Bruno Mars Dominates Hot 100: 'I Just Might' Debuts at Number One

Released Jan. 9 on Atlantic Records, “I Just Might” arrives with 23.5 million official streams and 32.6 million radio airplay audience impressions and sold 13,000 in the United States in its first week of release (ending Jan. 15). The single launches at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart, where it’s Mars’ fourth leader; at a personal-best No. 12 on Radio Songs — the highest start for a lead male artist since the chart became an all-format ranking in 1998; and at No. 1 on Digital Song Sales, becoming his 12th chart-topper. Mars ties for the 10th-most Hot 100 No. 1s all-time. Here’s a look at the leaderboard: 20, The Beatles 19, Mariah Carey 14, Rihanna 13, Drake 13, Michael Jackson 13, Taylor Swift 12, Madonna 12, The Supremes 11, Whitney Houston 10, Janet Jackson 10, Bruno Mars 10, Stevie Wonder Mars joins Drake, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder as the only solo males with 10 or more Hot 100 No. 1s. Meanwhile, dating to 2010, when Mars earned his first Hot 100 leader, he Drake and Taylor Swift (13 each) are the only acts with double-digit No. 1 totals. “I Just Might” premieres as the 1,185th Hot 100 No. 1 ever, and the 87th to debut in the top spot. While it’s the 10th Hot 100 No. 1 with the word “just” in its title — Mars has two, following “Just the Way You Are” — it’s the first with “might.” It zooms past the prior highest-peaking such song, The Cars’ pop-rock classic “You Might Think” (No. 7, 1984). “I Just Might” enters as Mars’ fifth No. 1 on the multimetric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and his first to debut at the pinnacle. His previous leaders: “Leave the Door Open” (for eight weeks in 2021); “Please Me” (three, 2019), “Finesse” (one week, 2018) — both with Cardi B; and “That’s What I Like” (10, 2017). Mars’ new single also starts as his fifth No. 1 on Hot R&B Songs. It follows Silk Sonic’s “Smokin Out the Window” (11 weeks, 2021-22); “Leave the Door Open” (14, 2021); “Finesse” (12, 2018); and “That’s What I Like” (20, 2017). Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” falls to No. 2 on the Hot 100 after a career-best 10 weeks at No. 1. Notably, with Mars taking the baton from Swift, an act with 10 or more Hot 100 No. 1s again dethrones another. On the Jan. 10 chart, “The Fate of Ophelia” supplanted Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” (The latter replaced the former at No. 1 in December.) The first occurrence of such superstar turnover at the top? On the Nov. 30, 1968, chart, Diana Ross & The Supremes’ “Love Child,” the group’s 11th leader, swapped in for The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” their 16th. HUNTR/X’s “Golden” holds at No. 3 on the Hot 100, after eight weeks at No. 1 beginning last August; Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” repeats at its No. 4 high; and Alex Warren’s “Ordinary,” which reigned for 10 weeks starting last May, drops 2-5, as it claims a 26th week at No. 1 on Radio Songs (67.5 million, down 6%). Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” backtracks to No. 6 from its No. 5 Hot 100 best as it leads the Hot Country Songs chart for an eighth week. Djo’s “End of Beginning” descends to No. 7 on the Hot 100 a week after it reached the top 10, at No. 6. It rules the multimetric Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart for a second week. Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, sombr’s “Back to Friends” is steady at No. 8 after hitting No. 7; Kehlani’s “Folded” falls to No. 9 from its No. 7 high; and Swift’s “Opalite” slips 9-10, after reaching No. 2.