Bubbling Under the Hot 100

Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top singles that have not yet charted on the main Billboard Hot 100. Chart rankings are based on radio airplay and sales. In its initial years, the chart listed 15 positions, but expanded to as many as 36 during the 1960s, particularly during years when over 700 singles made the Billboard Hot 100 chart. From 1974 to 1985, the chart consisted of 10 positions; since 1992, the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart has listed 25 positions. For the current issue dated May 6, 2017, the number one song is "My Girl" by Dylan Scott.

The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart was first introduced in the June 1, 1959 issue of Billboard, under the name "Bubbling Under the Hot 100". Containing a listing of 15 singles, the chart was described as "the new listing that predicts which new records will become chart climbers." Its first number-one single was "A Prayer and a Juke Box" by Little Anthony and the Imperials. It would continue to be published in issues of Billboard until August 24, 1985, after which it was discontinued. Prior to its discontinuation, the chart had not been issued in four issues; three from 1974 and one in 1978. However, it returned as a feature in the December 5, 1992 issue of Billboard and continues to the present day.

From June 1959 through August 1985, Billboard compiled the chart based on playlists reported by radio station and retail sales outlets surveys. In 1992, Billboard employed updated data capture technology in compiling the chart, using point-of-sale retail information provided by Nielsen SoundScan, input from radio station airplay monitoring provided by Broadcast Data Systems and playlists from small-market systems.

The chart's first issue mentions that a rank position indicates "relative potential to earn an early listing on the Hot 100" and records were ranked starting with #1. From August 28, 1961 to August 24, 1985, the chart positions were numbered starting with number 101. Songs that have already appeared on the Hot 100 are not included on the Bubbling Under chart as they exit the charts, but may re-enter the Bubbling Under chart at a later date.

...
Wikipedia