (#6), Jeremih’s “Don’t Tell ‘Em (featuring YG)” (#7), Maroon 5’s “Animals” (#8), Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” (#9) and Ariana Grande’s “Break Free (featuring Zedd)” (#10).
The Tove Lo, Jeremih and Maroon 5 songs all hit new peaks this week.