Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey zoom 11-1 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart (dated Feb. 10) with "The Middle."
Released on a Tuesday (Jan. 23) instead of the industry-standard Friday, the song entered the Feb. 3 chart after a partial week of availability. Following its first full week of tracking, boosted by its official video premiere Jan. 28, as well as exposure in a Target commercial, the song reigns with 17 million in all-format radio airplay audience; 12 million U.S. streams; and 49,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen Music.
"Middle" is Zedd's fourth No. 1, tying him with Calvin Harris for the second-most toppers since the chart's Jan. 26, 2013, inception. (The Chainsmokers lead all acts with six No. 1s.) The collab is the first leader for both country singer-songwriter Morris and pop/dance duo Grey.
The song's 10-position jump to No. 1 is the largest since Aug. 13, 2016, when Major Lazer's "Cold Water," featuring Justin Bieber and MO, vaulted 13-1. Lady Gagaholds the record for the largest position surge to No. 1: "Applause" ascended 16-1 on Aug. 31, 2013.
"Middle" crowns Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales (4-1) and debuts at No. 2 on Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs and No. 24 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. It also launches at No. 23 (marking Morris' best rank to date) on the Billboard Hot 100.
UN-'COMMON' SUCCESS: Above & Beyond barges in at No. 1 on Top Dance/Electronic Albums with Common Ground. The set, aided by a concert ticket/album bundle sale redemption promotion, starts with 64,000 equivalent album units. With nearly all (a career-best 62,000) stemming from traditional album sales, the set also debuts at No. 1 on Dance/Electronic Album Sales.
Above & Beyonce score their second No. 1 on Top Dance/Electronic Albums, following We Are All We Need in 2015. The new release is the English trance trio's sixth top 10 and 13th charted title, a run that began with 2008's Sirens of the Sea(credited as by Above & Beyond presents Oceanlab).
Concurrently, the new album's "Northern Soul," featuring Richard Bedford, jumps 12-7 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay (besting its prior No. 10 peak). "Northern" becomes Above & Beyond's highest-charting hit on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, bowing at No. 42; it surpasses the act's other charted song, "We're All We Need," featuring Zoe Johnston, which peaked at No. 45 in February 2015. "Northern" banked 338,000 domestic streams and 1,000 downloads sold in the tracking week.
BRAXTON BACK AT No. 1: Toni Braxton tallies her sixth No. 1, and first in nearly six years, on Dance Club Songs, as "Coping" climbs 2-1. The track was remixed by Disco Killerz, Paris & Simo and Tom Swoon, among others.
The veteran R&B singer first led in August 1996, for two weeks with "You're Makin' Me High"/"Let It Flow." Beginning that December, Braxton enjoyed her longest stint atop the list, reigning for four weeks thanks to remixes of her ballad "Un-Break My Heart" (an 11-week Hot 100 No. 1). Braxton's other Dance Club Songs No. 1s: "I Don't Want To" (July 1997), "Spanish Guitar" (August 2000) and "I Heart You" (June 2012).
