This Day in Top 40 History: June 13

June 13 was an odd day in Top 40 music history. We learned Ava Max would headline a Pride festival, multiple popular artists made it to the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of one group’s Phoenix, Arizona, tour date.

June 13 has witnessed the release of these breakthrough records in Top 40 history:
• 1983: Donna Summer issued her 11th studio LP, She Works Hard for the Money, featuring contributions from Musical Youth and Matthew Ward. The record broke into the Top 10 on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 9. Its most successful single was the title track, which reached No. 3 and No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
• 1995: Alanis Morissette released her career-defining third studio effort, Jagged Little Pill, which reached No. 1 in over 10 countries, including the U.S. and the U.K., and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. This album also earned 21-year-old Morissette at least four GRAMMYs at the 38th Annual GRAMMY Awards and spawned multiple hits, such as “Ironic” and “Hand In My Pocket.”
• 2000: B.B. King and Eric Clapton dropped their collaborative album, Riding with the King. The record ruled Billboard’s Blues Albums Chart for up to 48 consecutive weeks. It cracked the Top 40 on the Billboard 200 as well, stalling at No. 3. The list of standout singles from his album featured the title track, “Worried Life Blues, and “When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer.”

Pop star Ava Max, among others, dominated the milestones for June 13, including:
• 1970: Rivers Cuomo was born to Beverly Shoenberger and Frank Cuomo in New York City. Rivers is best known as the frontman of Weezer, whose Top 10 hits in Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart include “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To,” “The End of the Game,” and “Africa.” According to sources, some of Rivers’ musical influences are Top 40 artists such as Nirvana, Green Day, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys.
• 1986: DJ Snake was born William Sami Étienne Grigahcine in Paris, France. Through collaborations with various Top 40 artists, DJ Snake has scored multiple Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. These include “Let Me Love You,” featuring Justin Bieber, and “Taki Taki,” which includes contributions from Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Ozuna.
• 1989: At 6631 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, Jerry Lee Lewis was awarded a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honoring his contributions to the country and rock ‘n’ roll industry. Speaking of, Lewis placed an impressive 23 Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, including “To Make Love Sweeter for You” and “There Must Be More To Love Than This,” both of which hit No. 1.
• 2017: Ariana Grande performed in Spain for her Dangerous Woman Tour. She had planned more venues, but after the May 17 terror attack at her Manchester Arena show, where 22 people were killed, she wanted to move on to other countries.
• 2024: Ava Max announced she would headline the free Atlanta Pride celebration for the 2024 Atlanta Pride Festival held in October. Max’s music of self-expression and individuality resonates with the LGBTQ+ community, and fans of her music were thrilled to have her headline this important festival.

There were loads of chart-topping Top 40 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 13, including:
• 2015: The Billboard Hot 100 saw a lot of Top 40 artists and their songs make it into the Top 10, including “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar, “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, and “Sugar” by Maroon 5.
• 2020: Pop hits such as The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s “Rain on Me,” and Drake’s “Toosie Slide” dominated the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
• 2021: Notable songs and performers that made it to the Billboard Hot 100 charts were fan favorites, such as “good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo at No. 2, “Peaches,” by Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon at No. 4, and “Save Your Tears” by the Weeknd and Ariana Grande at No. 6.
• 2001: A pair of radio DJs started a rumor that swirled around the globe that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake had died in a car accident the night before. Of course, the pop stars did not die on June 12, as Timberlake recalled being in Philadelphia at the time, and Spears was alive and well in Los Angeles.
• 2017: Jay-Z and Beyoncé welcomed twins, Sir and Rumi. In February of the same year, the “Irreplaceable” hitmaker had turned to Instagram to share the news of her pregnancy. Within an hour of the post going live, it had amassed over two million likes. The “Crazy in Love” singers share another child as well, Blue Ivy, born in January 2012.
• 2017: Anita Pallenberg died at 75. The Degree of Murder star was once in a relationship with both Brian Jones and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. Pallenberg and Richards shared three kids: Marlon Leon Sundeep Richards, Dandelion Angela Richards, and Tara Jo Jo Gunne Richards, who passed away at 10 weeks. According to sources, Pallenberg inspired several of the Stones’ hits, including the U.K. Top 30 hit, “Happy.”
• 2020: AJR’s June 13 performance at the Arizona Federal Theatre was canceled due to the COVID-19 lockdown. This three-brother group is known for their unique songwriting skills with songs such as “World’s Smallest Violin” and “Yes I’m a Mess.”

Throughout the years, June 13 has seen pop stars stand up for human rights, fill the Top 10, and respond to unprecedented times.…Read more by Dawn Palmer-Quaife