Elvis Presley Enterprises challenges Mariah's record

This week's news that pop star Mariah Carey has surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most No. 1 singles on Billboard's U.S pop chart has now officially been challenged by Elvis Presley Enterprises. When Carey's "Touch My Body" rocketed to No. 1 on this week's chart, it gave the singer her 18th No. 1, the most by any solo artist on Billboard's Hot 100.

A pair of readers have helpfully pointed out that a post on the official Elvis website, the business entity created by the Estate of Elvis Presley and the Elvis Presley Trust, claims that the King had, in fact, 18 No. 1 singles, meaning Carey would have simply tied Presley.

But not so fast, writes Billboard's chart guru Geoff Mayfield in this week's edition of the magazine. The confusion lies with 1958 chart-toppers "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog." The Presley site lists the two songs as separate No. 1 singles.

Seemingly makes sense, except that when "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" topped the chart, they did so as one double-sided release. Writes Mayfield in his column, "Billboard's charts department and the magazine's ranking trivia expert, Fred Bronson, consider those two songs comprise but one single, and thus a singular No. 1 shared by the two songs."

And thus the debate will surely rage on.

Photo courtesy Elvis Presley Enterprises

Comments

[Yagnaseni Mitra]

Elvis Presley remains the undiminished 'King Of Rock n' Roll' no matter what! And I absolutely agree with I_Slay_The_Dragon that "Number v/s Substance is not even a contest". It was very rude and unhealthy of her fan site to offer prizes for downloading hes so-called "No. 1 Hit"! When 'The King' ruled from the 1950's - 1970's, days where different, where were these facilities? The victory of Mariah Carey is absolutely injustice over Elvis Presley. And a big "Thank-You" to the pair of readers who pointed out the mistake and to loyal fans like; I_Slay_The_Dragon , Dani, EagleElvis, Ron, Maurice Colgan, Elizabeth, Den, elvislover5, jenglisbe/fionalive, silvia, sheila, WHOLETRUTHY, Memphis Blonde! Thank-you all guys! Long Live the memories of "The King"!

[CORNELIUS]

YOU PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE ASHMED OF YOURSELVES! MARIAH IN NO WAY SHAPE FPRM OR FASHION COMPARES HERSELF TO "THE KING". ELVIS HAS HIS TIME IN THE '50'S AND '60'S. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT THIS IS THE YEAR 2008, IS IT NOT? WITH TIME COMES CHANGE! MARIAH'S FEAT OVER ELVIS IS BEYOND GREAT! SHE HAS WORKED SO HARD TROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS PAID OFF LONG AGO, I THINK SHE FEELS THAT NOW SHE HAS A PLACE IN HISTORY. THIS NEW ALBUM OF HERS IS GOING TO BE HOTT! AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M BUYING 5 OF THEM MYSELF. EVERY MARIAH FAN I KNOW IS PURCHASING MORE THAN ONE BECAUSE ONE HAS TO HAVE A COPY OF HER WORK IN THE CAR, THE HOUSE, AND AT WORK! SHE'S JUST THAT AMAZING. HAVE YOU PEOPLE SAT DOWN AND LISTENED TO "THE EMANCIPATION OF MIMI"? BEAUTIFUL! IF THE ALBUM IS REALLY THAT ALBUM SQUARED, THEN WATCH OUT AMERICA....SHE JUST MIGHT TOP THE BEATLES. THEN WHAT WILL YOU PEOPLE SAY TO THAT WHEN SHE CLEARS 18 #1'S AND HIT 20 OR 21 OR 22. LET'S FACE IT, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. ALSO, AS FAR AS PEOPLE NPT LISTENING TO HER MUSIC FOR DECADES TO COME...I'M 23 AND I LISTEN TO "VISION OF LOVE", "VANISHING" AND SO MANHY SONGS SHE CREATED WHEN SHE REALLY WAS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH FAITHFULLY, EVERYDAY! BETTER MARIAH, "THE LAST DIVA STANDING" BREAK ELVIS' RECORD THAN CIARA...JENNIFER LOPEZ, BRITNEY SPEARS OR SOME ARTIST OF THAT POOR NATURE!

SORRY ELVIS FANS, BUT THERE IS A NEW QUEEN IN TOWN....QUEEN MARIAH! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!

[Boidiva02]

some of you people make no sense at all mariah is "stuck up" so she can't have more #1 hits than Elvis? she uses music videos and provocative clothing so she can't have more #1 hits than Elvis? that's kind of the pot calling the kettle hot don't you think? afterall it was Elvis and his gyrations that sent adults into a near panic in his day... seriously Mariah beat him, GET OVER IT.

[I_Slay_The_Dragon]

I'm still waiting for the
"Mariah gives BACK" concert,
featuring a whole BUNCH of
"special" guests.

