This Day in Top 40 History: February 19
On Feb. 19 in Top 40 history, we saw pop star Pink doing aerial stunts and Beyonce performing at the Brit Awards. There were musical legal battles, Latin stars topping the charts, and COVID-19 ravishing the world.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Pop star highlights of the music scene on Feb. 19 include:
- 2017: Ariana Grande performed in Manchester, New Hampshire, during her Dangerous Woman Tour. Grande is a multiplatinum pop star best known for her song “Side to Side.”
- 2004: Singer and performer Pink kicked off her Try Tour in Dublin, Ireland. She performed an impressive aerial routine while singing “Get the Party Started.”
- 2025: The Glass Animals will have their first show at KT Zepp Yokohamain Japan with their Tour of Earth tour. They are best known for the chart-topping song “Heat Wave.”
Cultural Milestones
Music and performances, TV shows, and presentations that have helped shape our culture include:
- 1974: Dave Clark’s American Music Awards debuted on this day. This awards show picked winners by public/fan votes, was the predecessor to the Grammy Awards, and featured hosts such as Smokey Robinson, Helen Reddy, and Roger Miller.
- 2014: Pop diva Beyonce performed at the O2 Arena in London, England, at the Brit Awards. She gave an amazing performance with fireworks and light shows that dazzled the crowd.
- 2022: Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny performed at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. He is known for bringing reggaeton and trap music to the mainstream with 14 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Songs and performances that highlight Feb. 19 include:
- 2017: Justin Bieber performed for a second night at Foro Sol in Mexico City, Mexico, much to his fans’ delight.
- 2022: The Osmonds Musical debuted at the Glasgow Theatre in Scotland. The cast performed the Osmond Brothers’ songs, incorporating plenty of dancing and singing.
- 2023: Ed Sheeran finished a three-night run at Suncorp Stadium in Queensland, Australia, during his +-=÷x Tour.
Industry Changes and Challenges
From pop stars to movie stars and plagiarism to COVID-19, Feb. 19 had its share of struggles and changes, such as:
- 1971: The Monkees songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, who wrote the hits “Come a Little Bit Closer,” “Not Your Steppin’ Stone,” and “Last Train to Clarksville,” appeared on the fun TV show, Bewitched in the episode, “Serena Stops the Show.”
- 1981: George Harrison was sued for plagiarism in his song “My Sweet Lord.” He was ordered to pay $587,000 for plagiarizing from the 1963 Chiffon’s “He’s So Fine.” Harrison said the plagiarism was unintentional.
- 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic’s death toll had risen and had a major impact on the music industry. Concerts and live performances were canceled, and people had to listen to the radio for their musical pleasure.
Artists such as Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande, and Pink helped the Top 40 music genre evolve with new hits and high-flying performances. These innovative artists influenced future artists to stay on track with the genre while expressing their creativity.
