Podcast production by Kevin Bendis. Chris Molanphy, a pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century of chart history. Through ...

On the strength of the No. 2 pop chart peak of “The Girl Is Mine” just after Christmas, CBS Records knew their strategy to lead at radio with the McCartney “Trojan Horse” was a success.

Carson's star has been on the rise, and his latest album debuts at No. 1 thanks to a bit of good timing. Also: Record Store Day makes a dent on the album chart.

Despite initial success in breaking into American pop charts, recent developments suggest the K-pop wave may be receding. Missteps in album releases, legal issues with rising stars like NewJeans ...