[David]

First of all, Mariah's camp was not bragging that she surpassed Elvis' record - the media just announced it and gave it that slant. If you hear her interviews she always say that she can't even imagine being compared to the Beatles and Elvis. And so what if her fans what her songs to be #!? Why, do you mean to say fans of other artists, Elvis and Beatles including, don't also want to have their idol's songs hit#1? yeah right. And it's pathetic that the Elvis camp would react... because it's only a matter of time when even Mariah would surpass the Beatle's record. So what was the use? She was even going to surpass the Beatles anytime soon anyway? And again to reiterate, it's not like Mariah's been bragging about surpassing anybody so please don't hate on her.

[Slyfox]

Mariah Carey is the perfect prototype of a musical prostitute that we see in the world of music for the past 15 to 20 years. she has talent, but she decided to be cheap... anyone ready to be vulgar can make it to the top of the chart now.

[George K]

OK! LETS LOOK AT THIS ISSUE INTELLIGENTLY! WE ARE SPEAKING OF NUMBERS AREN'T WE... YES! LETS LOOK AT THE NUMBERS
ELVIS
RECORDS SOLD WORLDWIDE APPROX 1.5 BILLION
U.S. & WORLD WIDE # 1'S
35 COUNTING SUN
RECORDS. 150 CERTIFIED RECORDS & ALBUMS, 149 IN TOP 100, 114 IN TOP 40,
90 CHARTED ALBUMS, 73 ALOHA CONCERT 1.3 BILLION VIEWERS WITH 4.5 BILLION IN POPULATION, ELVIS STAMP HAS SOLD MORE THAN ANY OTHER IN USPS HISTORY. HE SANG> ROCK, COUNTRY, GOSPEL, BLUES, VERY STRONG BALLADS. OH YES, OVER 625 ACTIVE FAN CLUBS.
M CAREY> WORLDWIDE RECORD SALES *165MILLION* WHO IS THE KING+ ELVIS, OF COURSE!

[George K]

HELLO. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A BIT MORE INFORMATION ON LAST SUBMISSION. ELVIS> MOST HOT 100 ENTRIES > 151,
MOST TOP FORTY HITS 104, 2ND PLACE E. JOHN 56,
MOST #2 HITS> ELVIS.
Elvis' RIAA gold and platinum certifications are designated using today's requirements for certification: gold single or album - 500,000 copies sold; platinum single or album - 1 million copies sold. In the era when singles were big sellers, the standard was 1 million copies for a gold single; 2 million copies for platinum single. In the old days, a gold album was awarded for a million dollars in sales, but the current requirements for a gold or platinum album have been the same for many years. Platinum status was created in the 1970s. ALSO, 40% OF HIS APPROX 1.5 BILLION SOLD, OCCURED OUTSIDE THE US, NEVER PERFORMING OUTSIDE THE U.S. MANY MORE FACTS WILL BE POSTED. THE CLOSEST COMPETITOR IS THE BEATLES, PERIOD.
IF THERE ARE ANY PERSONS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ARGUE THE BASIS OF THE PREVIOUS INFORMATION DOCUMENTED BY ME George K, PLEASE DO SO! IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO RE POST!

[Gary]

Comparing Elvis, the Beatles and who? Mariah Carey. LOL.
Lets see, that is like the Yankees, The Red Sox and ... er um, ah... The Brooklyn Little League

[jaovanny]

Mariah vs Elvis, two different artist, two different sounds and different target audience.
However what this blog is disputing is whether Mariah has more number one hits then Elvis.There are two Elvis songs in question, and regardless of the answer, Mariah is still alive and ticking, writing, singing and will surpass Elvis and the Beatles in her lift time. Why people have an issue and are worried about holding someones title is useless. Comparing any artist is like unless and uncompairable unless the styles are the same.

[Oscar]

WHO'S ELVIS???

[Marcela Leal Olmedo]

Elvis Presley has 20 #1 and mariah only 16 because 2 wre number ones in common with other artist. And is possible a chating from billboard that erased 3 #1 and this is so terrible. And now maria does not have who paid attention in her on her edding. Is a grat lesson to be ignored because Elvis Presley will be #1 forever

[Marcela Leal Olmedo]

Who´s Elvis: Elvis is the nost important figure forever in the history. an I am happy

[Mike]

First of all the confusion was about the 1956 single instead of the 1958 single (stupid mistake) and Elvis has indeed had 18 #1's on billboard (even more on cashbox) but come on. Elvis is my biggest idol but why can't we support Mariah. She tied him now and speaking as a real Elvis fan I am convinced she will beat that record anyway, so what's the deal?? Mariah Carey will be having the most US #1 hits someday, more than The Beatles. Does it make her a better singer?? no ofcourse not, it's jus who's your favorite one I guess. I like both Elvis & Mariah but this record will be Mariah's, everyone knows that.