Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie” Sets New Record on Pop Chart

Justin Timberlake’s comeback was already predicted to be huge. While results for placement on the Billboard Hot 100 chart have yet to arrive, this week showed that his first single in nearly six years performed well on Billboard’s Pop Chart, setting a new record.

“Suit & Tie,” which features Jay-Z, opened at No. 14 this week, with 6,045 plays. For those unaware, the Pop Chart measures radio play on Top 40 stations – not record sales. With these figures, the single has the highest first-week plays in the chart’s 20-year history and the highest performance for a male artist.

The previous record was held by Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” While the single from the Mother Monster’s sophomore album also opened at No. 14 on the chart, the song experienced fewer plays. Additionally, Mariah Carey’s “Dreamlover” in 1993 had a higher rank.

According to Billboard, the song received a high amount of plays on Clear Channel Media and CBS Radio Stations. The Pop Chart ranks, as well, indicate a positive trend for “Suit & Tie.” While the results are set to come out on January 23, the single from Timberlake’s upcoming The 20/20 Experience is predicted to open in the top five spots.

The 20/20 Experience was rumored to be in the works over the past summer, according to producer Jim Beanz. Although the singer denied it at the time, he later revealed the news through his website.