Baauer’s “Harlem Shake” Debuts At #1 On Hot 100, Which Now Factors In YouTube Streams

Robbie Daw | February 21, 2013 7:28 am

Just in time to catch the “Harlem Shake” Internet meme craze that broke out this month (see: the thousands of videos featuring people dancing to the trap music novelty), Brooklyn DJ Baauer becomes the first artist to have a #1 song on a newly-revised Billboard Hot 100 chart that, as of this week, now factors YouTube streams into its data, in addition to other streaming services, digital and physical sales and radio airplay. Cue up 2012 video view king PSY wondering where these chart rules were when “Gangnam Style” was stuck at #2 for two months last fall.

The official Mad Decent YouTube clip of “Harlem Shake” has racked up nearly 5 million views since it was put online in August, but the memes — particularly the one featuring the University Of Georgia men’s swimming team, which, in only two weeks, has received nearly 22 million views — are what have propelled the song into the pop stratosphere.

Baauer — “Harlem Shake”

UGA Swim Team Does “Harlem Shake”

“Harlem Shake” is now only the 21st single to debut at the top of the Hot 100 chart, and Baauer (real name: Harry Rodrigues) is the third artist so far to have a #1 in 2013, following Bruno Mars (“Locked Out Of Heaven”) and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (“Thrift Shop”).

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